Tag: income property investing
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Mixed Messages on the Fed’s Securities Buyup
Since it began in the fall of 2012, the Federal Reserve’s large-scale plan to buy up billions of dollars in mortgage backed securities every month to stimulate the housing recovery has waxed and waned, depending on the health of the market. Now, as the program rolls on with no end point in sight, some senior…
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Mortgage Brokering – Another Real Estate Scam?
For many mortgage seekers the tried and true route to a loan is through a bank or perhaps a credit union. But faced with an often bewildering array of loan products and interest rates – as well as the potential for being turned down by one or more lenders – potential homebuyers are increasingly turning…
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Are Major Banks Choking the Housing Recovery?
After the string of lawsuits, settlements and legislative actions related to lax and fraudulent mortgage and foreclosure practices, the nations major lenders are taking a new stand. With stricter lending standards, more transparency and better accountability, these institutions attempt to forestall another mortgage meltdown like the one that created the great housing collapse. But, some…
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Can Owning a Home Hurt Economic Growth?
For decades, the “American Dream” of owning a home has created some of the most enduring icons of the culture: white picket fences and happy children playing in a well kept yard, serene old couples rocking on a porch. But a new study by two university economists casts a disturbing shadow over that dream. High…
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More Apologies from the Fed to Mortgage Settlement Victims
Rust Consulting isn’t exactly a household name – but for many victims of the robosigning scandal of 2009-2010, it may become a dirty word. Yet another apology issued by the Federal Reserve for Ruts’ handling – or mishandling – of settlement checks issued this year highlights the private firm’s “errors” involving bounced checks, short checks…
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Another Housing Bubble? Maybe Not
The housing market is springing back, and that has some housing industry observers looking for a downside. And now, with memories of the recent housing collapse still relatively fresh, some financial and housing experts are finding signs of another one looming on the horizon of rising home prices, short supply and increased demand. But although…
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More Legal Woes for Bank of America?
Will the Bank of America never learn? After a multibillion dollar settlement in the robosigning bank fraud scandal and ongoing court battles related to charges of skewing numbers reported to LIBOR, the bank so many love to hate is in trouble again, facing accusations of bad faith that could jeopardize yet another settlement in yet…
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Student Loan Debt Keeps Women, Minorities Out of Housing
According to a variety of analyses, women and minorities have traditionally ended up on the short end of the economic stick. Now, new studies on the situation of recent college graduates reveal that two groups are also disproportionately burdened with student loan debt– a deepening crisis with potentially profound effects on the recovery of the…
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When the Fed’s in the Red, You Pay More
The housing market may be on the rebound after the great collapse of a few years ago, but the effects of that meltdown are still being felt. Large numbers of homeowners –and small investors – are still seeking relief through government sponsored mortgage assistance and refinancing programs. But because of the demand, the FHA’s mortgage…