Appraisers: ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ on valuations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this month reported that the Appraisal Subcommittee, which oversees the appraiser regulatory programs established by the states, needs to improve its monitoring procedures. “These findings underscore the need to establish an effective oversight system to ensure that appraisals accurately reflect true market values and don’t harm aspiring home buyers […]15 years ago
‘Underwater’ mortgage aid part of big bank settlement
Up to one million at-risk, underwater borrowers may be eligible for a reduction on their mortgage principal if a settlement between big banks and government officials gets the final approval. The mortgage aid is reportedly on the table as big banks and federal and state government officials are nearing an end to months of settlement […]15 years ago
Zillow rolls out new neighborhood networking tool
Seattle-based Zillow launched Neighborhood Advice, a social home-shopping tool that helps buyers and renters learn about neighborhoods from their Facebook friends. As shoppers search for homes in a specific city or neighborhood, Neighborhood Advice will recommend Facebook friends connected to the area to contact for personal tips and advice to see where these friends live […]15 years ago
U-Village company ‘walks’ with additional $2 million
Walk Score, based near University Village, wants all real estate listings to contain a component for “walkability” along with bedrooms, bathrooms and detached garages. Apparently, the concept is catching on. The company, founded in 2007, recently raised $2 million from a group of investors. Walk Score provides an automated walkability rating for any address in […]15 years ago
Tom Kelly: Northwest energy thrives north of Vallarta
SAYULITA, Nayarit, Mexico - While violence and crime are foremost topics in the States, they are rarely mentioned here . Crime? What crime?
The struggling U.
15 years ago
Selling of a crime scene via a remodel
Randall Bell, a California-based damage economics specialist, says stigmatized homes that once were crime scenes can lose 10 percent to 25 percent of their value. However, some properties, particularly those in urban areas, retain their value even if violent crimes were committed there. Stigmatized properties in rural areas tend to be most affected by the […]15 years ago
Builder confidence climbs for fourth straight month
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, reaching its highest level since June of 2007. Derived from a monthly survey that the National Association of Home Builders has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges […]15 years ago
How to get the best rate? Prove you are low risk
Many borrowers are finding that the record-low mortgage rates advertised recently are out of reach. So how can borrowers snag these best rates – which for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been under 4 percent recently? Basically, they need to prove to lenders they are less risk: Lenders offer the best rates to those who […]15 years ago
O.J. losing Florida home while behind bars in Nevada
O.J. Simpson, the 64-year-old former football star, is facing foreclosure on his Miami home while he serves a prison term in Nevada. Simpson purchased the 4,233-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath house in 2000 for $575,000, according to media reports. The home’s assessed value now stands at $478,401, the Associated Press reports. Simpson was convicted of kidnapping, armed […]15 years ago
Lower priced homes felt biggest pop of bubble
Everyone talks about how much the housing market has declined "since the peak," but which segment of the market suffered the biggest setback?15 years ago
Four tips for spotting loan mod, rescue scams
Homes are taking longer to sell and foreclosures are taking longer to process. Unfortunately, crooks are taking advantage of both of those extended timeframes. Scammers are involved in foreclosure rescue schemes, loan modification stings and in just about every conceivable angle of “equity skimming” that wipes out any remaining positive dollars in a person’s home. […]15 years ago
MetLife sees its home loan future in reverse
Last year, several major reverse mortgage lenders – Seattle Mortgage, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Financial Freedom – announced they would stop accepting reverse mortgage applications to focus more “core” operations such as retail banking and conventional, “forward” mortgages. This week, MetLife announced it would do the opposite – exit the forward space yet […]15 years ago
‘Desire to own’ still main driver of home buying
The primary reason for purchasing a home was the desire to own a home and enjoy the benefits of home ownership, according to the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers released by the National Association of Realtors.15 years ago
Foreclosures continue to hamper Seattle sales – Zillow
One in four Seattle area home sales involves a foreclosure or distressed property transaction, according to the latest Zillow Real Estate Market Report. Seattle home sales averaged $252,600 in November, down 8.6 percent from November 2010 and 33.1 percent from the peak of the market. Regionally, home values appreciated or remained flat from October to […]15 years ago
More banks contacted in mortgage abuse settlement
As the government nears a deal with top U.S. banks to resolve mortgage abuses, the Justice Department has begun reaching out to other banks to gauge their interest in joining the wide-ranging settlement, Reuters reports. The DOJ has contacted several nationally chartered banks to determine whether they might agree to terms similar to those in […]15 years ago
End of the line: How to handle broken-down appliances
Ever wonder what to do with that that broken appliance that no longer can be repaired or the foam packaging that arrived with grandma’s gift? According to Northwest Reporter, residents and businesses in King County can check with their Solid Waste Division’s online directory. (Other counties have similar directories.) The Solid Waste Division (SWD) resource, […]15 years ago
Helpful site provides local cold-weather checklists
“Take Winter By Storm” originated as a one-day event, but the program has expanded to become a public-private collaboration that promotes public awareness and safety across Washington’s largest counties. Its sole goal is to help citizens and businesses stay safe and get prepared if bad weather strikes. Sponsors recommend three simple steps for getting prepared: […]15 years ago
Tom Kelly: Benefits in turning home into a rental
Seniors are particularly careful about guarding their assets. With little monthly income, older people still living in their longtime primary residences need to make the most of an eventual home sale. For example, Helen from Gig Harbor was concerned that she would be taxed on the entire sale of her home because she had already […]15 years ago
How to find an agent? Most sellers ask a friend
Thirty-nine percent of home sellers used a referral by friend, neighbor or relative to find their agent, and an additional 22 percent used an agent they had worked with before, according to a new survey by the National Association of Realtors. The survey also revealed that the typical seller only contacts one agent during the […]15 years ago
Unemployed to receive extended mortgage relief period
Unemployed homeowners who have mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may be eligible for up to a 12-month reprieve from paying their mortgage or paying reduced payments for that time period. The mortgage program currently allows six months of relief to the unemployed. Freddie Mac announced that the changes will take effect February […]15 years ago
Federal agency to oversee ‘nonbanks’ for the first time
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched the nation’s first federal nonbank supervision program, one that will ensure that companies providing consumer financial products and services follow federal laws. “This is an important step forward for protecting consumers,” said Richard Cordray, director of the CFPB. “Holding both banks and nonbanks accountable to consumer financial laws […]15 years ago
New survey reveals more optimism for housing
More Americans interviewed by Fannie Mae for its national housing survey are optimistic about their financial prospects and the housing market in the coming year. Results of a December survey show that most respondents believe home prices will edge up at least 0.8 percent over the next 12 months, up from predictions of a 0.2% […]15 years ago
