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A guide to home mortgages, mortgage refinancing, home equity loans, home realty, housing and all personal finance matters ![]() Search:
eFinanceDirectory.com is a hub for finding current news about the real estate and mortgage markets. Our goal is to provide you non-biased original articles about the housing and mortgage issues that matter to you most. Our current focus is on researching the US housing bubble. We update this section daily with original housing market related news articles so please bookmark it and come back often. Housing & Financial News:Home Price Increases and Decreases by StateAccording to a recently released house price index, property values in key mortgage markets are falling fast. California home prices have dropped more than 10 percent in a year's time. On-going declines are also present in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, and a number of other states.Credit Card Companies Targeting Subprime BorrowersAccording to a media and market research firm, subprime borrowers are receiving twice as many credit card offers as they did last year. Prime borrowers, on the other hand, are receiving fewer offers.Top 5 Riskiest Mortgage LoansNot every mortgage loan is created equal. This has been proven over and over again in the last year as national foreclosure rates have skyrocketed. Many of the default issues are resulting from the 5 riskiest mortgage products on the market. Find out what they are here.Study Shows Huge Gap Between Rents and House PricesA new study by former and current Federal Reserve economists tracked rents and home prices back to 1960 and found the current rent-price ratio is well below its long-term average. The economists suggest house prices will need to fall considerably over the next five years to be in line with rents.Southern California Housing Market ReportThe Southern California housing market is still in the midst of a correction. Home sales are at a 14 year low and median home prices are falling in Riverside, San Diego and Ventura.Realtors Concealing Days on the Market From BuyersKnowing how many days a home has been on the market is an important piece of information for buyers, but thanks to a new ruling, real estate agents are now able to deprive interested parties of this crucial data.NAACP Sues 12 Mortgage Companies for Race DiscriminationThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) stepped onto the subprime battlefield last week and sued 12 separate mortgage companies for race discrimination. The NAACP is seeking more plaintiffs for the suit and is asking African Americans who have bought or refinanced over the last five years to come forward and join the fight.31 Month Supply of Unwanted Condos Flooding Miami Housing MarketA couple of years ago, condos were a hot commodity in Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade County. Today, there is a 31 month supply of existing condos on the Miami-Dade market, and a serious lack of interest from buyers.See How U.S. Home Prices Have ChangedHome prices have declined steadily since 2006. See exactly how far home prices have fallen with this 20-year look at price trends in the largest U.S. cities.Top 10 Web Apps That Will Help You Better Manage Your MoneyMoney is reported as the number one cause of stress to Americans. If you're sick of fretting over your personal finances, check out one or more of these ten web apps that promise to help you better manage your money.Today's Featured Articles:Decided to Take Out a Second Mortgage? Check Out These Tips!Decided to take out a second mortgage? These simple tips may help you to save significant amounts of money down the line! Check this article out to learn more.To Save Foreclosure Victims, Legislation Proposes Restricted Tax Breaks for HomeownersA mortgage debt forgiveness plan has been proposed to forgive the debt of foreclosure victims. The estimated cost of the proposal is nearly $1.4 billion over the next ten years. To make up for the money that will be lost, the government will restrict the tax breaks currently available to homeowners.National Home Foreclosure Hotline Receives Record Number of Help RequestsDuring the second quarter of 2007, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation received a record number of calls from homeowners who were facing foreclosure. This comes as no surprise given the wave of foreclosures sweeping the nation, and yet some of the statistics the foundation compiled after taking the calls are rather shocking.Fees You Are Going to be Charged When you Apply for a MortgageFrom the mortgage application fee to the settlement fee; here is a list of fees you can expect to pay when purchasing a house.Save Money by Taking Out a Biweekly MortgageA biweekly mortgage can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Got your attention? Read this piece to learn more!You Must Shop Around for Complete Mortgage Information!Newspaper ads and mortgage websites offer accurate data, but interest rates and other variables change so rapidly. The best way to get what you need is to go out and shop.Homeowners Face Foreclosure: ARMs Adjusting Skyward In 2007Faced with rising mortgage rates in the coming year, many homeowners will be forced to accept significantly higher monthly payments. Changing to a fixed rate mortgage, while eliminating the risk of payment shock, will normally increase your monthly payment. It is because of this that 2007 should be a watershed year for adjustable rate mortgage holders.How to Compare Mortgage Lenders: Not All Mortgage Lenders are the Same, Here's whyHow is it that home mortgage lenders in the same market can offer such different rates? Why is it that my bank branch can't get the same rate on a loan from their parent company as my home mortgage broker? Read on to find out why all mortgage lenders can't, or won't, compete on the same playing field.Popular Tax Breaks on HomeownershipMany tax advantages come from buying and owning real estate. From mortgage deductions to remodel write-offs, here is what you need to know.Three Reasons to Get a HELOC instead of a Home Equity LoanA home equity loan can be a great option for some consumers, and a completely horrible one for others. Here is what you need to know to know before borrowing from your equity.The Perils of House FlippingReal estate investors were one a rare breed, but in recent years, more and more everyday people have gotten into the business of house flipping. While entrepreneurship is a good thing, many of these wannabe investors are finding themselves saddled with houses they can't sell and looming foreclosures.Homebuyers and Sellers Blacklisted By LendersAs home prices fall across the nation, lenders are becoming more unwilling to write loans for home purchases in some geographical regions. The result is that financing is almost unattainable in certain areas.Real Estate Broker Claims He Can Solve Subprime Crisis in 30 DaysA NYC real estate broker announced Monday that he has developed a comprehensive plan to oil our economic engine and bring the housing market from bust to boom in only 30 days time.Real Estate Investing: Income PropertyIncome property is a tough investment. Many are lured by the thought of recurring revenue and property appreciation, but results depend on savvy investment skills.Timing a Real Estate Bubble to Purchase a HomeReal estate sales seem to be slipping from the lofty levels of a few years back. Is it wise to wait out the bubble for a better price? It may or may not be wise to purchase a home in this market, but real estate market timing has proven to be a tough thing to accomplish.Use the Web to Find the Best Home LoanThe internet offers some great tools that can save you thousands of dollars on a mortgage. Here is a roundup of what is offered.Senators Push for Stricter Lending GuidelinesAlternative financing, known as high-risk financing in some circles, has become very popular among U.S. borrowers. Interest only loans and other types of creative mortgages have allowed some to bypass traditional methods and buy a home. One senator warns that these borrowers may not fully understand the risks associated certain mortgages. The warning could prompt new, and stricter, lending guidelines.Homeowner's Insurance Guide: Insuring Your Personal PropertyIf your home is destroyed, homeowners insurance policies will often cover the value of your personal belongings. But make sure you have the right coverage.New Jersey Mortgage Options for Sub-Prime BorrowersA consumers credit score partially determines the mortgage rate on a loan. A bad score can cause a loan to be too expensive. Luckily some programs exist that can make borrowing a little cheaper. Here are some homebuying helpers in NJ.Is the Mortgage Interest Deduction Worth Having a Giant Loan?Many people believe having a big, long mortgage is beneficial since you can write off interest payments, but only under certain circumstances is that true. Check this article out to learn more!Today's Featured Finance Videos
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