ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS

2012 

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What is a reverse mortgage? A reverse mortgage is a government-insured home loan that lets homeowners turn some of the equity from their home into cash. The difference between a reverse mortgage and a standard home equity loan is that reverse mortgage consumers must be age 62 or older, must own t...
01/31/2012

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According to an investigation by NPR and ProPublica, Freddie Mac may be profiting off homeowners' high-rate mortgages. The report suggests that at the same time the agency was profiting, it was also making it more difficult for those locked in high-rate mortgages to refinance. Freddie and its cou...
01/30/2012

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Government officials announced Monday that the nation's five biggest mortgage lenders have agreed to overhaul the industry, after robo-signing and deceptive foreclosure practices caused many consumers to lose their homes. The proposed settlement could reach $25 billion. Even so, those who lost th...
01/24/2012

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On Friday, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced it would toughen standards for lenders authorized to insure mortgages on its behalf, without first submitting documents to the agency. This news comes after it was revealed the 30-day delinquency rate on FHA mortgages neared 18 percent...
01/23/2012

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This week was big for housing news, and the latest data suggests there's reason for cautious optimism about this year's real estate market. U.S. loan delinquency rates fell in year-over-year in December, down 7.7 percent from 2010. That rate is unchanged from November, but represents a significan...
01/20/2012

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Moving is exciting, but it's also stressful. The packing, unpacking and cleaning can get to be too much for just about anyone, but these helpful moving tips should make your new house feel like a home in no time. The full list is on my CBS MoneyWatch blog, but here are a few of my favorites: Chan...
01/18/2012

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The GOP presidential race is in full swing and, as always, the media is tracking the candidates' every move. From what they wear to where they live, Americans want to know everything they can about the Republicans running for office.  The candidates' homes are nothing short of extraordinary. Demo...
01/16/2012

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Anyone who has ever been house-hunting knows that after you see enough houses, everything begins to run togther. When you've visited tons of open houses, it's hard to remember which home was a ranch and which a split-level. But there's always a place that's unforgettable, and it's likely these od...
01/13/2012

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According to a report released by RealtyTrac today, foreclosure filings fell 34 percent in 2011. That seems like good news, but it's deceiving. The reason behind the decline is not more people paying their mortgage, but the robosigning controversey that spurred lenders to perform a massive review...
01/12/2012

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Last Friday, Freddie Mac announced unemployed homeowners will be allowed to reduce to suspend mortgage payments for up to a year under a new policy announced by the mortgage finance firm. The new rules will take effect on February 1, 2012. According to the news release, Freddie Mac will give mort...
01/10/2012
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