Banks treating homeowners better, but still not meeting all terms of mortgage settlement

Large mortgage servicers have made progress in helping borrowers avoid foreclosure, but problems remain in some areas, particularly on sending notices to homeowners in a timely manner. That’s according to a report card issued today by Joseph Smith Jr., the...

Energy efficiency improvements could be factored into mortgage underwriting

  A bill aimed at encouraging home energy efficiency improvements by establishing underwriting guidelines for mortgage lenders that factor in cost savings for homeowners has been introduced — again — in the Senate. S. 1106, the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy...

Home Equity Grew by $815 bln in Q1 – Housing Scorecard

  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the May edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard. The scorecard summarizes the current status of the nation’s housing...

Do’s and Don’t’s For a Smooth Mortgage Process

Every borrower wants their mortgage closing to be simple and stress free. While it may not always feel like it (between loan processors’ requests for your 2011 Schedule E and page 6 of March’s bank statement), lenders want the same thing. Here are some...

Mortgage Rates Move Convincingly Lower

  Mortgage rates moved lower at their fastest pace in 6 weeks today, erasing most of the losses seen so far this week.  Not all lenders have adjusted pricing at the same pace, however, and best-execution is still 3.625% for conventional, 30yr fixed loans.  That means...

What if the Mortgage Deduction is Eliminated?

As Congress looks for ways to close the growing deficit and curb spending, the mortgage interest deduction could be on the chopping block, and with good reason: it’s one of the largest expenditures in the tax code. But some worry taking it off the table will slow the...