Fannie Mae To Provide Assistance For Military Homeowners
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Fannie Mae and the U.S. Army have announced new initiatives to help service members who are struggling with their mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure. The effort includes a mortgage payment forbearance of up to six months where the death or injury of a service member on active duty causes a hardship for...

HomePath Property Buyers Receive Up to 3.5% in Closing Cost Assistance
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Fannie Mae has once again upped the ante to encourage home buyers to purchase, and real estate agents to market its real estated owned (REO) properties. It is estimated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government sponsored enterprises (Enterprises) currently in conservatorship, own a combined...

When "cash-in" refinancing pays off
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
(MONEY Magazine) -- At the height of the housing boom, millions of Americans treated their houses like ATMs, pulling out money through "cash-out" refis. Today, with millions of mortgages underwater, money is flowing in the opposite direction.. Want to refinance at today's low rates? Well,...

Mortgage Rates Head Back Down To Historic Low
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Rates on 30-year mortgages matched the lowest level in decades and rates on 15-year loans dropped to their lowest point in nearly 20 years.. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate for 30-year fixed loans fell to 4.32 percent, the lowest on records dating back to 1971. That's down from 4.37...

Why your mortgage has not been modified
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
This guest post comes from Frank Curmudgeon at Bad Money Advice.Last year I wrung several good posts from the Obama administration's doomed-from-go scheme to get banks to modify mortgages. It was good material for me. I got to mock both those few who were clueless enough to think it might work and the great...

A NEW way to slash your mortgage payments
Updated Oct. 24, 2014
'Recasting' Your Home Loan Can Lower Monthly Payments With Fewer Hassles!. Some homeowners who already have refinanced into low-interest-rate mortgages are using a little-known strategy to make their monthly payments even smaller.. Called "recasting" or "re-amortizing," the strategy allows a...

Financial Facts: Lower interest rates equal more buying power
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
The Federal Monetary Board has allowed the interest rate to bank drop to a historic low. With the low rates it simply means more buying power to all of us.. As an example, early last year some good friends and clients of mine purchased a new home. The interest rate they received on their new 30-year mortgage was 5.5...

How Fixed Rate Mortgage Refinancing Can Make A Huge Difference
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
If you are thinking of availing a refinance for your home, then you may go in for any of the two alternatives that are available. The two types are adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and the fixed rate mortgage loan. As choosing a fixed rate mortgage refinancing program or adjustable rate mortgage refinancing program...

First Time Home Buyer : Obtaining a Mortgage 101
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
As a first-time buyer, you have a lot of questions. There is terminology you don't understand. And there are expenses you need to anticipate. Here are some explanations of just that, to help you on your way to homeownership. First, what costs should you expect? After you have become "pre-approved" for a...

4 Steps To Take Before Putting Your Home On The Market
Updated Jun. 17, 2016
If you're planning to list your house, you'll want to make a good first impression on potential homebuyers. Here are a few steps to get your home show ready.. Clean and Purge -- Start by ridding your space of excess clutter. Shoe piles in the mudroom and stacks of mail on the table have to go. Give your home a...

Safeguard Your Home While Traveling
Updated Jun. 22, 2016
It can be hard to relax on vacation if you're worried about what's going on back home. But a few simple measures can help properly secure your house and give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your time away.. Hold mail and deliveries. -- The U.S. Postal Service makes it easy to put a temporary hold on your...

Considering A Vacation Home?
Updated Jun. 28, 2016
Vacation home sales are booming, particularly in beach and boating locations in the South and West. If you've always dreamed of a home away from home, be sure to ask yourself the following questions.. How will you use it?Will it be a seasonal home and future retirement spot? A vacation home you'll also...