“Buy and bail” is a phrase often used by real estate professionals to refer to the process in which a buyer attempts to buy a new property before they walk away from an old one and default on their previous loan. Often, the property they walk away from is an “underwater” property that is worth [...]

Before we wallow in all the negative news about the real estate market—wondering if it’s headed for another leg of the recession or a lasting deflationary grind—let’s pause and notice that, according to the Commerce Department, sales increased by a solid 24% from May to June in California. That still leaves us with a very [...]

Good news, rates have been falling for the most of this year. Bad news, rates have probably bottomed and will head higher. Last week brought a gale of game-changing news, contradicting recovery, and a whiff of panic. This holiday-short week was news-thin, and mid-July marks the beginning of an often sleepy season for markets and [...]

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwire – June 22, 2010) –  Existing-home sales remained at elevated levels in May on buyer response to the tax credit, characterized by stabilizing home prices and historically low mortgage interest rates, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Gains in the West and South were offset by a decline in the Northeast; the Midwest [...]

National preoccupation with SpillCam is a useful distraction from a slow-motion blowout in financial markets. The leak in the money well will not harm the environment, but much like the deep-water layers of oil in the Gulf, a slippery mess is uncontained. The stock market is all over the place, but not the credit markets: [...]

New Treasury Department guidelines will go into effect June 1; these guidelines will require loan servicers to verify applicant’s income and financial situation before placing them into trial modification. This will make it more difficult to get a relief from unaffordable mortgage payments, but if people make it into trial modification they are more likely [...]

Legislative Update USDA Funding The USDA extension has been attached to an Appropriations bill (we have been told it is a Defense Authorization bill).  While the extension of the program still appears likely prior to Memorial Day, it is a volatile situation in light of the uncertainty surrounding the timing of  financial reform legislation currently [...]

What I hope to be able to accomplish with this blog is to make sure that borrowers (and Realtors) know that the loan officer is your advocate when preparing your loan for review with their underwriters and processing staff.  Loan officers have a responsibility to not only our employer but to our borrowers – a [...]

The Markets Five little “PIIGS” went for a boat ride. The weather turned very stormy and “G” got tossed overboard without a life jacket. Shortly thereafter, “P” and “S” found themselves overboard and drowning in the water, too. Unable to mount an effective rescue, the other shipmates radioed for help. Fortunately, “EU” and “IMF” were [...]