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Mortgages for Home Buyers and Homeowners (USA Government Made Easy) Find mortgage programs and resources to get and manage a mortgage: Services, Blog, Topics, Government Agencies, Contact Government.

Mortgage RatesF Predictions and Analysis (Mortgage News Daily) A blog keeping you up to date on current mortgage rates and market conditions.

Obama’s Refi Plan Set to Expire 2017 Year… and Time is Almost Up (SmartLifeNow)Obama's Refi Plan Set to Expire in 2017… and Time is Almost Up. in line refi When homeowners visit Lending Tree official website, they may be surprised to find ... Obama's foreclosure prevention program is ending ... - Washington Post Obama Housing Plan - The New York Times What You Should Know About Obama Loan Modification - FHA.com

As Mortgage Rates Drop Even Lower, Is It Time To Refinance Your Home? (Immortal News, 2/28/16) With mortgage rates defying all expectations and dropping even lower since the start of the year, this could be a good time for homeowners to consider refinancing, says the Washington Post. Related Mortgage loans » The Curious Case of Low Interest Rate RegimeNH Voice Experts Weigh In as Mortgage Rates Keep Going DownModern Readers In Depth:How low will interest rates go?Washington Post

Mortgage rates surge in anticipation of Federal Reserve rate hike (WP, 11/5) Mortgage rates surged this week, according to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac. Home loan rates began moving higher after the Federal Reserve signaled last week that a December interest rate hike was a possibility. What the Fed does ... Mortgage applications surge 25% on regulation worry (CNBC, 10/7) The drama leading up to and following the Fed's decision not to raise interest rates had mortgage borrowers and their lenders busy last week.  Weekly mortgage applications surge 13.9% on rate dips (CNBC, 9/23)

Existing U.S. Home Sales Rise to Second-Highest Since 2007 (Bloomberg, 10/22) Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rebounded in September to the second- highest level since February 2007, the latest sign that the ...

A Conversation With Julián Castro, Secretary Of The Department Of Housing And Urban Development (NPR The Diane Rehm Show, 8/17) The Department of Housing and Urban Development was established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty. Today, the number of Americans living in high-poverty areas is on the rise. That’s a trend Barack President Obama wants to reverse. A year ago, he tapped San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to head the housing agency. Castro is a rising star in the Democratic Party. He’s widely believed to be on the short list of possible vice presidential running mates for 2016. Castro says he’s focused on the task in front of him: Alleviating poverty through affordable housing. He joins us to talk about his plans.

New Mortgage Rules to Ease Closing Process and Protect Borrowers (US News & World Report, 7/28) Two new 'Know Before You Owe' forms strive to reduce confusion and make borrowers more aware of loan terms. How Will New Mortgage Rules Affect You? | Bankrate.com

Past an Invisible Fence: Gauging Obama's New Housing Rule (NBC, 7/12) A new Obama administration rule aimed at ending racial segregation in communities could ...

Pending home sales jump to highest in 9 years (USA TODAY, 5/28) Americans signed contracts to buy homes in April at the fastest pace in nearly nine years, evidence that steady job ...

New Rules Make It Harder To Apply For Reverse Mortgages(Here & Now, 4/27) The Federal Housing Administration is imposing new rules that will change the process of applying for a reverse mortgage.

HUD Changes Distressed Loan Sale Requirements(Mortgage News Daily, 4/24/15) HUD Changes Distressed Loan Sale Requirements.

Rethinking the Benefits of Homeownership(The Diane Rehm Show, 12/15/14) Homeownership has dropped to the lowest rate in 20 years. New research finds renting makes more financial sense for half of current American homeowners. Re-thinking the benefits of buying a house.

Fannie Mae Official Details Plans on Low-Down-Payment Mortgages (NYT, 11/6/14) Fannie Mae's low-down-payment mortgages are part of a wider effort to increase the flow of housing credit.

U.S. Backs Off Tight Mortgage Rules (WSJ, 5/13/14) In Reversal, Administration and Fannie, Freddie Regulator Push to Make More Credit Available to Boost Housing Recovery

What the new mortgage rules mean for you (CNN Money, 1/10/14) "No debt traps. No surprises. No runarounds," the CFPB's Richard Cordray, said of the new rules. NEW YORK (CNNMoney). Related Consumer Financial Protection Bureau » The Era of Big LoansWall Street Journal Mortgage Loan Rules TightenNorthern Colorado Business Report In Depth:New mortgage rules aim to protect home buyers, ownersWashington Post

Obama Outlines Plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (NYT, 8/6) PHOENIX - President Obama hailed both this city's and the country's comeback from the housing bust on Tuesday, and said it was now time to reduce the fedetl role and risk in the mortgage market “to make sure the kind of crisis we went through never ... Related Freddie Mac » Fannie Mae » Hundreds protest Obama outside Phoenix high school azcentral.com Obama, Brewer airport greeting 'cordial' this time USA TODAY In Depth: Obama backs push to replace Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Los Angeles Times    See realtime coverage BofA Sued by US Over Mortgage Securities (wSJ, 8/6)    See realtime coverage

Mortgage Rates Rising, But There are Plenty of Alternatives for Home Buyers (CNBC by Bob Pisani, 7/11) Rising rates are a worry: 30-year fixed rate mortgages have gone from 3.5 percent to about 4.5 percent in the past month. That's not great, but concerns that the housing recovery may be choked off by this is a bit premature. Related Federal Reserve System » Freddie Mac » Mortgage rates this week resumed upward trend, Freddie Mac saysLos Angeles Times - by Alejandro Lazo Mortgage rates reach highest level in 2 yearsFortune (blog) In Depth:Consumers Are Right To Worry About Rising Mortgage Rates' Impact On ...Business Insider.  See realtime coverage

Rising mortgage rates hit home affordability (USA Today, 7/13).May may be the last month mortgage rates will boost home affordability. ... TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Rate on 30-year mortgage hits 2-year high (USA Today, 7/13). CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-Wells rides high on 'mortgage horse,' but run may end soon (Reuters, 7/13). Related News: Wells rides high on 'mortgage horse,' but run may end soon (7/12).   Wall St. rises on banks' results; S&P's best week since January (7/12).  JPMorgan defies bond woes, but troubles may lie ahead (7/12).  Stock price drop takes glow off U.S. consumer sentiment (7/12).  WebMD to swing to profit in second quarter on increased ad sales (7/12).   Analysis & Opinion: Fannie, Freddie shareholders demand lost dividends from U.S. in new class action.  Rate reform will test China’s modernising mettle.

Mortgage bill faces toug road in Congress (Boston.com | AP by REW MIGA, 2/17) A sharply divided Congress isn’t likely to jump at ... bill that supporters say could help millions of homeowners save big each year and boost the economy.

Future of the Mortgage Industry to be Decided in Tidal Wave of Regulations (in Next 6 Months) (Mortgage News Daily by Jann Swanson, 01/16/13) David H. Stevens , President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) , told member of the Exchequer Club on Wednesday that in the 12 months since he last addressed them there had been some progress in clearing the uncertainty of a year earlier and an improving housing market. The first of the... From MND NewsWire: Loan Officer Compensation Rules Finalized Appraisal Rules for Higher-Price Mortgages Released by Regulators Number of Underwater Borrowers Declines as Home Prices Rise December Housing Starts up Strongly; Permits Hold Steady New Servicer Rules Address Disconnect in a "Broken System"

Homeowners and sellers escape 'fiscal cliff' with key benefits (LA Times by Kenneth R. Harney, 01/13/13) The 'fiscal cliff' legislation, close to a total win for homeowners and sellers, revived 2 key tax benefits for housing that had expired more than a year ago.   Good news about real estate: Home equity is growing again Losses on reverse mortgages prompt FHA to make changes Public opinion polls mixed on proposed housing deduction caps FHA to extend rule permitting loans on 'flips' of fixed-up homes

Fed Gives Clear Criteria for Rate Increase (4-traders, 12/12/12) ... For the first time Wednesday, Fed officials gave "thresholds" for when it will consider increasing interest rates: the unemployment rate reaches 6.5%, projected shorter-term inflation is no more than 2.5%, and longer-term inflation expectations are well anchored. ... hitting the employment threshold would "not immediately trigger" a rate increase, ...  The central bank has said it will continue such programs until the labor market "substantially improves. ...

Will Mortgage Deduction Survive Fiscal Cliff? (ABC News bY Shushannah Walshe, 12/03) Could the Home Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Be Eliminated in the Fiscal Cliff Negotiations?

‘Fiscal cliff’ talks may jeopardize tax deductions and home values (WP by By Kenneth R. Harney, 11/30) Fiscal cliff” negotiations may prompt changes in tax benefits that could ... for mortgage interest and local property taxes were cut significantly? Home prices rise again in September

Strong new home sales brighten housing picture (Routers by Lucia Mutikani, 10/24) New U.S. single-family home sales surged in September to the highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years, further evidence the housing market recovery is gaining steam.

Refinancing: How To Wade Through The Choppy Waters (NPR Tell Me More, H VIVIANA HURTADO, 8/21) Interest rates on mortgages are at an all-time low. But refinancing can be a daunting process. Financial guru and author Louis Barajas ... and what consumers can do to make the process go more smoothly.

Rising Home Prices In The U.S. (NPR Diane Rehm Show 8/09/12) For the first time in seven years, home prices are going up. What fewer foreclosures, record low mortgage rates and renewed investor enthusiasm mean for the U.S housing market and the overall economy. Related Items: Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century; The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive.

Housing recovery could lift jobs, spending (@CNNMoney by Annalyn, 8/7) Could the real estate freeze finally be thawing? After years of depressed activity, home prices and new construction have started to pick up in recent months as foreclosures have slowed, suggesting the housing market may have finally bounced off the bottom. ...

$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses (Yahoo!News 2/9/2012, by DEREK KRAVITZ AP Real Estate Writer) "A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation's top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But ... The deal will reduce loans for only a fraction of those Americans who owe more than their homes are worth. ..."

What Obama’s housing plan means for you (The Washionton Post 2/1/2012, by Sara Kehaulani Goo) "The administration says the average homeowner would save $3,000 a year."

Housing Market Shows Signs of Life (by WSJ Staff 1/19/2012) This month, confidence among builders of single-family homes is at its highest level since June 2007.... expectations for sales over the next six months all rose.

Mortage And Real Estate News (Mortgage News Daily 4/18):

(4/16) MBS RECAP: Bonds Keep losing Ground. Defensive Positioning or Something Worse?