Combine federal manipulation of interest rates, tighter standards for mortgage lending and a surge in subprime loans, and what do you get? A blend of mixed messages and conflicting goals that leaves financial experts and homebuyers alike scratching their heads. And,...
As the housing market continues its rebound, the mortgage lending industry is still a work in proeress after the string of lawsuits, settlements and new legislation put in place to protect consumers after the well-publicized abuses of the past. More regulation is...
“Green” houses mean greenbacks for investors. Houses featuring environmentally friendly upgrades and energy-saving devices command higher prices, attract more affluent tenants, and improve neighborhoods. While going green may look expensive, a variety of perks are...
For many of the so-called “millennial” generation – newly graduated from college, or recent grads in the last five years or so – the old advice about getting a degree to get ahead just doesn’t apply. As more graduates are facing decades or more of student loan...
Over $3 trillion and counting. That’s the total so far of the Federal Reserve’s buyup of mortgage security bonds – a number that, as we discussed in a recent post, is raising alarms among senior representatives of regional Federal Reserve banks. Now, in another twist...