Will There Ever Be a ‘Tidal Wave’ of REO Listings?
Will There Ever Be a ‘Tidal Wave’ of REO Listings?
September 13, 2010, Wall Street Journal
Today’s Outlook column looks at how bank-owned foreclosures and other involuntary home sales will govern the pace of home price declines over the coming months. Banks and other companies that sell REO, or real-estate owned, properties are typically faster to reduce prices than traditional sellers, so they tend to speed along any price correction. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the share of distressed sales—including foreclosures and short sales, where banks approve a sale for less than the amount owed.
Second Homes: Las Vegas Condos are on Sale
September 13, 2010, USA TODAY
The Las Vegas residential real estate market has been among the hardest-hit in the country, and second-home bargains are rampant compared with previous highs. TopTenRealEstateDeals.com recently surveyed condo sales managers and Realtors and concluded that condo prices citywide were down 70% from the highs of 2005-2006. TopTen's Bob Walsh cites examples from some of the city's most prominent buildings, such as condos at Trump Las Vegas, which have dropped from "around $600,000 to $167,000." Prices have fallen at Turnberry Towers from "$550,000 to the mid-$200s," he says.
Some Lawyers Profit Off Foreclosure Fears, Loan Modifications
September 13, 2010, Chicago Tribune
A loophole in state and federal laws has made it easy for some attorneys to take advantage of Illinois residents struggling to keep their homes. Attorneys are among the few professionals who can legally charge upfront fees to help homeowners modify their mortgages. But instead of negotiating with a lender, some attorneys or the companies they work for just keep the cash and don't complete the job. Homeowners are often unaware until it's too late and their homes are in or near foreclosure
Where Do You Put Your Money in This Economy?
September 13, 2010, San Diego Union-Tribune
Jittery about the economy and leery of the zig-zagging stock market, investors have spent much of the past year running for cover — seeking out such traditional havens as bonds or gold. The exodus has pushed the price of gold so high that many analysts warn it’s in bubble territory and ready to pop. At the same time, the flood of investments into the bond markets has driven yields so low that many securities are little better than stuffing money under the mattress — or potentially worse, given the taxes and fees that are attached to some purchases.