Most Recent

• An Open Letter to Mortgage Borrowers Waiting for a Bailout

  Jun 26, 2008 -- This is an open letter addressed to all of the struggling mortgage borrowers (and their lenders) sitting on their haunches waiting for the government to come to their rescue.

• Where the Presidential Candidates Stand on a Mortgage Bailout

  Jun 13, 2008 -- The housing crisis is a big issue for many voters. Not surprisingly, John McCain and Barack Obama offer vastly different plans to solve it. Let's see where they stand.

• Three Reasons Why a Mortgage Bailout Is a Terrible Idea

  Apr 25, 2008 -- An open letter to all of the lawmakers and taxpayers who think a mortgage bailout is what we need to solve the housing crisis.

• Mortgage Bailout Bill Moves Forward Despite White House Veto Threat

  Jun 20, 2008 -- U.S. Senate lawmakers have decided to press on with their unethical and irresponsible mortgage bailout bill despite a veto threat from the White House.

• The Housing Market Is Not Making a Comeback

  Mar 27, 2008 -- The National Association of Realtors is still working overtime to convince the American consumer that the housing market is starting to turn around. What's worse is that some media outlets are buying this story and passing it on to people who are looking for real news.

• What Will Happen to Your Money When Your Bank Fails

  May 12, 2008 -- Small banks and big ones alike are on the verge of bankruptcy, due to all of the bad loans that have been approved over the past few years. Although people tend to assume that their money will be safe even if their banks fail, history has shown that this isn't always the case. Find out if your hard-earned cash is at risk.

• Lenders Giving Mortgage Borrowers Cash for Keys

  Apr 09, 2008 -- To get borrowers to leave a house--and leave it in good condition--mortgage lenders around the nation have begun offering cash for keys. Some lenders are paying out upwards of $3,000.

• New Foreclosure Prevention Legislation Designed to Bail Out Big Business

  Apr 03, 2008 -- Republicans and Democrats are working on a new measure inappropriately named ''The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008''. This legislation is being billed as help for homeowners, but homebuilders and the mortgage industry are the true beneficiaries.

• Democrats Want $20 Billion to Bailout Mortgage Borrowers

  Mar 15, 2008 -- Democrats unveiled a new plan last week that will allow the FHA to buy $300 billion in delinquent, underwater mortgages. The initial cost to taxpayers is estimated to be $20 billion.

• Fed Report Shows Americans Have Less Home Equity Than Ever Before

  Jun 05, 2008 -- Falling prices are eroding the value of U.S. homes. According to a new Fed report, the equity that Americans have in their homes has dropped to the lowest level on record.

• Survey Says Most Renters Won't Buy a Home

  May 30, 2008 -- A survey commissioned by a national federation of state and local apartment associations shows that most renters will not be jumping into the U.S. housing market anytime soon. Has renting become the smart decision?

• What the American People Think About a Mortgage Bailout

  May 22, 2008 -- Some politicians are in favor of providing assistance to the millions of homeowners who are facing default as a result of poor decision-making and falling home prices. Others are dead set against it. Let's see where the American people stand.

• A Comparison of U.S. Home Prices

  Apr 30, 2008 -- When it comes to home prices, location matters. Consider this: a $210,000 home in Atlanta, GA would be worth $1.4 million in Beverly Hills. The same home would be worth $509,000 in Washington D.C. and $207,000 in Phoenix. Find out how much homes might be worth in different cities in this home price comparison.

• Most Expensive Cities and States to Rent a Two-Bedroom Apartment

  Apr 13, 2008 -- A national survey found that Stamford, Connecticut has most expensive rents among other U.S. cities. Residents need a household wage of $31.58 to afford fair market rent on a two-bedroom rental unit. Find out which other metro areas and states have high housing costs.

• World's Most Expensive Cities to Live IN and Visit

  Mar 21, 2008 -- Which cities are the most expensive ones to live in and to visit? Which are the cheapest? The answers might surprise you.

June 2008

• An Open Letter to Mortgage Borrowers Waiting for a Bailout

  Jun 26, 2008 -- This is an open letter addressed to all of the struggling mortgage borrowers (and their lenders) sitting on their haunches waiting for the government to come to their rescue.

• View more articles from “June 2008”...

May 2008

• Survey Says Most Renters Won't Buy a Home

  May 30, 2008 -- A survey commissioned by a national federation of state and local apartment associations shows that most renters will not be jumping into the U.S. housing market anytime soon. Has renting become the smart decision?

• View more articles from “May 2008”...

April 2008

• A Comparison of U.S. Home Prices

  Apr 30, 2008 -- When it comes to home prices, location matters. Consider this: a $210,000 home in Atlanta, GA would be worth $1.4 million in Beverly Hills. The same home would be worth $509,000 in Washington D.C. and $207,000 in Phoenix. Find out how much homes might be worth in different cities in this home price comparison.

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March 2008

• The Latest in Mortgage Bailouts

  Mar 07, 2008 -- The worst housing slump since the Great Depression is prompting all manner of new bailout plans. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke encourages banks to forgive portions of mortgage debt, the Democrats propose using billions in federal dollars on buying up bad loans, and the Bush Administration is prepared to dump bank losses on the taxpayers' shoulders.

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February 2008

• Say Goodbye to Your Equity: Home Prices in a Freefall

  Feb 28, 2008 -- The new home price data released this week shows a historic drop in home prices. The negative declines are eating into equity across the country. An estimated 30 percent of U.S. homeowners are expected to be underwater by 2008.

• Critics Claim Mortgage Giant Countrywide Played a Huge Role in Housing Crisis

  Feb 21, 2008 -- Mortgage company Countrywide Financial is now under fire for the role that they played in the ongoing housing crisis. Critics accuse this mortgage provider of having engaged in questionable lending practices in order to extract maximum profits. Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo, who has dumped his own stock, responds to the charges.

• Celebrities Not Immune to the Real Estate Crisis

  Feb 15, 2008 -- Even celebs are feeling the pinch as with the worsening housing downturn. Some are actually facing foreclosure and may lose their homes to the subprime mortgage crisis. See which stars are losing in the real estate market here.

• Stimulus Plan Is Risky for Taxpayers

  Feb 08, 2008 -- The officially passed stimulus plan will cross President Bush's desk this month. But before you get too excited about the bribe you will receive sometime in May or June, you should know that you are about to buy into one of the most fraudulent and devious plans in U.S. history.

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January 2008

• Four Different Polls Show Americans Are Split on Mortgage Bailout

  Jan 31, 2008 -- Should mortgage borrowers at risk of losing their home be given a bailout? What about lenders who face lost profits? Four recent polls ask Americans where they stand on these issues.

• What Median Home Prices Would Look Like If the Bubble Never Happened

  Jan 28, 2008 -- What price should you be paying for a home? It's easy to calculate if you can see how median home prices and median incomes correlate.

• Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Quick Fix Could Cost Taxpayers

  Jan 25, 2008 -- In a misguided attempt to address mortgage industry problems, Bush's stimulus plan will include a provision to up Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae's loan limits. This dangerous initiative could leave taxpayers on the hook for billions (possibly trillions) of dollars.

• New Report Shows Lenders Aren't Working With Borrowers

  Jan 21, 2008 -- Although a well-known mortgage trade group is insisting that mortgage lenders are doing all they can to help struggling borrowers, consumer advocates say that the industry could be working much harder. A new report supports this statement and shows that the loan modifications that are being made aren't working.

• Reckless Mortgage Lenders Do Not Deserve to Be Rescued Either

  Jan 09, 2008 -- The U.S. government is working to develop a few different programs that are meant to stave off foreclosures. Policymakers may claim that these programs are for struggling mortgage borrowers, it's obvious that their real goal is to bail out the mortgage lenders. The question is: do reckless lenders really deserve to be rescued?

• View more articles from “January 2008”...

December 2007

• Foreclosures Are a Symptom, Home Prices Are the Problem

  Dec 19, 2007 -- The government is so intent on treating the symptoms of the most recent housing market debacle that they are failing to address the actual root of the problem: home prices.

• Senate Passes FHA Reform Bill

  Dec 17, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Friday that will expand the capabilities of the Federal Housing Administration. The bill will loosen underwriting standards and raise the limits on loans. Although this legislation is supported in certain circles, critics call it a threat to taxpayers.

• US Housing Bust Vs. Japan Housing Bust: What We Can Learn

  Dec 13, 2007 -- The recent rise and fall of the U.S. housing market is not that different from Japan's multi-decade housing crash. We'll compare the two bubbles here and see if there is anything that the U.S. can and should learn from Japan's fallacies.

• Mortgage Rate Freeze FAQ

  Dec 10, 2007 -- President Bush announced a plan last week to freeze interest rates on subprime loans due for rate resets. Read on to get the details of this plan, including how it works, why it has been initiated and whom it will help.

• New Poll Gauges Public's Opinion of Subprime Rescue Packages

  Dec 06, 2007 -- A new poll conducted by the National Taxpayers Union shows that Americans have varying opinions on proposed plans to bail out subprime borrowers. Survey respondents weighed in on whether or not government intervention is necessary and who would benefit most from a taxpayer-funded bailout.

• View more articles from “December 2007”...

November 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Market Summary- October 2007

  Nov 20, 2007 -- The San Francisco Bay Area housing market suffered another blow in October as home sales fell to the lowest level on record and prices continued to decline. Areas documenting negative home price appreciation included Solano, Sonoma, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

• Foreclosure Activity Increases in 45 Out of 50 States

  Nov 07, 2007 -- Foreclosure filings were at an all time high in August and September. Foreclosures increased 300 percent during the third quarter in a year-over-year comparison, with Nevada, California, and Florida posting top foreclosure rates.

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October 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Report- September 2007

  Oct 29, 2007 -- The San Francisco Bay Area housing market set yet more records during the month of September. Homes sold at the slowest pace seen in two decades and foreclosure activity was higher than ever.

• Home Sales and Home Prices: What the Media Isn't Telling You

  Oct 24, 2007 -- The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their monthly existing home sale report today. The mainstream media picked up the story, but they missed a few important details.

• View more articles from “October 2007”...

September 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Update- August 2007

  Sep 25, 2007 -- The San Francisco Bay Area housing market is showing serious signs of distress. During the month of August, home sales plummeted, median prices were up and down and foreclosures skyrocketed. The most depressed areas seem to be Contra Costa County, Solano County and Sonoma County.

• Current Foreclosure Crisis Deemed the Worst in U.S. History

  Sep 14, 2007 -- According to foreclosure numbers recently released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the United States is deep in the worst foreclosure crisis it has faced in its history. Over 14% of subprime borrowers are defaulting, and now it appears that many prime borrowers are beginning to follow suit.

• San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Report- July 2007

  Sep 01, 2007 -- Real estate continued to be a losing venture for many San Francisco Bay Area homeowners and housing market professionals during the month of July. Homes sold at the slowest pace since 1995, with the rate of sales falling throughout the nine county region with the exception of San Francisco. Median prices also dropped, with the biggest declines recorded in Solano and Sonoma Counties.

• View more articles from “September 2007”...

August 2007

• Fed Survey: Easy Mortgages Are a Thing of the Past

  Aug 17, 2007 -- According to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve, getting a mortgage loan isn't as easy as it used to be. Banks who participated in the survey say they have tightened their standards dramatically.

• Top 10 Most Profitable Home Improvement Projects

  Aug 08, 2007 -- Renovating your home while you live in it or prior to selling it can be a profitable venture as long as you undertake the right home improvement projects. Here are 10 renovations that will allow you to recoup most of your investment.

• Real Estate Reality Shows May Give Viewers the Wrong Impression

  Aug 03, 2007 -- Real estate reality television shows are everywhere these days. Each show has a slightly different premise, but nearly all of them have one thing in common: happy endings. Do these TV programs showcase the true reality of the housing market?

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July 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Market Watch- June 2007

  Jul 25, 2007 -- Home sales declined once again in the San Francisco Bay Area over the month of June. According to the most recent reports, homes sold at their slowest pace for 12 years, and prices have begun to dip as well. Markets that performed the worst last month include those in Napa County, Solano County, and Sonoma County.

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June 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Market Report- May 2007

  Jun 20, 2007 -- Slow home sales, rising foreclosures, and falling prices continued to plague the San Francisco Bay Area throughout the month of May. Housing markets seeing the most turmoil are located in Contra Costa County, Napa County, and Solano County, but virtually no market in the nine-county region has experienced improvement since the bust.

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Market Update- April 2007

  Jun 07, 2007 -- The San Francisco Bay Area housing market continued its downward spiral during the beginning of the second quarter. Home sales dropped dramatically through the nine-county region and prices remained stagnant.

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April 2007

• San Francisco Bay Area Housing Report: March 2007

  Apr 25, 2007 -- The housing market in the San Francisco Bay Area continued to struggle in the month of March. Home sales were at the lowest level since 1996, with Solano and Contra Costa Counties seeing declines of more than 30 percent. Median prices also fell in several counties in the nine-county region, but for the most part, prices remained flat.

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March 2007

• Real Estate Report: San Francisco Bay Area - February 2007

  Mar 21, 2007 -- The San Francisco Bay Area housing market continued its downward slide in February. Home sales fell sharply across the nine-county region, and median prices remained flat. Contra Costa, Solano and Sonoma Counties fared the worst; Marin County and Alameda County performed the best.

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February 2007

• Bay Area Housing Report - January 2007

  Feb 22, 2007 -- The housing market continues to slip in most parts of the Bay Area. Median home prices dropped most notably in Sonoma and Solano County, while Marin and Santa Clara County housing markets saw modest increases.

• View more articles from “February 2007”...