Topic: Credit Services and Intermediation

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Top 10 cities where house prices are rising

House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?
What can be done to create jobs? Six leading ideas.

The job market has shown some very welcome signs of improvement lately, but it still has a long way to go before approaching something Americans would call normal. Here’s a look at some of the proposed solutions out there.
How the tea party can 'agree' with Occupy movement's demands

Given the somewhat amorphous slogans of the Occupy Wall Street movement, members of the tea party may be wondering if they should join the fray. University of Denver law professor Robert Hardaway suggests how the tea party might “agree” with five of the Occupy movement's top demands – in its own way:
Six ways the rich really do get richer

“Class warfare:” Lately this old term has been taking on new life as political theater, a way to rebuke Wall Street protestors, and, predictably, fodder for Fox News. According to Google, in just the last month alone, 3,870 articles have been published containing these words. Another way to express the concept of rich vs. not-so-rich is the expression, “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” It’s been around for a long time: According to Wikipedia, William Henry Harrison went there in 1840: “I believe and I say it is true Democratic feeling, that all the measures of the government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.” I’m not going to take a stand on either side of the “class warfare” debate by saying that the rich do or don’t take unfair advantage of the rest of society. This is America, where we all have the potential to become rich. But I will say this unequivocally: The rich do get richer, or at least have the potential to. Let’s count the ways:
Steve Jobs: One of the greatest business leaders?

Steve Jobs was certainly a CEO deserving of his renown, but was he the best?

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Paper Economy
Mortgage rates tumble to record lows. Again.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage declined 2 basis points to 3.81 percent  since last week, the lowest value on on record for this MBA series, while the purchase application volume declined 0.6 percent, and the refinance application declined 1.5 percent over the same period.
Mortgage rates fall to new records

Mortgage rates for 30-year loan now stand at 3.78 percent. Fixed mortgage rates for 15-year loans are unchanged at 3.04 percent, a record low.
Paper Economy
Home prices increase

In March, home prices increased 1.78 percent since February, rising 2.69 percent above the level seen in March 2011.
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates slide to record lows

Mortgage rates continue to drop well below 4 percent. The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage declined 2 basis points to 3.83 percent since last week, the lowest value on on record for this MBA series. The purchase application volume declined 3.0 percent and the refinance application increased 5.6 percent over the same period.
Paper Economy
Fannie Mae: delinquent loans dropping

Total serious single family delinquency declined slightly in March, but remained at distressed levels.
Fixed mortgages: new lows for 15-, 30-year loans

Fixed mortgages for 30-year loan dips to 3.79 percent; 15-year loan averages. 3.04 percent. But record low rates on fixed mortgages have not ignited home sales.
The New Economy
Foreclosures down, short sales up. Are banks getting smart?

Foreclosures are down to their lowest levels in nearly five years. One reason: Lenders are increasingly using short sales, instead.
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates inch down to 3.91 percent

The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage declined 1 basis point to 3.91 percent since last week while the purchase application volume increased 3.4 percent and the refinance application increased 1.3 percent over the same period.
Mortgage rates hit new lows

Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed loan falls to record 3.84 percent. Mortgage rates for 15-year fixed loan now stands at a new record low: 3.07 percent.
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates stay under four percent

The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage  went unchanged at 3.92 percent since last week, while the purchase application volume increased 2.9 percent and the refinance application declined 0.7 percent over the same period.
Forgiving mortgage loans would save taxpayers money, say Fannie Mae papers

Mortgage loans giant Fannie Mae supported principal reductions for some struggling homeowners in 2009
Stock market fallout from Spain downgrade? Quiet.

Stock market reaction muted in Germany, France, Britain, and US. First estimate of US GDP in first quarter could sway stock market sentiment.
Paper Economy
30-year mortgage rates fall to 3.92 percent

The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage (from FHA and conforming GSE data) declined 2 basis points to 3.92 percent since last week while the purchase application volume increased 2.7 percent  and the refinance application declined 5.6 percent over the same period.
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates fall below 4 percent. Again.

The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage declined 4 basis points to 3.94 percent since last week while the purchase application volume declined a notable 11.2 percent and the refinance application umped 13.5 percent over the same period.
Mortgage rates fall: 15-year loan hits record low

Mortgage rates for a fixed 30-year loan drop to 3.88, just shy of record. Fifteen-year fixed mortgage rates fall to record low 3.11 percent.
30-year mortgage rate under 4 percent

30-year mortgage rates fall slightly to an average 3.98 percent, near record low of 3.87 percent that 30-year mortgages hit in February.
Credit card hacked? Four steps to take.

Credit card hackers can send sophisticated looking e-mails and make small purchases on credit cards to test if you're watching closely.
Secret Service probes major credit card breach

Credit card breach at an Atlanta card-processor affects Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. The number of accounts affected by the security breach is not yet known.
Mortgage deal: Banks impeded probe, HUD says

Mortgage deal has forced banks to pay $25 billion, mostly to current and former homeowners. But in the run-up to the mortgage deal, banks delayed handing over foreclosure documents and prevented federal investigators from interviewing employees, the Department of Housing and Urban Development says.
Mortgage rates dip again. 15-year loan hits new low.

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loan falls to 3.88 percent; 15-year fixed mortgage rates now average 3.13 percent.
Paper Economy
Delinquent home loans increase

In January, 3.08 percent of non-credit enhanced loans went seriously delinquent.
30-year mortgage rate falls to 3.9 percent

30-year mortgage rate falls again to near-record lows. Fixed 30-year mortgage rates have stayed below 4 percent for 13 weeks in a row.
Top 10 cities where house prices are rising

House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?
30-year mortgage rate rises, still under 4 percent

30-year mortgage rate averages 3.95 percent. It marks the 12th consecutive week the 30-year mortgage rate stayed below 4 percent.
Paper Economy
Home prices increase

Nationally, home prices increased 0.71 percent since November but declined 1.32 percent  below the level seen in December 2010.