The improving job market and economy is helping push mortgage delinquencies and foreclosure starts down, but the percentage of loans in the foreclosure process remains stubbornly high, especially in states most affected by robo-signing issues, according to a quarterly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Since peaking at 10.1 percent in March 2010, …
Negotiation strategies differ depending on how well the home is priced and who’s on the other side. If you’re trying to buy a short-sale listing where the lender has to agree to accept less than the amount owed, the seller doesn’t have much say in the negotiations about price unless he can contribute money to …
Continue reading ‘Price is not all that matters in real estate sales’ »
The nation’s unemployment rate continues to trend down. It slipped to 8.5 percent during the month of December as the economy added 200,000 new jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday morning. The reported rate is down from 8.6 percent in November. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised downward …
You’d think with so many homes for sale, there would be no problem finding one to buy. However, plenty of buyers who would like to buy now to take advantage of low interest rates and prices can’t find the right home. One problem is that the most desirable areas don’t have an oversupply of good …
Continue reading ‘Three ways to buy into high-demand real estate market’ »