Topic: Freddie Mac Holdings
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The Paul Ryan budget: your guide to what's in it
Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's running mate, is best known for drawing up a series of spending-and-tax plans meant to challenge the Obama administration's policies from the right. But it's been some time since his latest budget, which Mr. Ryan terms a "path to prosperity," was released. Here's a primer on what's in it.
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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.
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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:
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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:
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Getting bin Laden and five other boosts to Obama's reelection bid
"Yes We Can” was so 2008. Now President Obama is the incumbent, with a record to defend. Here are his top six accomplishments, including the killing of Osama bin Laden.
All Content
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Home sales up, inventory down: good for home prices and for builders
The US housing recovery marched on in October with several positive signs: sales, prices, and permits to build new homes were up, and the supply of homes for sale was the lowest in years.
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Mortgage rates slip back toward record lows
Mortgage rates edge down this week to 3.39 percent for a 30-year loan. As mortgage rates have fallen this year to record lows, home sales and refinancings have picked up
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Economic toll of Sandy: Damage second only to Katrina?
Superstorm Sandy cut a path of destruction that could near $50 billion. Economic activity in New York City dipped 20 percent in storm's wake, but economists do not expect that Sandy will have a major impact on the nation's economic growth.
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The Monitor's View: Oh, the ease of blaming others in a crisis
When earthquake experts are sentenced for bad predictions and lenders accused of bad calls on mortgages, society needs a reminder that individuals are responsible for their actions.
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Mortgage rates rise from last week's record lows
Mortgage rates in the US rose to an average 3.39 percent last week, up from 3.36 percent. Last week's 30-year mortgage rates were the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
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Saving Money
Major banks settle with homeowners. Are you entitled?If your home loan is serviced by one of the five major lenders – including Bank of America and Wells Fargo – you may be entitled to a share of one of the largest civil settlements in history.
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Housing prices: Are short sales in danger?
As housing prices recover, short sales have become an increasingly popular escape route for indebted homeowners. But the future of short sales depends on a tax cut extension from Congress that may or may not come, and realtors argue that housing prices haven't rebounded enough for many homeowners to afford their debt forgiveness as a tax.
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Time to refinance your mortgage? Rates hit historic lows.
Mortgage interest rates are at their lowest point since records have been kept. Last week, some 81 percent of the loans made were refinancings, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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Paper Economy
New mortgage data shows slight rise in home pricesHome prices increased 0.2 percent since June, according to the latest house price index from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Home prices rose 3.90 percent above the level seen in July 2011.
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Mortgage rates fall to record low 3.49 percent
Mortgage rates for 15-year agreements fell to a new record low this week, and the average 30-year rate touched its record low. Mortgage rates matched their lowest level since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
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Focus
Housing market turning a corner? Signs of hope for homeowners.Rising home values and declining foreclosure rates indicate a slow but steady recovery for the US housing market. Obstacles remain, however, including negative equity due to 'underwater' mortgages.
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Fed easing: How many homeowners will it really help?
Federal Reserve's new push to ease mortgage rates won't help underwater homeowners and those with bad credit. Despite current low rates, two-thirds of homeowners have interest rates above 5 percent.
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Housing prices: Agents make houses sell for a lot less. On purpose.
Housing prices are manipulated by shady real estate agents who practice 'flopping.' Instead of making homes look good to raise housing prices, tey make them look bad so banks will sell them for a loss.
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The Paul Ryan budget: your guide to what's in it
Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's running mate, is best known for drawing up a series of spending-and-tax plans meant to challenge the Obama administration's policies from the right. But it's been some time since his latest budget, which Mr. Ryan terms a "path to prosperity," was released. Here's a primer on what's in it.
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The Reformed Broker
Don't believe housing's permabearsA housing recovery is slowly taking shape, despite the many doubters.
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Saving Money
Mortgage refinancing: The White House wants to make it easierPresident Obama has proposed a plan that would make mortgage refinancing easier and more widely available. Do you qualify?
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30-year mortgage rates fall to new record low 3.49 percent
30-year mortgage rates just keep falling. This week, 30-year mortgage rates dipped to a new record, below 3.50 percent for the first time on records going back 60 years.
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Mortgage rates fall to new record lows
Mortgage rates fell again to new record lows, providing prospective buyers with more incentive to brave a modestly recovering housing market. 30-year fixed mortgage rates slipped to 3.62 percent, down from 3.66 percent last week.
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30-year mortgage rate falls to record 3.66 percent
30-year mortgage rates continued to spiral downward last week, falling to yet another low. The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to record low for the seventh time in eight weeks.
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Mortgage rates reach record low. Have they hit bottom?
Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans have dropped to a record low of 3.67 percent.
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Mortgage rates: 15-year loan gains popularity
Mortgage rates for 15-year loan fall below 3 percent for first time. Homeowners are taking advantage of low mortgage rates to refinance, but with terms that will let them pay off their loan before retirement
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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.
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Paper Economy
Home prices increaseIn March, home prices increased 1.78 percent since February, rising 2.69 percent above the level seen in March 2011.
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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.
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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.
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