Wednesday. Despite declining foreclosure starts over the year, distressed sales made up a higher percentage of overall home sales in 2013 than they did the previous year, according to the U.S. Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report released and Economists have predicted that mortgage rates will rise in 2014. It's 2014 — Why Aren't Mortgage Rates Higher?
growing number of home buyers are forgoing traditional fixed-rate mortgages and standard adjustable-rate mortgages and instead opting for a specialty mortgage that lets them “stretch” their income so they can qualify for a larger loan. Specialty Mortgages: Risks and Rewards: For a borrower taking out a 30-year, 5/1 hybrid ARM instead of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the savings was about 1.36 percentage points in January, Freddie shows. This would amount to a savings on the monthly principal and interest payment of about $194 on a $250,000 loan for the first five years. But before you choose one of these mortgages, make sure you understand the risks and how they work. To learn more visit our website.
TransUnion Rental. Rents were on the rise for all four of the classifications of rental properties. The average rent of all four types of properties was $1,072 in 2013. Since renting has become a less affordable option, it may make financial sense to consider purchasing a home. With home prices and mortgage rates still relatively low, now is the time to start looking. Read more …
The lending atmosphere is becoming friendlier, especially to first-time buyers. Simultaneously, the average time on market for non-distressed properties and the average sales-to-list price ratio both improved year-over-year in December, according to the survey. Simultaneously, the average time on market for non-distressed properties and the average sales-to-list price ratio both improved year-over-year in December. 
according to recent data. "But the shadow cast by the foreclosure crisis is shrinking as fewer distressed properties enter foreclosure and properties already in foreclosure are poised to exit in greater numbers in 2014, given the greater numbers of scheduled foreclosure auctions in 2013 in judicial states - which account for the bulk of U.S. foreclosure inventory." See Where to Invest in Housing 2014
Housing starts dropped 9.8 percent in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just under 1 million units. The drop follows a sharp rise in November, in which new-housing starts had accelerated to the fastest pace since February 2008. Single-family home construction, which makes up the largest segment of starts, dropped 7 percent in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 667,000 units. However, total single-family housing starts still mark the highest monthly total in 2013. Watch Housing Now
the United States' residential real estate market and economy in the coming years. As members of this demographic get older, many will move out of the houses where they raised families and downsize into smaller, cozier apartments, condominiums, and townhouses. 
have to be into skiing or snowboarding to enjoy the benefits of a home in a ski town. Park City Utah 
Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) falling.
Myth 1: “A short sale is not an option for me because I’m current on my mortgage payments.
More people may be prompted to relocate to areas that offer better costs of living, making 2014 the “year of the big move,” 
The VA guaranteed nearly 630,000 mortgage loans in 2013, says Mike Frueh, the director of the VA’s Loan Guaranty Program. The average loan was about $225,000. The VA’s total loan volume has soared about 372 percent since 2007, according to Chris Birk, the executive editor at Veterans United Home Loans. 
This week saw conflicting reports of interest rate movements, despite markets having little news with which to react. Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed little movement among fixed rates for the week ending January 9, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. New Mortgage Rules Roll Out - What Will Be the Impact? New mortgage rules take effect Friday that set out to protect borrowers against risky lending practices. Read more and see how this could impact the purchase of a new #Home.
latest report. The shadow inventory is down 24 percent compared to year-ago levels. Estimates shadow inventory by the number of properties that are seriously delinquent in foreclosure or held as REO by a mortgage servicer but not currently listed on the MLS. “Nationally, loan performance continues to improve, While the foreclosure pipeline is gradually clearing, many home owners across the United States are still struggling to make their payments.read more
according to the latest Leading Markets Index. 
A new industry report shows 69 percent of all homes in foreclosure are underwater, and nearly half—48 percent—are deeply underwater, meaning the borrower owes at least 25 percent more on the mortgage than the home is currently worth. 
Costs were significantly higher in 2013 when compared to 2011 average construction costs—$246,453 in 2013 versus $184,125 in 2011. 
More people are moving to the Sun Belt region, with many #home owners are choosing to head South and West rather than to the Northeast and Midwest. 
Investors are finding it more difficult to buy up foreclosures in bulk and then rent them out for a sizable profit. 
REALTORS® reports. Pending home sales — which reflect contracts and not closings — were 1.6 percent below year-ago levels.Pending #home sales in November posted the largest gains in the South and West, rising 2.3 percent and 1.8 percent month-over-month, respectively. Total existing-home sales are expected to end the year with nearly a 10 percent gain over 2012. In this video, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun talks about November pending home sales and gives a forecast for 2014.
