Going to the dogs: Celebs take title in creative ways
Celebrities often want to get real estate transactions done in private, but in a celebrity obsessed country, that’s not always easy to do. Real estate professionals who work with celebrities say they are often asked to sign confidentiality agreements when working with the stars on real estate deals. Some brokers also say they sometimes have […]15 years ago
Banks post higher profits on each loan
Banks are making more profits on each loan they originate a 377 percent increase in just a six-month period, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.15 years ago
Too many local foreclosures? Nevada 10 times worse
For the 59th month in a row, Nevada continues to have the highest foreclosure rate in the country - despite a new law that took effect in October that changed the state's foreclosure process and was expected to curtail foreclosures there.
15 years ago
Feds missed chance to repair housing – Trulia economist
The worst moment of the credit crisis has come and gone. And, with it, went Washington’s political will to enact meaningful change to heal the suffering housing market and the financial condition of its homeowners, according to the chief economist at real estate data firm Trulia. Jed Kolko said the housing market is in better […]15 years ago
When do bankers refi? Fed chair grabs fixed-rate loan
Ben Bernanke knows a good interest rate when he sees it. The chairman of the Federal Reserve has refinanced the mortgage on his three-bedroom, attached townhome in Washington, D.C. – twice – since 2009. Most recently Bernanke refinanced on his home in September shortly after the Fed announced “Operation Twist,” which was a rare move […]15 years ago
Four tips to narrow your first-time home search
First-time home buyers often are overwhelmed when looking for properties. Are you having a tough time wading through the inventories of homes to find the right one? Here are four tips to help narrow your list: 1. Get preapproved for a mortgage by a lender. (Preapproval is different from prequalified). Preapproval will help ensure you […]15 years ago
Negative impact of serious ‘flippers’ begins to surface
House flippers -those investors who bought up homes during the housing boom and quickly resold the homes for high-dollar profit – played a larger role in causing the housing bubble than previously thought, according to a new federal report out by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The impact that speculative real estate investors […]15 years ago
‘Walking’ on a loan: Unable or unwilling to pay?
Strategic defaults are on the rise due mainly to two factors: the growing number of mortgages where the outstanding balance is greater than the home’s current market value and continued high unemployment, according to a study by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Strategic default is the practice of a homeowner defaulting on a mortgage – whether […]15 years ago
BofA considers renting REOs back to former owners
In facing large inventories of foreclosures, Bank of America is considering a program that would allow investors to buy a foreclosed home and then rent it back to the former home owner, HousingWire reports. Bank of America is looking for ideas on how to handle the large inventories of its real estate owned (REO) in […]15 years ago
Seahawks, Sounders to have landmark new neighbor
The Seattle Seahawks and Sounders will have an impressive new neighbor just north of CenturyLink Field, a 1.5 million square-foot development called Stadium Place.15 years ago
Need some sun? Fred Couples’ desert home hits market
Fred Couples plans to move about a nine-iron from where he's living now.15 years ago
Tom Kelly: Why not sell your home during Christmas?
The neighborhood kids all arrived, bundled in holiday scarves and hats, plus patent leather shoes usually reserved for weddings and Sunday Mass at St. Theresa’s. Our old house, in Seattle’s Madrona neighborhood and jammed with the craziness and crayons brought by four young people, was the designated gathering spot – especially for one famous day […]15 years ago
Keep foreclosures out of new home ‘comps’, builders say
In many recent cases, new homes are being appraised for less than the cost of construction, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Builders are blaming flawed appraisals for holding back the housing market’s recovery and that new homes should not be compared to foreclosed homes that have sat vacant and are in disrepair. […]15 years ago
Consumers reduce debt, but household net worth down
Residential mortgage debt and household debt declined during the third quarter, according to the Federal Reserve. Home mortgage debt fell at an annual rate of 1 3?4 percent in the third quarter, slightly less of a decline than in the first half of the year, according to the Fed’s massive flow of funds report. The […]15 years ago
Consumers rush to refinance, choose fixed-rate loans
Mortgage applications increased 12.8 percent for the week ending December 2 as consumers rushed to refinance loans at low interest rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday, applications increased significantly as mortgage rates dropped to their lowest levels in about two months,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA vice president of […]15 years ago
Women get worse loan rates than men, study reveals
Women aren’t getting the best mortgage rate when getting a loan compared to men, but it’s not because of gender discrimination. It’s because women aren’t doing enough shopping when it comes to mortgage rates, a new study published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics finds. Women tend to rely on recommendations from […]15 years ago
Local sales outpace listings for first time in five years
For the first time since December 2006, the number of pending home sales surpassed the number of new listings in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service database. NWMLS members reported 6,103 pending sales during November, marking the seventh straight month of double-digit, year-over-year increases. Last month’s total number of mutually accepted offers was 22.4 percent higher […]15 years ago
Holiday safety tips when hosting parents, older guests
‘Tis the season – for all kinds of company. If you are among the 76 million baby boomers in the United States who soon will be expecting that special visitor in the big red suit, it might be wise to take the time not only to “kid proof” but also to “parent proof” your home […]15 years ago
Perfect holiday gift: How about a down payment, Santa?
More families may be feeling a little extra generous this holiday season and are offering loved ones help with a down payment on a home. Coming up with the down payment has become a major obstacle to home ownership, according to a survey by Trulia. The survey found that 51 percent of 758 renters surveyed […]15 years ago
State issues consumer alerts for two ‘loan mod’ firms
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is again warning consumers to verify the license of any lending professional, especially those offering loan modification services. DFI recently issued consumer alerts regarding the US Loan Assistance Center and Saint Judes Home Rescue LLC. Both companies reportedly offered to provide loan modification services to consumers for […]15 years ago
‘Bargain’ foreclosure may not be a great deal
The monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable now than in the past 15 years, and is less expensive than renting in numerous cities, according to The Wall Street Journal’s third-quarter survey. However, some buyers may be swayed by the big bargain prices that foreclosures often offer. According to national housing statistics, foreclosures […]15 years ago
