60 Minutes Special: Walking Away

The incidence of negative equity in properties is unmatched in history. 65% of residences in Nevada are drowning and the water continues to rise.  See the full 60 Minutes broadcast here.

Republicans Want to End Fannie and Freddie

On Wednesday, Republicans announced a plan to wind down bailed-out mortgage-financing giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  This proposal has the potential to create some political headaches for Democrats and the Obama administration which have bet heavily on the companies’ futures. Republicans submitted the measure as an amendment to the financial-regulatory bill in the Senate.  […]

Fannie Mae Shortens Wait Time to Get a New Mortgage

Fannie Mae announced a reduction in wait time for some borrowers between when they complete a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transaction and when they can obtain a new mortgage.  Previously, a borrower waited four years before getting a new mortgage.  Under the new guidelines, a borrower that previously completed a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure can get a […]

Two Programs Help Nevada’s Foreclosure Rate

Just as it has for the past 13 quarters, Nevada continues to lead the nation in foreclosures during the first quarter of 2010.  One in every 33 Nevada housing units received a foreclosure filing which is more than four times the national average and an increase of nearly 15 percent from the previous quarter. However, […]

Homes Projected to Remain Underwater until 2020

According to the latest research by First American CoreLogic, average Las Vegas area homeowners will not return to positive equity in their homes until the year 2020.  Negative equity, also referred to as “being underwater,” refers to a homeowner owing more on the mortgage than the home is worth.  In the U.S., the typical underwater […]

Strategic Default

Voluntary strategic defaults pose a new wave of defaults hitting the already battered housing market.  A strategic default is voluntary.  It occurs when the borrower decides to stop making payments, or defaults on a home mortgage despite having the financial ability to make the payments.  Usually, this occurs after a substantial drop in the house’s […]