Obama bolsters program that insures home loans. More homebuyers depend on government-insured FHA loans and defaults are rising. Federal housing officials take steps to lower the program’s risk.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — With a growing number of homebuyers depending on government-insured loans, the Obama administration is taking steps to shore up the Federal Housing Administration program.
Rising [...]
How to Understand Second Mortgages
The difference between a first and second mortgage is simple. A first mortgage is taken out for the purchase of the home, while a second mortgage is taken out on any residual value between the outstanding loan balance and the value of the home.
Usually, homeowners will take out a second mortgage [...]
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have lower limits on the size of loans they can buy.
WASHINGTON – People looking to buy more expensive homes next year will have fewer options to find financing because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have lower limits on the size of loans they can buy.The changes, effective Jan. [...]
The Ever-Changing Mortgage Loan Requirements
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Are you ready to buy a house in this crazy market? Better bring a boatload of money to the closing.In a brutal real estate market where all the players want to hedge against the tremendous risks, down payment requirements and up-front fees have soared, shutting many [...]
Senate Passes Foreclosure Rescue
WASHINGTON – A mortgage rescue to help hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure and get more affordable, safer loans passed the Senate overwhelmingly Friday, but it faces a bumpy road amid continuing turmoil in the housing market.
The 63-5 vote reflected a keen interest by Democrats and Republicans to send election-year [...]
Down-payment aid debatedHome buyers turning to non-profits for cash
Arizonans treading in the housing market’s choppy waters have found an unusual lifeline – a group of non-profit organizations that siphon down payments from home sellers to buyers.
Use of the decade-old practice known as down-payment assistance has dramatically increased since the demise of subprime lending because it [...]