Archive for November, 2008

In Michigan, families who lost their homes to foreclosures further lose their last chance in saving the said properties.

The $700 billion bailout funds, named the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), was promulgated by Congress a few months back in an attempt to lift the country out of its current predicament brought about by the financial crisis. Experts have reported that the root cause of the financial crisis was the increasing foreclosures that resulted from defaults on subprime mortgages.

In October, hunters have been targeting bargain homes in Broward County, South Florida. Amidst the very challenging mortgages and increasing job losses, buyers never get second thoughts about investing on the much affordable bargains. With the increasing number of foreclosed homes, bargain homes would remain an eye candy for these hunters.

Question: I like to buy a condo unit being sold by the owner who has been trying to sell it for months. He paid $260,000 for the unit and has a mortgage loan balance of $180,000. A mutual friend told me that he might just abandon the condo to foreclosure. I plan to buy it for about $160,000. What should I do? Should I talk with the mortgage bank directly?

An active market for California foreclosures is attracting investors and first-time homebuyers in the golden state. This resulted to a sharp decline in home values and prices across all counties and cities. Most of the available inventories are bank-owned foreclosure homes that are being sold in bargain prices.

The significant drop in numbers for pre-foreclosure filings and foreclosed homes last October is a good indicator that the real estate industry is slowly getting back on its feet. Levels dropped to its lowest since February. Credit this to the efforts posted by banks, lenders, non-profit organizations and government agencies who worked restlessly these previous months to help beleaguered homeowners avoid foreclosures.

As one of the largest states in the United States but with the lowest population, Wyoming registered a low foreclosure rate while surrounding states vary in impact from foreclosures. Nearby states like Montana and South Dakota registered some of the lowest foreclosure rates in the country, while Colorado and Utah absorbed the brunt of the foreclosures crisis and was included in the top ten highest states.

In Michigan, particularly in Washtenaw County, home prices have dropped considerably low to levels not seen since the 1990s. This is due to the number of short sales and Michigan foreclosures flooding the market. Despite an 11 percent increase in homes and condos sales last October with 304 units sold, prices dropped 20 percent compared to last year, averaging at $184,324.

A lot of homeowners of foreclosed homes just leave their pets behind, not being concerned with how these pets will survive life without food and water.

Governor Jon S. Corzine has proposed a financial aid program for New Jersey that includes an assistance package for those facing foreclosure.

With over 23,600 Florida foreclosures in Lee County alone, the local government is planning to purchase foreclosed homes up for sale to be rehabilitated and later sold to low income families. The move is also geared to help generate income for local contractors and help stabilize the rate of high crimes in these areas.

Washington is still unsettled as to how to handle the foreclosure crisis. Last November 11, the administration publicized the government's $ 700 billion plan to refinance delinquent loans controlled by mortgage companies, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The already passed bill, a modification of the existing Hope Now program, expects to eventually decrease by 38 percent the monthly mortgage expenses of hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are at least 3 months behind on their payments, and are at risk of foreclosure.

Some studies showed that areas that see an increased in foreclosure sales experienced a 1 percent drop in home market values. Most often the drop in home market prices is due to a buyer's perception of the neighborhood, which may ultimately lead to his refusal to reside in the area.

The idea of "Cash for Keys" makes it easy for banks to take back a foreclosed home from its occupants, and in good condition nonetheless. Oftentimes, it is a problem for banks and that is why nowadays, they have made such policy an SOP.

Without Walls International Church Pastor Randy White has disclosed the financial status of the church during a service in Tampa, Florida. He told his congregation that Without Walls leaders are negotiating with its lenders to prevent foreclosure of the church's two campuses.