Obama Administration’s White Paper Proposes Phasing Out Fannie and Freddie

The Obama administration released its “white paper” outlining the winding down and replacement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The goal of the proposals is to decrease the government’s involvement in the mortgage industry.  The first proposal presented by the administration would create a government backstop under a federal reinsurance model.  In the second proposal […]

HOPE NOW Data Shows Increase in Loan Modifications in 2010

HOPE NOW, a group of mortgage servicers, investors, non-profit counselors, and mortgage insurers released its final 2010 numbers showing its members completed about 1.24 million loan modifications last year.  During this same time, servicers also completed 512,712 Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) loan modifications.  During December alone, approximately 100,000 loan modifications were completed.  Faith Schwartz, […]

Qualify for a mortgage with bankruptcy

Contrary to popular belief, acquiring a mortgage after filing for bankruptcy is not impossible.  The Federal Housing Administration insures mortgages despite bankruptcy, with seasoning requirements. Time Frame Per the FHA Guidelines, a debtor must wait at least two years after a Chapter 7 or 13 is discharged before you can qualify for a mortgage. FHA […]

Distinct Nevada Laws Concerning Deeds of Trust & Foreclosure

Nevada requires that a deed of trust be used to secure a real estate loan.  Although commonly referred to as a mortgage, a deed of trust has significant differences from a mortgage.  In addition, states using deeds of trust differ among themselves in their requirements. All mortgages are two-party instruments between the lender and the borrower.  […]

U.S. Homes Set to Lose $1.7 Trillion in Value During 2010

Homes in the United States are expected to lose more than $1.7 trillion in value during 2010, which is 63% more than the $1 trillion lost in 2009, according to recent analysis of the Zillow Real Estate Market Reports. To read the full article, click here.  

Testimony in the Hearing on the TARP Foreclosure Mitigation Program

Click here to read Katherine Porter’s testimony before the Congressional Oversight Panel at the Hearing on the TARP Foreclosure Mitigation Program in which she describes how the allegations of legal errors in the foreclosure process may impact the housing markets, the soundness of banks, and the overall financial markets.

Some Foreclosures and Evictions postponed for the holidays

Freddie Mac  and Fannie Mae  are postponing foreclosure evictions on mortgage loans they own or back from December 20th to January 3rd. Wells Fargo will freeze foreclosure sales for the holiday.  The lender’s freeze will run the same two week period as that of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  It will only postpone sales of […]