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Financing a Home Archive


Five Ways to Fight a Low Appraisal

What do you do when the appraisal on the dream home you want to buy comes in below the price in the offer the seller has accepted—even as much as 10 to 20 percent below? Chances are that raising the cash for your down payment and closing cost has tapped you out. Finding thousands more to make up the difference between the appraised value and the contracted amount is out of the question. You’re not the only buyer who has hit the low appraisal snag. This past June and July, 16 percent of real estate pros reported a cancelation in a sale, mostly due to a large number of low appraisals.


Lack of Equity Can Derail Mortgage Refinancing

(MCT)—With mortgage interest rates hovering around 50-year lows, refinancing is an appealing prospect for many homeowners. I think this is especially true considering the stock market’s August gyrations. Taking nervous energy and using it to focus on


Fewer Homeowners Opting to Refinance

The number of consumers across the country who filed applications for new home loans recently fell considerably, as fewer borrowers sought to refinance their existing mortgages. Informa Research Services, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LSE: INF), suggests that consumers review online rate tables to find the best rates with which to refinance a current home loan.


Is Your Loan Modification Application Stuck?

If you’re on the verge of losing your home, or you know someone who is, then you also know about the long, bureaucratic process involved in applying for a loan modification from a lender. The most common approach is to apply under the new Home Affordability Mortgage Program (HAMP), but lenders also accept modifications from mortgage holders because lenders really don’t want to take the house—they just want their money.


Remodeling Activity Slows under Economic Uncertainty

RISMEDIA, August 1, 2011—The remodeling market slipped under pressure from a sluggish economy according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI), which dipped during the second quarter to 43.9 from the first quarter result of 46.5. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report ...


HUD and NeighborWorks America Announce Deadline Extension for Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program

RISMEDIA, July 26, 2011--Recently the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NeighborWorks® America announced that the deadline for the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program has been extended to Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in order to give homeowners at risk of foreclosure in the participating 27 states and Puerto Rico ...


Latest MBA Weekly Survey Shows Increase in Mortgage Applications, Driven by Refinances

RISMEDIA, May 5, 2011—Mortgage applications increased 4.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 29, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume,


The Evolution of Buyer-Agent Relationships

RISMEDIA, May 3, 2011—I would first like to thank everyone for the kind words and feedback from my previous article. It’s nice to know that I am touching on some key issues in our industry and I hope that I can continue to be a good resource.


To Buy or Rent – Now’s the Time to Follow the American Dream

RISMEDIA, April 25, 2011—With home prices dropping, minimal interest rates and the cost of rental properties on the rise, now may be the time for renters to seriously consider buying a house, according to HouseSavvy, a premier real estate and relocation organization headquartered in Massachusetts.


How Do Property Tax Rates Work?

RISMEDIA, March 28, 2011—It's that time of year again, and some of you should be expecting your property tax bill for the first half of 2011. If that's the case, then you'll probably be wondering just how the government calculates property tax rates and why your bill seems to change every year.


Economic and Housing Outlooks Brighten According to Fannie Mae Analysis Group

RISMEDIA, December 28, 2010—Improvements in consumer spending and consumer confidence, increased demand for goods and services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors for a brighter outlook as we move into 2011, according to the December 2010 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group.


30-year Fixed Rates Continue Month-Long Decline

RISMEDIA, July 15, 2009-The weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for 30-year fixed mortgages decreased last week to 5.26 percent, down from 5.40 percent the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate Web site Zillow.com . Meanwhile, rates for ...


Freddie Mac YouTube Video Shows Delinquent Borrowers How to Make More Effective Phone Calls to Servicers

RISMEDIA, July 13, 2009-Freddie Mac recently posted a new video on youtube.com that shows late-paying borrowers how gathering a few financial documents before calling a mortgage servicer can cut the time needed to determine their eligibility and process their application for a loan modification under President Obama's Making Home Affordable ...


Do you Have Above-Average Credit?

RISMEDIA, July 11, 2009-Forty-two percent of U.S. consumers have credit scores between 550 and 699. As a result, these consumers typically don't qualify for preferred interest rates and, depending on their overall credit profile, they may not even qualify for certain loans and credit cards. The primary challenge is that most consumers don't understand what impacts their credit profile and, more importantly, don't know what actions they can take to help improve it.


How to Save in Our New Frugal World

RISMEDIA, March 4, 2009-(MCT)-What a difference nine months make. In the not-long-ago credit-card binge days, one of the "in" things was to own a TV the size of a bus. Today, it's to have six months of living expenses saved in case you get laid off.



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