News / Features

Are Escalating Contract Failures a Problem?

An interesting nugget of information was tucked away in the National Association of Realtor’s latest press release on existing-home sales. Amidst the details on sales (which were down 0.9 percent monthly but up 8.8 percent year, in case you were wondering),

Dimensions of a Housing Recovery

All week, we’ve been reporting on the different dimensions of the housing recovery. From housing’s relationship with the greater economic progression of 2012, to positive projections from Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, to the continually high interest from

Legislators Move to Save Mortgage Debt Relief Act

New legislation proposed in the House of Representatives would extend the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007, a federal provision that allows taxpayers to exclude from their income the debt reductions that resulted from mortgage restructuring or foreclosure settlements.

HARP 2.0 Program Automated but Constrained?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last week finally integrated HARP 2.0 into their automation systems, and though refinancings are expected to increase dramatically, they could come with some strings attached that previous refinancings did not

Miami Pending Home Sales Up 29 Percent in February

Pending home sales in Miami-Dade for February increased 14 percent from January and 29 percent year-over-year to 3,695 units, according to the latest data from the Miami Association of Realtors (MAR). Specifically, single-family homes ruled the month, increasing by

Housing and the Economy Dance Cheek To Cheek

It’s long been one of the ultimate truisms in real estate that a robust economy, and all the positive employment and investment numbers that accompany it, is the finest contributor to a growing housing market, and agents, investors and

Freddie Predicts Reawakening for Housing

Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft is predicting a reawakening, of sorts, for the housing market in his March 2012 Economic Outlook in a fashion that could read like a sequel to “Sleeping Beauty.” Analyzing economic growth, construction data

Toll Brothers the Latest Revitalized Builder

Toll Brothers has joined the league of revitalized builders, including Lennar and Hovnanian, if comments from the luxury builder’s CEO are any indication. In an interview with CNBC, CEO Douglas Yearley said his company has been experiencing some of

OCC Foreclosures Finished 2011 With a Sigh

Foreclosures launched by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)-registered banks and servicers fell by 16 percent in the fourth quarter and by 17.9 percent year-over-year, according to the latest data from the agency, capping off an entire

Stability in the South Florida Continues to Rise

The Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the average price for homes in Broward County grew to $180,000 in February, which is a six percent increase from last year. Home sales went from 909 to 913. In Palm Beach County, the

Housing Prices with a Dose of Reality

Standard & Poor’s released the latest Case-Shiller Indices yesterday, and as has been the trend the last few months, the research firm reported declines in price, specifically a 3.9 percent year-over-year drop in the 20-City Composite, which measures home

Homeowner Aspiration Remains High in Fannie Survey

Despite economic strife and continued difficulties in the housing market, Americans continue to see homeownership as preferable to renting, according to Fannie Mae’s latest National Housing Survey. A study involving 3,000 Americans that focuses on the state of homeownership aspirations in

Principal Reduction Effort Gains Considerable Steam from Unlikely Sources

The principal reduction, and whether the GSEs will embrace it as a central policy for aiding distressed borrowers, is undoubtedly among the most contentious issues facing housing right now, as Acting FHFA Director Ed DeMarco has resisted repeated calls

Miami Home Values a Case-Shiller Bright Spot

Home values in Miami were one of the few bright spots in Standard & Poor’s latest Case-Shiller report, falling 1.9 percent from last year but increasing 0.6 percent from December to

Pending Sales Maintain Yearly Gains in February

The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index increased from 88.4 in February 2011 to 96.5 in February of this year, an uptick that suggests some of the strongest existing-home sales in years. A leading indicator for

Pulse 2012 Survey Reveals Insights to Homebuilding Industry

The Pulse 2012 new sales and marketing trends survey reveals key lessons and insight on how to gain a performance edge in the home building industry. The survey was completed by new home sales and marketing leaders across North

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