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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:

Foreclosure Filings Up 115 Percent from Last Year

Foreclosures are at an all time high according to a new RealtyTrac report. During the month of August foreclosures increased 115 percent compared to the same time last year. States with the highest foreclosure rates include Nevada, California, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Michigan.

Top Ten Least Affordable Cities

The cost to buy or rent depends heavily on the city you choose to live in. If you are wondering which markets break the bank, check out this list of the ten least affordable cities.

Homeowners Quit Making Payments and Squat in Million Dollar Homes

Although there are many people who are making the decision to walk away from their homes and their mortgage payments, there are an increasing number of individuals who are staying in their home without paying any money at all.

Home Builders Struggle to Unload Backlog

Home builders across the U.S. are being nailed to the wall by the housing market slump. With the correction in full swing, many home builders are reporting losses as they struggle to unload the glut of inventory the slowdown has created.

A Tip on How to Make Money in a Housing Downturn: Rent

There are many books and articles out there that tell you how you can profit from the real estate bubble. Some of them suggest you buy foreclosures in depressed areas; others say that commercial property is the way to go. But if you really want to make money during a housing slump, the easiest and most profitable thing to do is rent.

The Dangerous Disconnect Between Home Prices and Fundamentals

Today's home prices can best be described as a recession in the making, but are most often referred to as a bubble. Prices have grown so much in the last decade that they are now completely disconnected from the fundamentals that have historically ruled the real estate market. Today's prices are not sustainable and the graphs and analysis below demonstrate why.

Subprime Lenders Took Advantage of Minorities During the Boom

The 2007 Annual Minority Lending Report, released by Compliance Technologies and Genworth Financial yesterday details startling information about minority lending. According to the report, four of every 10 home purchase mortgages issued to minorities in 2006 were subprime loans--twice the number of subprime loans issued to white borrowers.

NAR Issues More 'Now is a Great Time to Buy' Propaganda

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is working overtime to convince potential buyers to step up and buy into the tanking housing market. In addition to penning a number of misleading press releases, the association has spent a ton of money on a public awareness campaign that relies on skewed data and bogus claims.

Change in FICO Scoring System Could Affect Mortgage Loan Availability

Fair Isaac Corp. plans major changes to the FICO scoring system. Those in the know feel that this overhaul is a fairly big deal, one likely to result in plummeting credit scores.

Federal Reserve Urged to Crack Down on Mortgage Originators

The subprime meltdown has led to a great deal of finger pointing. On Monday, a group of senators did some pointing of their own and urged the Fed to use existing authority to restrict some of the mortgage loans being offered by both banks and non-banks.

Today's Featured Articles:

Home Sales Decline Sharply, Fall in Home Prices Points to Recession

Home sales fell considerably during the month of August, and are now at a five year low. Prices have fallen to levels not seen since the last recession.

Is it Possible to Refinance a Home Equity Loan?

The answer is yes, but to find real cost savings the homeowner must use restraint.

Three Uses For Your Home Equity Line of Credit

A home equity line of credit is a revolving credit line. This financing option is a great choice for certain types of spending. Here are some tips on how to use this home loan.

What is the Difference Between an Exchange-Traded Fund and a Closed-End Fund?

Want to know the difference between exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds? Both trade on the exchanges like regular stocks, but these two types of funds have important differences.

Retirees and Home Equity Loans can be a Risky Combination

As retirement nears home equity can be a good pad for times of short income. Taking out a home equity loan now might prove to be risky business.

Economic Growth Slows as Housing Market Woes Continue

Economic growth has slowed to a crawl as hosing market woes continue. New reports from the Commerce Department indicate that the economy is growing slower than normal, and much slower than previous predictions.

The Pros and Cons of Sub-Prime Lending

When it comes to accepting a sub-prime loan, there are a some pros and cons a person should seriously consider before deciding one way or the other on the loan.

Banking for Kids: How Banks Work!

You may be a kid, but chances are you know how banks work! You simply go deposit your money for safekeeping, and withdraw it when you need it, right? While this is true, the entire banking process is actually a lot more complicated. Read this article to learn what really goes on behind the scenes of your local bank, and what it means for your money.

Three Ways to Insure Your Home!

There are three ways insurance companies pay homeowners in the event of an accident. Want to learn what they are? Read on to find out!

Investing for Teens: Long-Term and Short-Term Investing and Trading

Most financial experts will tell you to invest for the long term, but what does that really mean? Is it really so bad to take short-term gains?

Sub-Prime Mortgage Options In Texas

Getting a mortgage with a sub-prime credit score is not only hard to do, it is also more expensive. Here are some options for home loans in TX.

Why Does the Federal Reserve Raise Interest Rates?

The two main reasons that the Federal Reserve raises (or lowers) interest rates is because of the economy and inflation.

How to Raise Your Voice Against Inappropriate Loan Approvals

We've all read the stories: people earning $15,000 per year being approved for $720,000 loans, 60 percent of people lying about income on no-documentation loans, and proposed subprime bailout plans that will cost taxpayers millions. The stories can be frustrating, and have left many readers wondering whether or not there is any was to raise a voice against inappropriate loan approvals.

What Usually Carries a Lower Mortgage Loan Rate, Fixed Rate Mortgages or Adjustable Rate Mortgages?

Adjustable or variable rate mortgages (ARMs) almost always offer a lower introductory rate than their fixed rate counterpart. Does this mean that the ARM will be less expensive than the conventional, fixed rate loan over the long run? This question can only be answered by market forces and whether rates are lowering are rising.

Housing Market Watch: Santa Clara County, CA

Home sales slowed in Santa Clara County during the month of February. The average number of days a home spent on the market increased in most areas. Median prices, meanwhile, moved up and down. Prices fell in Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, and Campbell, but edged up slightly in Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and San Jose.

New Home Sale Market Slows, Prices Drop by the Most Since 1970

According to a new report released by the Commerce Department, new home sales and prices are suffering just as much as existing sales and prices. During the month of August, new home sales fell to the lowest level in seven years, and new home prices declined by the most seen since 1970.

Solano County, California Rent vs. Buy Analysis

Solano County is considered to be one of the most overpriced housing markets in the nation. Many residents cannot reasonably afford to buy property, but don't like the idea of renting. This Solano County rent vs. buy analysis breaks down the numbers to compare the costs of renting and buying in this popular region.

Spending Spotlight: Watch For These Credit Card Secrets

Some credit card insights that can save you money.

Protecting Yourself Against the Housing Bubble

Their are strategies homeowners can take to limit risk in a overheated housing market.

Top 10 Most Affordable Housing Markets

Houses are expensive! In some areas, like Los Angeles, Calif., only 3 percent of residents earning the median income are able to purchase a median priced home. Still, there are deals to be had if you buy in the right place. To find out where that is, check out this list of the top ten most affordable housing markets.
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