In a word, the residential mortgage picture is: BAD.
As reported by MarketWatch, more than 11.3 million homeowners — nearly one-fourth of all Americans with a mortgage — owe more on their loan (or are “under water”), than their home is now worth, according to a report released February 23, 2010, by FirstAmerican CoreLogic.

More than 10% of […]

Talk about unintended consequences. On the one hand the goverment is finally trying to put an end to the toxic mortgage crisis by limiting loans to condos and condo projects that are not solid (a good thing),  but their recent actions and restrictive regulations are making developers put on the brakes (not so good for the economy and […]

We have been searching for even a sintilla of good news, when it comes to the real estate market.  
With regard to commercial real estate, one noted real estate attorney has coined the banks recent leding philosophy as “extend and pretend.” Clearly there exists the “fear of catching a falling knife.”
So the question is, are things really getting any better? […]

SOME GOOD NEWS IS ON THE WAY, AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO STIMULATING HOME SALES. As reported in the New York Ties, the president signed legislation last week that extended the tax credit for first-time home buyers and added a new credit for some existing homeowners. Here’s a primer on the details….
1st TIME HOMEBUYER >> […]

Here at MarylandCommercialTitle.com we have blogged on several unique methods to peek into the current and future economic forecasts. Here’s a new one for us: NEMA Lighting Systems Index.
Seems that as a result of tracking lighting purchases, economists and us onlookers, too can immediately shed light on what is truly happening in the marketplace, as well as what may be occuring […]

A heads up for real estate professionals: H.R. 2454, the cap and trade legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26, 2009, if passed into law, would have a profound effect on the real estate sector.According to an excellent article by Leanne Tobia of Reuters, entitled, How the Cap-And-Trade Bill Could Transform […]

THE “HALF-EMPTY” PERSPECTIVE: It is estimated that more than 50 percent of American homeowners are either in or near a negative equity situation. And if all that is not bad enough, check out the latest news:

 U.S. mortgage applications plunged to a seven-month low last week as demand for home refinancing loans tumbled 30 percent, data […]

Many have said to us, why publish so much negative news. Where is the good news. Two brief answers. First, it is what it is. Facts are facts. It’s very important that you know what “is.” And next, by knowing the bad news — up front – you not only get a heads-up, but you can position yourself to […]

All bets appear to be off. Clearly there has been a huge changing of the guard. The president’s budget seeks to raise $318 billion over the next decade the value of itemized tax deductions for the wealthy (or least as they define wealthy) — including interest paid on home mortgages, which was heretofore deemed untouchable.
The […]

A report on Home Prices expected out Tuesday, December 30, 2008, is likely to prompt the push for additional relief for the housing sector.
The S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices is expected to reflect the continuing toll exacted by the deflating housing bubble. Along these lines, here is a rather remarkable list of factors — all errupting within the last […]