Real Estate Seattle

During Geneva speech, US secretary of state cites evidence that al-Qaida was seeking to conduct biological attacks in Afghanistan

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Clinton-Warns-of-Bio-Weapons-Threat-Terrorism-135175433.html

Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment

Share your views on the real estate news you need to read

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/y1V8ishNXRI/inman-news-reader-survey-participate-chance-win-250-gift-card

Realty Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures

What goes around comes around. None of this could be more true than America’s returned fascination with mid-century modern design. Popularized by AMC’s TV show “Mad [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-21/mid-century-design-quality-and-style-built-to-last/

Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices

Today, President Obama announced commitments from 60 major CEOS, universities, mayors, labor leaders, and others to improve the energy efficiency of 1.6 billion square feet of commercial and industrial property. That’s more square footage than 500 Empire State Buildings.

Refitting our nation’s buildings to be more energy efficient will help businesses save money, create jobs for out-of-work construction workers, and help protect our environment. In fact, meeting President Obama’s Better Building Initiative goal—improving energy efficiency in our commercial buildings 20 percent by 2020—will save businesses $40 billion per year and create 114,000 jobs.

President Obama knows that we can’t wait on Congress to offer incentives for building owners to move forward with energy efficiency upgrades on their properties. That’s why he partnered with the former President Bill Clinton and his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to spur the $2 billion private sector investment that led to today’s announcement. To jumpstart even more energy efficient upgrades, President Obama also directed Federal agencies to make at least $2 billion worth of energy efficiency upgrades in the next two years.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/05/president-obama-welcomes-2011-kennedy-center-honorees-white-house

Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes

Activists call on government to develop clean supplies of energy since coal contributes to greenhouse gases, climate change

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/South-Africa-Under-Fire-for-Dirty-Energy-135088123.html

Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment

Like many of us in this business I have been awe struck by the rate of decline in almost everything related to the housing industry over the last...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRealEstateBookBlog/~3/YHl6opSH5zg/

Housing Starts

We can have clean air and reliable electricity at the same time. That’s the clear conclusion from a new report by the Department of Energy (DOE) released today. This confirms what the United States has always experienced in the 40 year history of the Clean Air Act – namely, the ability to safeguard public health without compromising the ability to keep the lights on in communities across the country.

Over the past few years, to build on four decades of success under the Clean Air Act, the Obama Administration has taken a series of historic actions to reduce harmful air pollution and promote public health. The new standards that we have established to slash mercury emissions, curb cross-state pollution, and make cars and trucks more efficient will result in enormous economic and health benefits to society. For example, the recently finalized cross-state air pollution rule alone is expected to prevent up to 34,000 premature deaths each year.

These are all appropriate and necessary steps to protect families and the environment that can and must be implemented in a way that maintains reliability of the electric grid. Historically speaking, the electric utility sector has a strong track record of providing both safe and reliable electricity to American consumers. Grid operators, states, generators, and federal agencies have developed tools, procedures, and technologies to ensure the continued reliable delivery of electricity to consumers.

Nonetheless, a few industry voices argue that the Administration’s new standards will undermine grid reliability. Many of those claims have been based on early or incomplete predictions about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules. That’s why the independent analysis carried out by DOE is so important. Their analysis modeled a “stress test” scenario that deliberately went well beyond the requirements of the new clean air standards being put into place by the EPA. The point of the analysis was to test whether even under extreme conditions there would be enough power generating capacity to meet peak electricity demand throughout the country. The result: the power grid passed with flying colors.

Additionally, the DOE report finds that the law allows enough time for utilities to upgrade their power plants or add new generation – and that in specific cases where localized issues do arise, the Clean Air Act already provides the tools and necessary flexibility to address those concerns on a plant-specific or local basis.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/01/clean-air-and-electricity-delivery

Realty Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures

From one star to another — that’s usually how the celebrity real estate game is played… even with homes for rent. Former child star of “Malcolm [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-12-01/frankie-munizs-home-for-rent-again/

Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market Realty

If you’ve had a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan for a few years, you’ll know that December is the end of Medicare Open Enrollment. This year, the last day for you to choose new Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2012 is December 7, earlier than it’s been in previous years.

December 7 is tomorrow. But you still have until midnight tomorrow if you want to make a change to your medical or prescription drug coverage.

And as you are reviewing your plan, remember that Medicare is only getting stronger. New data released today shows how millions of seniors have gotten cheaper prescription drugs and free preventive services, all thanks to the President’s health reform law.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole is starting to close. Through the end of October, 2.65 million people with Medicare have received discounts on brand name drugs in the donut hole. These discounts have saved seniors and people with disabilities a total of $1.5 billion on prescriptions – averaging about $569 per person. For State-by-State information on the number of people who are benefiting from this discount in 2011, visit this page.

Over the coming years, the Affordable Care Act will help close the coverage gap completely. Each year from now to 2020, you’ll pay less for brand name and generic drugs in the coverage gap. And in 2020, the coverage gap will be eliminated and the donut hole will be closed for good.

In addition to cheaper prescription drugs, the Affordable Care Act also made preventive services available to people with Medicare for free. Preventive care helps people stay healthy and live longer lives. Through the end of November nearly 24.2 million people with Medicare have received one or more free preventive services, including Medicare’s new free Annual Wellness Visit. For State-by-State information on the numbers of people who are utilizing preventive services in 2011, visit this page.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/06/open-enrollment-ends-people-medicare-save-15-billion-prescriptions

Freddie Mac Mortgage Crisis Real Estate Agents Housing Market

Jennifer Hudson is under contract to purchase a mammoth 12,000-sq ft mansion in the Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-12-01/jennifer-hudson-buying-12000-sqft-burr-ridge-mansion/

Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties

Proponents of urban farming are pushing to change those laws so that those animals ? and a few crops ? are making the move to the city.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-21/little-farm-in-the-big-city/

Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices

If you’ve had a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan for a few years, you’ll know that December is the end of Medicare Open Enrollment. This year, the last day for you to choose new Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2012 is December 7, earlier than it’s been in previous years.

December 7 is tomorrow. But you still have until midnight tomorrow if you want to make a change to your medical or prescription drug coverage.

And as you are reviewing your plan, remember that Medicare is only getting stronger. New data released today shows how millions of seniors have gotten cheaper prescription drugs and free preventive services, all thanks to the President’s health reform law.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole is starting to close. Through the end of October, 2.65 million people with Medicare have received discounts on brand name drugs in the donut hole. These discounts have saved seniors and people with disabilities a total of $1.5 billion on prescriptions – averaging about $569 per person. For State-by-State information on the number of people who are benefiting from this discount in 2011, visit this page.

Over the coming years, the Affordable Care Act will help close the coverage gap completely. Each year from now to 2020, you’ll pay less for brand name and generic drugs in the coverage gap. And in 2020, the coverage gap will be eliminated and the donut hole will be closed for good.

In addition to cheaper prescription drugs, the Affordable Care Act also made preventive services available to people with Medicare for free. Preventive care helps people stay healthy and live longer lives. Through the end of November nearly 24.2 million people with Medicare have received one or more free preventive services, including Medicare’s new free Annual Wellness Visit. For State-by-State information on the numbers of people who are utilizing preventive services in 2011, visit this page.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/06/open-enrollment-ends-people-medicare-save-15-billion-prescriptions

Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners

Last night President Obama was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, their daughters Malia and Sasha and "Grandmother in Chief" Marian Robinson to light a brand new National Christmas Tree in the President's Park outside the White House. This year's tree replaces one that was part of the national tradition for 30 years , until it was lost in a storm earlier this year.

In his remarks, the President wished Americans "the merriest of Christmases" and reminded everyone to keep the central message of the holiday season in their hearts:

In this season of hope, let’s help those who need it most –- the homeless, the hungry, the sick and shut in. In this season of plenty, let’s reach out to those who struggle to find work or provide for their families. In this season of generosity, let’s give thanks and honor to our troops and our veterans, and their families who've sacrificed so much for us. And let’s welcome all those who are happily coming home.

And this holiday season, let us reaffirm our commitment to each other, as family members, as neighbors, as Americans, regardless of our color or creed or faith. Let us remember that we are one, and we are a family.

Continuing another tradition, the First Lady read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the crowd before the lighting ceremony began, and this year she was joined by Kermit the Frog.

View photos from the event and watch the President's remarks and the First Lady's reading below.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/02/obama-family-starts-new-tradition-national-tree-lighting-ceremony

President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae Freddie Mac

By Stefanos Chen It may sound like a cliche to trot out fire safety tips before the holiday season, but if there’s one statistic that bears [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-30/fire-hazards-even-greater-in-todays-homes-experts-say/

Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams

Creation of a multi-agency task force was announced on Thursday designed specifically to deter scam artists preying on homeowners looking for help under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). The task force will operate under the auspices of the Department of the Treasury, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) and the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP.)

SIGTARP, the CFPB, and Treasury will investigate mortgage modification schemes, among other things, in which companies charge struggling homeowners a fee in exchange for false promises of lowering the homeowner's mortgage debt or payments through HAMP.

Simultaneous with the announcement of its creation, the task force issued a consumer fraud alert to protect homeowners from HAMP-related mortgage modification scams. The alert tells homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments to be aware of con artists that promise to save their homes and lower their mortgage debt or their payments and offers these homeowners specific tips...

...(read more)

Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/12012011_mortgage_fraud.asp

Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae

Find the time to celebrate

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/Nv5tXru1ywc/holidays-are-here-dont-let-real-estate-work-get-in-wa

Mortgage Crisis Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage

In a few weeks House Republicans are expected to release their budget plan for the coming year. It is not 100% clear now whether it will include a comprehensive overhaul of entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security. I am hearing that it will not.

However, Rep. Paul Ryan, the Chairman of the House Budget Committee is to be commended for his willingness to take on the issues that are central to our long-run fiscal imbalance -- Social Security and Medicare. More specifically, Medicare. Because health care spending is the biggest issue. You can read more about that in a previous blog post.

Ryan's solution to Medicare's funding problem is to transform the system into a voucher program.

Future retirees would get a voucher -- effectively a check -- to cover a portion of the cost of buying their health insurance. Those making more money would get a smaller voucher. Lower income beneficiaries would get a larger voucher. If the price of buying medical coverage rises faster than the voucher, beneficiaries would pay more out of pocket. Here is how the Congressional Budget Office described the impact in a letter to Ryan:

Beneficiaries would . . . face higher premiums in the private market for a package of benefits similar to that currently provided by Medicare. Moreover, the value of the voucher would grow significantly more slowly than CBO expects that Medicare spending per enrollee would grow under current law. Beneficiaries would therefore be likely to purchase less comprehensive health plans or plans more heavily managed than traditional Medicare, resulting in some combination of less use of health care services and less use of technologically advanced treatments than under current law. Beneficiaries would also bear the financial risk for the cost of buying insurance policies or the cost of obtaining health care services beyond what would be covered by their insurance.

This is a fundamentally different approach to Medicare, but one that holds the promise of trimming spending dramatically. If beneficiaries saw more of the true cost of their health insurance, they are likely to demand more cost savings from providers. Or they will trim spending on treatments they deem discretionary.

So why isn't Ryan likely to propose this plan next month? Because the public already doesn't want any part of it. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found most Americans don't want Congress to cut spending on Medicare.

We're still caught in a world where the public sees the fiscal cure as being worse than the disease of living beyond our national means.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/03/vouchers_and_medicare.html

Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama

Study reveals men more likely to find the best deals

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/V5w3Z0apkWs/women-dont-shop-enough-home-loans

Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes

This week more than 2,000 government, civil society and private sector leaders have gathered in Busan, South Korea with one goal: to improve the quality and effectiveness of development aid.

The setting is especially significant; 50 years ago, South Korea was largely a country of peasant farmers. It was poorer than North Korea and than two-thirds of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its people barely lived past the age of 54.

Today, South Korea is a high-tech hub, an emerging donor and its people have some of the longest life expectancies in the world. South Korea also happens to be the seventh largest market for American goods; we sell more to the South Koreans than we do to the French. The free trade agreement President Obama recently signed with South Korea means we’ll be selling even more to Seoul in the future, leading to high-paying American jobs.

South Korea’s economic miracle—from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most advanced —serves as a powerful example of how effective foreign assistance can be, if delivered well and used wisely to catalyze growth. With a focus on transparency, mutual accountability, strong private sector engagement and meaningful results, development assistance can help developing countries thrive.

President Obama, Secretary Clinton, CEO Yohannes, and I have worked hard to reform the way America delivers assistance abroad. As part of our nation’s first ever Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, we’ve made our assistance more transparent, accountable and effective.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/01/improving-quality-and-effectiveness-international-development-aid

Mortgage Crisis Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage

Tuesday night in Talequah, Oklahoma, SBA’s Deputy Administrator Marie Johns and I had the chance to talk with nearly 20 young Native American entrepreneurs. They had great ideas for building businesses, ranging from construction to IT, to defense contracting. As someone who grew up in a small-business family on a reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina, I could relate to their needs, concerns, and questions.

Today, I work with Native entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the U.S., helping them find the tools they need to grow and create jobs. For example, we helped over 500 firms owned by Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians to get SBA loans and microloans in the fiscal year that just ended.

Today, the most important way we can continue to help these small businesses is through the President’s proposals in the American Jobs Act. For example, President Obama has proposed cutting in half payroll taxes, which will help more than 20,000 Native American owned businesses as they continue to grow and create jobs.

In addition, about 1.5 million Native American workers – throughout urban, rural, reservation and village communities – will benefit from the extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut, giving them and their families more money to keep our local economies strong at this critical time.

This Friday, the SBA’s Administrator Karen Mills and other leaders throughout the Administration will be hosting the third White House Tribal Nations Conference to discuss these and other issues affecting our communities.

I will be excited to share with them the accomplishments that SBA has made in recent years: from high-intensity training for over 200 Native American entrepreneurs, to technology transfer partnerships between tribal colleges and local businesses, to counseling for Native American veterans, and more.Also, last month, as part of National Native American Heritage Month, I hosted SBA’s web chat with Native business owners throughout the U.S. to underscore economic growth and job creation for Native Americans.

Looking forward to 2012, we will be working even harder, with new primers and distance learning courses targeted at increasing the strength and number of successful Native-American owned businesses.

Last night, as I listened to the young entrepreneurs that I met, I was reminded again of the power and strength of America’s entrepreneurial spirit in Indian Country. Let’s make sure that both today’s and tomorrow’s Native American job creators have the tools they need to build a business and create jobs.

Christopher James is the Assistant Administrator for Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/01/empowering-america-s-job-creators-indian-country

Mortgage Home Loan Short Sale Waterfront Homes

32013 Point Pl, Laguna Beach CA For Sale: $9,995,000 A home completely invisible from the street with a tunnel passageway to the front door and a [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-12-02/house-of-the-week-floating-glass-home-in-laguna-beach/

Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook

This afternoon, President Obama went to the briefing room to urge Congress to pass tax cuts for the middle class before they go home for the holidays. Immediately following the briefing, the White House launched a countdown clock on WhiteHouse.gov and in the press briefing room, to let people know exactly how much time is left before taxes go up for middle class families unless Congress acts.

Check out this email from David Plouffe about the countdown clock and the tax cut calculator. If you didn't get the email, be sure to sign up for the White House email list.

It's simple. If lawmakers don't vote to extend the payroll tax cut, taxes for 160 million Americans will go up on January 1st.

President Obama just left the press briefing room at the White House where he called on Congress to extend the tax cut, pay for it responsibly, and expand it so middle class families get a $1,500 break next year.

He told Congress to put country before party and stop wasting time.

Every day, folks are fighting to make ends meet and businesses are working to keep their doors open. The longer Congress waits to extend the payroll tax cut, the more uncertainty it creates for ordinary Americans. So we've put a clock on every page of the White House website, counting down the days, hours, and minutes until taxes for the middle class increase. In the briefing room, where the President just spoke, that same clock is ticking down as well.

And to make sure you have the information you need to know exactly what this means for your family, we've put together a calculator to show how much of your money hangs in the balance.

This calculator illustrates for you what nearly every independent economist has said: letting this tax cut expire will be a blow to the economy. We can’t let that happen. Now is the time to make a real difference in the lives of the people who sent us here.

Check it out and pass it along:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/taxcut

Thanks,

David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/05/clock-ticking

Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama

From one star to another — that’s usually how the celebrity real estate game is played… even with homes for rent. Former child star of “Malcolm [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-12-01/frankie-munizs-home-for-rent-again/

Home Warranties Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures

Public records, valuation sometimes miss vital details

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/-KtiG2E5mgI/4-ways-overcome-appraisal-roadblocks

Realty Market Realty Economy Interest Rates

President Barack Obama delivers a statement to the Press in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Dec. 05, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Just after 2:00 PM ET, President Obama stopped by the White House press briefing room to talk about the fight to extend the payroll tax cut.

"It's the right thing to do," he said -- not just for the economy, but for American workers and their families:

Although the unemployment rate went down last month, our recovery is still fragile, and the situation in Europe has added to that uncertainty. And that's why the majority of economists believe it's important to extend the payroll tax cut. And those same economists would lower their growth estimates for our economy if it doesn’t happen.

Not only is extending the payroll tax cut important for the economy as a whole, it's obviously important for individual families. It's important insurance for them against the unexpected. It will help families pay their bills. It will spur spending. It will spur hiring.

On Thursday, the Senate voted on extending the tax cut, but Republicans blocked the proposal. The President, however, said we're starting to see evidence that lawmakers might be ready to put politics aside and do the right thing for the middle class:

Now, the good news is I think the American people's voices are starting to get through in this town. I know that last week Speaker Boehner said this tax cut helps the economy because it allows every working American to keep more of their money. I know that over the weekend Senate Republican leaders said we shouldn’t raise taxes on working people going into next year.

Congress has 26 days to find a solution to this impasse. To underscore that point, we've started a clock on WhiteHouse.gov, counting down the time until the tax cut expires. And to make sure you have the information you need to see what this means for your family, we've put together a calculator to show how much of your money hangs in the balance. Check it out here.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/05/president-obama-urges-congress-extend-and-expand-payroll-tax-cut

Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts

We couldn’t be more excited about the launch of one of the most buzzed about new products of the year - the Amazon Kindle Fire. When we first heard about the Kindle Fire, we knew we had to bring Trulia onto the Amazon platform. After weeks of hard work by our talented mobile engineering team, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/OzPdc3dJJL0/

Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama

Sixteen House Democrats have asked the Federal Housing Finance Agency to justify its position on reducing principal on loans owned by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 16 Democratic members of the committee sent a letter to FHFA Acting Director Edward DeMarco Wednesday seeking documents he promised the Committee regarding his analysis of programs to reduce mortgage principle.

DeMarco allegedly told members of the Committee at a hearing on November 16 "We have been through the analytics of the underwater borrowers at Fannie and Freddie, and looked at the foreclosure alternative programs that are available, and we have concluded that the use of principal reduction within the context of a loan modification is not going to be the least-cost approach for the taxpayer." When a committee member pointed out that several banks are already implementing principal reduction programs in an attempt to help delinquent or underwater homeowners and citing specific examples, DeMarco said "I believe that the decisions that we've made with regard to principal forgiveness are consistent with our statutory mandate." DeMarco then committed to providing documentation of that statutory authority to the Committee.

In a letter sent to DeMarco on Wednesday, the Cummings essentially reminded DeMarco of his agreement to provide the Committee with "(1) the specific statutory provision you believe prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) from allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce mortgage principal in all cases; and (2) the analysis you conducted, including the data you examined, demonstrating that principal reduction never serves the long-term interests of the taxpayer when compared to foreclosure." DeMarco was asked to provide the information no later than December 9.

The letter cites specific instance of bank programs providing principal reduction. One program at Ocwen allows a servicer to reduce a loan to 95% of a home's fair market value, forgiving the excess principal over three years as long as the homeowner remains current on mortgage payments. When the home is sold or refinanced Ocwen receives a 25 percent share of any appreciated value. Wells Fargo has reportedly reduced the balances of 73,000 mortgages by an average of $51,000. Other banks cited as having principal reduction programs are JP Morgan Chase, Ally Financial and Bank of America.

Cummings said of the Committee members' request, "For too long now we have heard superficial excuses about why principal reduction programs are not feasible at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, despite a growing chorus of economists and other experts who believe these programs serve the long-term interests of taxpayers. Even though commercial banks have implemented their own principal reduction programs, FHFA stubbornly continues to favor massive waves of foreclosures. It's high time to see the actual data and analyses behind this policy, and to work towards new approaches that finally put American homeowners and our nation's economy first."

...(read more)

Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/11302011_fhfa_administration.asp

Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook

In the movie "Duck Soup," Chico Marx poses the politician's most important question: "Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"

In 2010, voters looked at the President's plan to overhaul health care and rein in Medicare spending and decided, by and large, they did not like it. Newspapers and broadcasts were filled with details of the plan. Yes there was lots of misinformation, but there was lots of information out there too.

Voters decided with their own eyes on "Obamacare." And yet, many Democrats still argue, if only the law was better understood, it would be more popular. In other words, Democrats asked many voters, "Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"

Now it is the Republican's turn. Prompted by concerns about the Ryan budget's cuts in Medicare, voters in a safe Republican district in New York elected a Democrat. For perspective, this is the fourth time in 150 years New York's 26th has sent a Democrat to Washington.

How are many GOP lawmakers reacting? They argue their plan is misunderstood. Voters are subject to a campaign of demagoguery. Sure, the messages on Medicare in the campaign were subject to hyperbole. But, there was lots of coverage about the Ryan plan. Rep. Ryan had many opportunities to explain why Medicare is in trouble. Voters who wanted to know what's going on had ample opportunity to study the Ryan plan and learn about it.

And, when voters in New York's 26th did that, many decided they did not like what they were seeing. Now it's the Republicans who are asking voters, "Who are you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"

Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/05/are_the_people_wrong.html

Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages Household Moving

Early results show Putin's United Russia Party carrying about 48 percent of the votes, compared to 64 percent of the vote four years ago

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Russian-Ruling-Party-Weakened-as-Voters-Choose-New-Parliament-134992618.html

President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae Freddie Mac

As the holidays approach, I?m always asked the same questions: Should we keep our property on the real estate market or take it off? Do we [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-21/should-you-consider-listing-your-home-during-the-holidays/

Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage Home Loan

Another NBA player has his home on the market while waiting for the lockout to subside.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-28/mavericks-jason-kidd-lists-dallas-condo-for-1-595-million/

Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment

Pictured above, Apple’s Steve Jobs from our resident Mac maniac. Sure, Halloween is still a few days away, but at Foreclosure.com we decided to celebrate a little early to ensure a fun, frightening Friday. Several (but not all) of our employees were up for the task, coming into work today all decked out and even [...]

Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/10/2011-halloween-costumes-ideas-from-foreclosure-com-staff/

Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes

An avid bicyclist couple who race nationally and internationally began their new-home journey looking for a place to store their bikes and ended up building a new, three-story wood and glass contemporary house. Nancy Keates explains on Lunch Break.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/video/15-million-bike-storage/D8678E1D-9882-424F-9F6C-0...

Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes

LPS report reveals hopeful long-term trends

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/RtMYbrThjw0/record-number-homes-in-foreclosure

Housing Market Mortgage Home Loan Short Sale

Combining batts, loose-fill fiberglass can create moisture issues

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/lQw5TyMnqgs/must-dos-when-adding-attic-insulation

Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes

Zillow has saved search emails so that you can get updates when your favorite slice of real estate hits the market or gets a price cut.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-21/back-to-basics-saved-search-emails/

Hope for home owners Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Mortgage Crisis

The Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA-OIG) will report to Congress today on its oversight of FHFA. This division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development acts as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the two government sponsored enterprises (GSE.) This semi-annual report which covers the period of April 1 to September 30, 2011 follows 10 other audit and evaluation reports issued by the FHFA-OIG since FHFA was founded in early 2009.

FHFA-OIG found many positives about the work done by FHFA over the relevant period in its dual role as regulator and conservator. Among the positive findings:

Eliminating the "golden parachute" compensation awards to terminated GSE executives;
Taking steps to mitigate a shortage of qualified examiners;
Moving toward improving GSE repurchase claims recoveries and reducing GSE losses;
Responding to FHFA-OIG's recommendations to improve the agency's effectiveness and efficiency and reduce its vulnerability to fraud, waste, or abuse.
FHFA-OIG found no evidence that the agency's independence has been compromised in connection with the Making Home Affordable (MHA) programs;

On the downside, FHFA-OIG found deficiencies in the agency's operations and relates them to two underlying themes. First, FHFA gave undue deference to GSE decision-making without adequately testing and validating those determinations. Second, its allocation of resources may have affected its ability to supervise the GSEs and enforce its directives. These themes, the report says, have emerged in multiple previous reports from the FHFA-OIG.

In four previous reports FHFA-OIG identified significant occasions in which the agency deferred to GSE decision making without adequately validating the underlying data.

Freddie Mac's assessment of mortgage repurchase claim issues with Bank of America.

At the end of 2010 the agency approved a $1.35 million settlement to resolve repurchase claims Freddie Mac had placed against the bank. FHFA-OIG found that FHFA did not test concerns raised by its own senior examiner about limitations in Freddie Mac's existing loan review process which failed to account adequately for changes in foreclosure patterns among loans originated during the housing boom. This could potentially cost the GSEs considerable amounts of money.
FHFA provided only limited oversight of the GSEs administration of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

FHFA-OIG found that FHFA largely removed itself from overseeing the negotiations of the five-year agreements between the GSEs and the Department of the Treasury to run HAMP, a key component of MHA, believing that its appropriate role was to ensure that the GSEs were legally authorized to administer HAMP. Thus FHFA did not engage in any formal substantive review to evaluate the agreement's feasibility, risks, or the suitability of the GSEs to run the program. This disengagement may have led to the agreement's failure to address significant details concerning payments to the GSEs, the scope of their responsibilities, and methods to resolve disputes; areas where significant problems occurred almost from the beginning.
FHFA did not fully analyze factors related to executive compensation at the GSEs.

During 2009 and 2010 FHFA approved payment of over $35 million in compensation to the six top executives at the GSEs based on the GSE's recommendations. The FHFA-OIG found that FHFA did not test or evaluate such factors as the lower levels of compensation paid to senior officials in similar roles at other federal agencies or whether compensation should be discounted to reflect the significant federal financial support to the GSEs.
FHFA does not perform sufficient transaction testing of Enterprise Activities.

Transaction testing is the method employed by examiners to derive independent impressions about the financial and operational conditions at a financial institution and its compliance with applicable laws and regulations. FHFA-OIG found that examiners too often accept assertions made by GSE managers without appropriate transaction testing.

Other problems found the FHFA-OIG illustrated the role a lack of appropriate resource allocation may have played in the oversight of the GSEs.

FHFA may have too few examiners to meet its regulatory and conservatorship responsibilities.
Internal reviews indicate that FHFA has too few examiners to ensure efficient and effective examinations and only 34 percent of these examiners are accredited federal financial examiners. FHFA has taken steps to mitigate this shortage but it needs to move quickly and aggressively in this area.
Sufficient resources were not allocated to handle consumer complaints.
FHFA-OIG found that FHFA had assigned only two employees on a part-time basis to handle consumer complaints. Given the substantial increase in consumer complaints arising from the deteriorating housing situation, this staff shortage may have caused FHFA to overlook consumer complains about foreclosure processing abuses and fraud.
FHFA did not identify and address new and emerging risks potentially impacting the GSEs.
FHFA did not begin to schedule comprehensive examination of foreclosure issues until news stories about alleged abuses surfaced in mid-2010 and had not previously considered risks associated with foreclosure processing to be significant despite FHFA-OIG findings of multiple indications of problems prior to that time.
FHFA has not enforced directives regarding Fannie Mae's Operational Risk Program.
Between 2006 and 2001 FHFA and its predecessor OFHEO repeatedly found that Fannie Mae had failed to establish an acceptable operational risk management program. FHFA did not take decisive action to compel the GSE's compliance.

The complete report to Congress can be read at http://www.fhfaoig.gov/Content/Files/second%20semiannual%20report.pdf

...(read more)

Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/11292011_fhfa_administration.asp

Hope for home owners Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Mortgage Crisis

In October we sponsored a few InmanNext Webinars presented by Chris Smith. Through his incredible knowledge of social media, we have been able to not only help provide these Webinars to agents and brokers for free, but we have also learned a lot ourselves. We hate keeping this knowledge to ourselves so time to spread [...]

Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/10/31/put-your-best-face-forward-on-facebook-and-twitter/

Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage Home Loan

Not that we’d expect anything less from the billionaire queen of daytime television who now runs her own network, but Oprah Winfrey’s Chicago apartment is a [...]

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-18/rent-some-elegant-views-with-oprahs-apartment/

Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the 2011 Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, for the third year, President Obama hosted the White House Tribal Nations Conference here in Washington, DC. The goal of the event is to provide leaders from America's 565 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with members of the Obama administration -- including the President. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and OMB Deputy Director Heather Higginbottom were all in attendance.

Speaking at the close of the conference, President Obama discussed the work he's done to improve communications between tribal nations and the federal government -- and his commitment to helping Indian communities realize prosperous futures. It's a set of changes that is starting to take effect:

While our work together is far from over, today we can see what change looks like. It's the Native American-owned small business that's opening its doors, or a worker helping a school renovate. It’s new roads and houses. It’s wind turbines going up on tribal lands, and crime going down in tribal communities. That’s what change looks like.

Before his remarks, President Obama signed an executive order to expand educational opportunities for First American students aimed helping to preserve Native languages, cultures, and histories, while ensuring that these young people are prepared for colleges and careers. Read the order here.

President Barack Obama is joined onstage by his adopted Native American parents, Hartford "Sonny" Black Eagle and Mary Black Eagle, during the 2011 Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/02/president-obama-tribal-nations-conference

Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage Home Loan

Let's start out with this: Economists were expecting a soft jobs number for April. Somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 jobs. We got 268,000 private sector jobs and hiring for previous months was revised upwards. Hours were up, a good sign that employers might have some incentive to bring on new workers.

But! There are two sides to an employment report. The government surveys employers to figure out how many people are hiring. And then the government surveys people to figure out how many are looking for work, how have given up looking for work, and how many say they have a job. Divide the number of people who say they are unemployed by the number of people in the labor force and you get the unemployment rate.

If the economy is creating jobs, why did the unemployment rate tick up to 9%? Some of this appears to be statistical noise. Here's what I got back from Daiwa Capital Markets' Michael Moran when I asked him about this:

"I view it as just a random shift. To me, the surprise was how fast unemployment was declining given the growth of the economy. The economy grew only moderately in Q4 and Q1, yet the unemployment fell a full percentage point from November. The quick decline was probably an aberration, and now we are coming back to reality."

The Household Survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found the number of jobs in the economy fell by 190,000 last month. Unemployment went up by 205,000 jobs. Should we believe it? Well, consider that the Labor Department surveys about 50,000 households, but 400,000 employers.

There is a lot more information in the April employment report from employers. Which is why Mark Zandi at Moody's Analytics is taking this view:

"The Household survey results are very volatile month to month due to the small number of households that participate in the survey. Since the job recovery began at the start of 2010, the job gains in the household and payroll surveys are very similar."

Bottom line: Don't worry, be happy -- a little. We still are in a deep hole and there are still 5.8 million people who have been unemployed for more than six months. We need to dig out faster, but we are digging.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/05/a_good_jobs_report_with_some_n.html

Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages

Mortgage applications were down sharply during the week ended November 24, a week that was shortened by the Thanksgiving Day holiday. The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey found that the volume of loan applications as measured by its Market Composite Index was down 11.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis and 39.0 percent on an unadjusted basis from the previous week.

The Refinance Index decreased 15.3 percent from the week ended November 18 and the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index was down 33.7 percent. The Purchase Index was 18.2 percent lower than during the same week in 2010.

The four-week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index was down 3.29 percent and the moving average for the Refinance Index decreased 4.92 percent. The moving average for the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index was up 2.37 percent.

The refinancing portion of overall mortgage applications continued to drop from the year's high of 79.7 percent in September. During the current period refinancing applications represented 73.9 percent of the total compared to 75.9 percent the previous week. This is the lowest share for refinancing since July. Applications for adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) increased to 5.8 percent from 5.7 percent of total applications.

Figures for the month of October indicate that 6.1 percent of mortgage applications for home purchases were filed by investors, up one basis point from September. Much of this increase occurred in the New England region. Applications to purchase second homes decreased from 5.8 percent in September to 5.6 percent in October.

Purchase Index vs 30 Yr Fixed

Click Here to View the Purchase Applications Chart

Refinance Index vs 30 Yr Fixed

Click Here to View the Refinance Applications Chart

Interest rates for most mortgage products decreased during the week as did all effective rates. The average contract rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRM) with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased from 4.23 percent with 0.46 point to 4.21 percent with 0.49 point. Jumbo 30-year FRM (with loan balances greater than $417,500) decreased four basis points to 4.55 percent with points increasing from 0.40 to 0.45.

FHA-backed mortgages (30-year FRM) decreased to 4.00 percent from 4.05 percent, the lowest rate since January while points increased to 0.62 from 0.55.

The rate for 15-year FRM was unchanged at 3.58 percent with points decreasing to 0.45 from 0.53. The rate for 5/1 ARMS was 2.98 percent with 0.47 point compared to 3.00 percent with 0.49 point one week earlier. All rates are for 80 percent loan-to-value loans and all points include the origination fee.

The MBA survey covers over 75 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, and has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts. Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.

...(read more)

Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/11302011_mortgage_applications.asp

Realty Market Realty Economy Interest Rates

Now I know you have all heard of sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, but recently a newer site hit the scene that really caught my attention. KeepSum.com is comparable to other group discount sites, however it?s aimed completely at the Real Estate industry and can get you anywhere from 25-60% off all sorts of useful [...]

Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/10/07/get-familiar-with-keepsum-com/

Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages

By now you have probably hear that the "Gang of Six" senators -- three Democrats and Republicans -- who are trying to strike a grand budget bargain is getting smaller. A spokesman says Sen. Tom Coburn, (R) OK, decided to "take a break" from the Gang yesterday. Others say he left after a shouting match over the deeper cuts he proposed in Medicare.

Budget wonks everywhere were counting on the select six to pull a grand bargain out of their talks. What happened?

In my experience, gangs don't do well in the Senate and for a few good reasons:

1) They wear the wrong tattoos. Street gangs make sure you know who's friend and who is foe. Party ties are the only real gang tattoos that matter in the Senate.
2) The task is always hard. Independent, bipartisan "gang" agreements are not easy to reach on tough issues.
3) The gangs are trying to usurp the legislative process and that creates tension with the real gang leaders who can actually cut deals.
4) Gangs are often used for cover -- to show bipartisan leanings, without actually acting on them.

Of all these, the key reason the Gang of Six failed is #3. When it comes time to declare whether you are "in or out," senators go with the biggest gang there is -- their party.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/05/the_gang_of_six_five_and_the_b.html

Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market Realty

Ruling party expected to win

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Russians-Begin-Voting-in-Parliamentary-Elections--134970128.html

Foreclosure Homes Realty Market Realty Economy

Latest round of protests sparked by a group of hardline Islamists demanded segregation of the sexes at a university

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Islamists-Secularists-Protest-Outside-Tunisian-Parliament----134974753.html

House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment Homes

White House, congressional Democrats continue to press for federal-tax-cut extension that would benefit nearly all wage, salary earners

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/US-Senators-Spar-Over-Key-Tax-Cut-134991588.html

Real Estate Agents Housing Market Mortgage Home Loan

President Obama calls on Congress to extend and expand the payroll tax cut -- to protect middle class families and ensure that the economy continues to grow.

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/03/weekly-address-extending-and-expanding-payroll-tax-cut

Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Sunday, December 4, 2011