2011.12
New Bubble May Be Growing in 30-Year Mortgages: Edward Pinto
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most common way US buyers finance a home purchase, isn’t the ideal instrument its supporters claim it to be. First, its dominance requires permanent government subsidies. Second, it amortizes slowly, exposing homebuyers to years of unnecessary default risk. Third, it was responsible for two taxpayer bailouts in the last 20 [...]
Spotlight On: HSBC’s fee-free mortgages
HSBC began a sale on Thursday by introducing a range of fee-free tracker mortgages. The good points The offer is available until the end of January and means no booking fee. Normally the bank charges up to £999 on its Lifetime Tracker loan. The bad points The bank still charges booking fees on its fixed-rate [...]
RE/MAX Classic: New System Pinpoints Why Having a Public Open House to Sell a …
St. Davids, PA, December 15, 2011 –(PR.com)– Recent studies show that when selling a home, whether youre a realtor or an individual trying to sell your home on the open market, having an open house is the worse way to get it sold. According to a national study conducted by NDP Group, an industry leader [...]
More than one in 10 mortgages in arrears – Moodys
BARRY OHALLORAN MORE THAN one in 10 mortgage borrowers had fallen behind with their repayments by the end of October, marking a new peak in home loan arrears, figures released yesterday show. Credit ratings agency Moodys said that arrears of 90 days or more in a pool of mortgages representing close to half the Republics [...]
Why home sellers sold in 2011, what they moved to and why – report
Study results show a shifting seller demographic The 2011 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers recently surveyed 5,708 home buyers and sellers and reports that buyers are now more mature, higher income, often married couples as lending tightened this year in the down economy, which means those that were selling their homes also shifted [...]
Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Do They Ever Make Sense?
Adjustable rate mortgages or ARMs got a bad rap thanks to the 2008 housing meltdown, but these types of loans do make sense for some borrowers. ARMs can be appealing to homeowners because they typically offer a lower interest rate for the first couple of years compared to fixed-rate mortgages, but the rate changes periodically, [...]
The new real estate reality: owing more than you own
Rising property values have been an article of faith in the housing market for a generation of Australians who borrowed big as real estate prices marched ever upward. Know more? Contact czappone@fairfax.com.au Now, though, some buyers are finding that their homes are worth less than the size of mortgages taken out to acquire the proverbial [...]
City Planning Board Tables Sunoco Rezoning Request
City Planning Board Tables Sunoco Rezoning Request Brian J. Burri, project manager of Bergmann Associates, far left, presents plans Tuesday afternoon to the city Planning Board. by Timothy W. Scee II Special to Newzjunky.com Published December 7, 2011 WATERTOWN, NY The city Planning Board Tuesday said it will not recommend a zone change for [...]
Poulsbo City Council reviewing shoreline plan
POULSBO – Poulsbo City Council members began reviewing the citys Shoreline Master Program, which hasnt been updated since 1976, on Wednesday. The document identifies goals, policies and use regulations for all shoreline property within city limits, the estuary portion of Dogfish Creek north of Lindvig Way and associated tidal wetlands and upland areas. The city [...]
Tipp Planning Board Approves Special Use Permit
A special use permit to allow for operation of a Hertz car rental dealership at 3435 S. County Road 25A was approved Dec. 14 by the Tipp City Planning Board. The board also heard a year-end wrap up of projects and said good-bye to a long-time member.Matt Spring, city planner, said the rental car dealership [...]