http://stacylbowers.com Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:31:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Behind in your mortgage? A new law requires mortgage lenders to give homeowners in default a notice about requesting a loan modification review or a meeting with the lender to discuss options for preventing a foreclosure. While the law requires the meeting, it does not require servicers or lenders to modify homeowners' ... http://stacylbowers.com/2011/08/23/idaho-law-to-help-troubled-homeowners-goes-into-effect-sept-1/ NAR released its latest pending home sales index figure last week and for the second month in a row the index is up. But more than that, the index has broken 100. This is significant because the only time since the housing boom collapsed that the index has broken 100 ... http://stacylbowers.com/2012/01/05/2012-homes-salespositive-on-many-fronts/ Government, the mortgage industry and forces of nature all shook the housing market in 2011. They had both an immediate impact and slow-burning effects, setting the stage for a bumpy 2012 with more foreclosures, political battles and local market risks. 1)      Robo-Signing Reverberations The “robo-signing” scandal – where banks were accused of ... http://stacylbowers.com/2012/01/05/5-events-that-really-mattered-for-housing-in-2011-and-beyond/ by Martin Wolk If you are underwater on your home or struggling to pay your mortgage, you are probably wondering whether you can expect relief under a $25 billion settlement reached by state and federal officialswith the nation's biggest banks. The short answer is, you probably won't know right away. According to details laid ... http://stacylbowers.com/2012/02/10/what-the-mortgage-settlement-means-to-you/ HomePath® Buyer Incentive: June 14 – October 31 Fannie Mae is currently offering buyers up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through October 31, 2011. Terms and Conditions: Buyers and/or selling agents (the agent representing the buyer) must request the incentive upon submission of initial offer. Initial offer must be submitted on or after June ... http://stacylbowers.com/2011/07/19/fannie-mae-first-look-programs/ NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The downward cycle in home prices broke in April after eight consecutive months of decline, according to a survey released Tuesday. According to the S&P/Case Shiller 20-city index, prices rose 0.7% compared with March, although they fell 0.1% when adjusted for the strong spring selling season. Prices ... http://stacylbowers.com/2011/07/19/home-prices-rise-snap-8-month-dropping-streak/ Housing starts rose 14.6% in June, according toCommerce Department data, continuing gains of the prior month and coming in well above most analysts' estimates. On a seasonally adjusted basis, starts increased to the highest level since January at 629,000, up from a revised 549,000 for May and nearly 17% higher than ... http://stacylbowers.com/2011/07/19/housing-starts-up-14-6-in-june-to-629000/ Fannie Mae has recently announced a special incentive effective with offers submitted on or after April 11th. Buyer must sign the Owner Occupant Certification Rider to the Real Estate Purchase Addendum. HomePath® Buyer Incentive Fannie Mae is currently offering buyers up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through June 30, 2011. The HomePath property buyer must ... http://stacylbowers.com/2011/05/03/fannie-mae-buyer-incentive/ The Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) have launched a new program to make home ownership a reality through its IdaMortgage program. The new Affordable Advantage Loan offers a down payment as low as $1,000, and has no mortgage insurance requirement, saving qualified borrowers money on ... http://stacylbowers.com/2010/06/11/idaho-housing-and-finance-association-launches-new-program/ Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension- The Waiting Game The Senate has adopted Senator Harry Reid's (D-NV) amendment to the pending jobs and extenders legislation (HR 4213) that would extend the closing date for the homebuyer tax credit from June 30, 2010 to September 30, 2010. The amendment would apply only to purchasers ... http://stacylbowers.com/2010/06/27/homebuyer-tax-credit-extension/