“The Hustle” Means Another Fraud Settlement for BofA

It seems like old news by now.  Charges, suits and settlements against the nation’s megababks for mortgage fraud dating back to the days of the housing bubble and subsequent crash keep making headlines with dismal regularity. And the trend continues as Bank of...

VA Home Loan Loophole Lets Veterans Invest

The Veterans Administration loan has long been a mainstay for helping veterans of the country’s armed forces create a stable life after leaving active duty. Generally these loans are limited to personal use, not investing. But a few loopholes in the rules for VA home...

Making the Shift From Homeowner to Landlord

For many people, the first foray into creating income from real estate comes from renting out a home they already own. Life changes and economic conditions can quickly turn homeowners into landlords. But making that shift successfully requires re-thinking your role...

Vampire Properties Chill the Housing Market

Halloween is over, but zombies and vampires continue to plague the housing market. Those are the names given to problematic foreclosures that can’t be turned into assets by the lending institutions that hold them. And because these properties can’t be sold, financial...

Fannie Mae Joins the Crowd of Bank Fraud Lawsuits

The US Justice Department and numerous state attorneys general have been pressing lawsuits against the nation’s big banks for a variety of crimes and misbehaviors since 2010. Now, housing giant Fannie Mae is joining the party, with a lawsuit of its own against...