Jan 3, 2012

Like it’s homely siblings, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae is central to our housing economy. It facilitates affordable housing a reality for millions of low-and moderate-income American households across America by channeling global capital into U.S. housing markets. The Ginnie Mae guaranty allows mortgage lenders to obtain a better price for...

Sep 7, 2011

As I negotiate $1 million in fines levied against three assets that were part of a larger bulk purchase a few months back, today’s story in National Mortgage News comes as no great suprise: As if there were not enough considerations for investors sizing up the many distressed mortgage asset-backed securities still out there, it looks now like they should...

Sep 6, 2011

Last week, the Illinois Association of Realtors admitted that it has overstated the median prices for homes sold in Chicago since early 2008. The group said the mistake occurred in data processing and was not intentional. It acknowledged that data exaggerated the median sales price for May, but said it may have made a similar error in monthly reports for the...

Jun 5, 2011

Anyone lending in “higher loan amount areas” should read the latest from HUD on the probable/possible changes that will take place on October 1. “Barring Congressional action, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits will revert back to loan limits determined under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) for loans insured by FHA on...

May 30, 2011

posted by Oliver Wright Esq. Though housing starts are slow just when they should be heating up seasonally, the foreclosure market is performing better than the market for all other homes, according to today’s DS Newws story on the RPX Housing Market Report. [pullquote]Investors believe they can purchase these properties at a significant discount to their...

May 26, 2011

Though distressed deals pushed commercial real estate prices to new cycle lows and Moody’s agency property price index continues to scrape the bottom as high distressed transaction volume precludes recovery of overall market prices, trophy assets in major markets are hanging tough. According to commercial mortgage backed securities trading data released by...