Real Estate News
Sales of new homes rose 11.1% in March from February, the Commerce Department said Monday, marking a mild improvement from the worst-ever showing as the effect of winter storms and an expiring California tax credit wore off. The still-bleak reading of a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 300,000 sales represented a 21.9% nose dive from [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 26th, 2011 | Comments Off
Although it has raised fees, the FHA continues to offer much higher and more flexible maximum debt-to-income ratios, far more generous underwriting and lower down payments than conventional lenders. Reporting from Washington— Is the Federal Housing Administration losing some of its post-boom, post-bust oomph? Is the Obama administration’s plan to gradually throttle back the FHA’s [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 25th, 2011 | Comments Off
The government is proposing to limit the best interest rates and terms to buyers who can put 20% down, meet stringent debt limits and have sterling credit. You may have seen reports that the federal government is proposing new mortgage finance rules under which only home purchasers who can afford a minimum 20% down payment [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 18th, 2011 | Comments Off
Like a lot of homeowners, Mar Vista residents Faith and Gary Hunt found money a little tight during the recession and hoped they could work out some more accommodating terms with their lender, Chase bank. To improve their odds, they said they turned to a law firm that said it could possibly cut their mortgage [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 13th, 2011 | Comments Off
An unexpected 81% of U.S. adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center say buying a home is the best long-term investment. The real estate bust appears to have done little to alter Americans’ confidence in the investment value of homeownership. A robust 81% of adults said buying a home is the best long-term investment a [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 12th, 2011 | Comments Off
April 6, 2011 California homeowners who refinanced their properties for cash or took out home equity lines of credit will now be allowed to participate in parts of the state’s $2-billion foreclosure relief initiative. Many people tapped their rising equity during the boom years, using their homes as ATMs to fuel spending. The California Housing [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 6th, 2011 | Comments Off
Stairway to the Stars Celebrates Zina Josephs and Jean Sedillos March 31, 2011 — Parents throughout the Santa Monica-Malibu school district are looking forward to their yearly musical treat – the 62nd Annual Stairway to the Stars. The cavalcade of 26 award-winning bands, choirs, and orchestras will feature student musicians from local elementary, middle and [...]
Filed under: Santa Monica News on April 6th, 2011 | Comments Off
