Low-Cost Mortgage Plan Would Not Help Diminish Foreclosures

Posted on December 9th, 2008 in Foreclosure, Mortgage by admin

The latest resolution of the Treasury Department regarding the housing crisis is believed to be more of a short-term relief rather than a permanent solution. Economists argue that reducing interest rate to 4.5 percent is not enough to improve home sales and decrease foreclosure incidences. Even worse, the proposition could cost $25 billion dollars yearly.

Proponents of the plan uphold that lowering interest rates will help increase home sales. Rise in home sales would then mean rise in house values. Stable home prices determine the stability of the economy, according to them. They further say that the plan would actually be profitable without incurring any cost at all.

On the other hand, critics say that the government would only earn the assumed profit if all borrowers pay their mortgage in full. That is very unlikely to happen especially during these difficult times. Foreclosure statistics are at 3 percent right now.

In addition, economists say that there is no relationship between lower mortgage rates and higher housing prices. Increase in home sales result from availability of credit which is not the case right now.

What ever little help the measure is going to provide is surely going to be overshadowed by the cost. Without providing any long-term benefits and foreclosure prevention measures, the huge sum will be put to waste instead of being used to fix the housing industry.

Only new homebuyers are eligible for the low-mortgage program. Therefore, people who are already on the verge of foreclosure will not be helped in any manner. According to experts, housing prices will continue to drop until foreclosure incidents decline.

The government must adopt more efficient and effective measures to deal with the housing crisis and, alongside, address foreclosure cases. These measures must be designed for the long run so that what ever economic growth would result would be sustained longer than the present.

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Fractional Homeownership May Be the Solution to the Foreclosure Problem

Posted on December 2nd, 2008 in Foreclosure by admin

Since decreasing mortgage duties, approving incentive packages, purchasing toxic loan-supported securities and restricting foreclosure have not been effective in evening out the housing markets, a new intervention is in need.

Fractional homeownership works the same way as having a business partner or an investor. The homebuyer now does not have to pay for the heavy full amount of his dream house while keeping the material benefits of homeownership, meaning smaller loan amount and less chance of foreclosure. A standardized fractional ownership security makes an institutional investor a partner.

With this, traditional financing in home purchasing, which consist of the buyer’s capital plus the mortgage, will be changed. A passive investor who shares the gains and losses of home values also shares with the expenses. It makes homeownership somewhere between renting and owning. This decreases the possible mortgage thereby reducing the risk of foreclosure in the future.

A home equity fractional interest or HEFI security separates the consumption and investment choices. This means that the buyer will consume the whole worth of his purchase while he only paid for a part of it.

This intervention may temporarily solve foreclosure and stabilize home prices.

Foreclosure may be preventable with fractional ownership. With only a part of the supposed price of the home mortgage to pay, a manageable monthly payment makes foreclosure unlikely. There is no moral hazard involved since there is a HEFI. It is not an escape in paying, reduces the risk of losing the buyer’s money and is fair to on-time renters.

The HEFI security is like a stock share or an investment in a company.

Single family owner occupied equity asset class or SFOO is a large market. Investors would hold much of the SFOO equity asset as in the stocks. HEFIs can attract investors in this class of asset. This market reduces price ambiguity for price finding is already provided.

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Mobile Home Residents Bothered by Foreclosure

Posted on November 18th, 2008 in Foreclosure by Mary

The residents of mobile homes in the Pine Meadows Community got alarmed after learning about the scheduled foreclosure auction of their place on November 4.

Pine Meadows, formerly known as Hilton Estates Mobile Home Park, has about 400 mobile home lots. Of the total number of residents, about half rents the area for $600 a month; the rest have their own mobile homes and just lease their space for $314 a month. Included in the payments are water, trash service, and sewer.

The mobile home park faces foreclosure because according to WBCMT, the lien holder, the owners went into default on a $9.2 million loan. This loan originated from Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust in 2005, and the trustee was Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

However, the owners and property manager of the Pine Meadows Community have not received any notices of foreclosure, contrary to what the lender has said. The lawyer of the mobile community park has stated that he only received the first set of foreclosure documents last Thursday morning.

Due to the uncertainties about the pending foreclosure auction, the residents of the mobile home park got really worried, not knowing what will happen after foreclosure. But they seem to be sure that they will fight for their homes.

Foreclosure attorney says that if ever WBCMT becomes successful in its purchase of the trailer park on the scheduled public auction, it has no plans of evicting anyone from the area for as long as these residents are current on their rent. It only changes when an unusual sale mechanism occurs.

The foreclosure has not stated any other financial details besides the amount of the original loan. Whatever happens, Pine Meadows’ residents must stand-up for their properties and their right to rent. Hopefully, everybody gets to stay current on their rent payments so they will not have to undergo a more complicated legal action, and they will not lose their homes.

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Students Mobilize to Help Tenants Displaced Due to Foreclosure

Posted on November 15th, 2008 in Foreclosure by Johnny

Law and college students from several Boston colleges and universities intend to take part in walking the streets of Hyde Park, Dorchester, and South Boston to inform tenants of their rights to their homes. This campaign aims to focus on the 28 zones in Chelsea and Boston, which have the most number of foreclosures. It is also a level-up version of the efforts of the Jamaica Plain Group City Life.

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Facing Foreclosure but Cannot Sell your Home? Rent it!

Posted on November 14th, 2008 in Foreclosure by Johnny

Homeowners facing foreclosures often find it hard to let go of their houses. But if you are one of them, you have an option of renting your home when you cannot sell it. Once you fail to make your mortgage payments, you can find tenants to rent your home and use their rental fee to pay your mortgage obligations.

Continue Reading: Facing Foreclosure but Cannot Sell your Home? Rent it!

Homeowners with “Upside Down” Mortgages: No Foreclosure Help Available

Posted on November 3rd, 2008 in Foreclosure by Mary

Millions of homeowners are struggling to meet their mortgage obligations and exploring solutions that could help them keep foreclosure at bay. Sadly, it has become more and more difficult for these homeowners since most of them has “upside down” mortgage and basically, disqualifies them from qualifying for most bailout plans.

Continue Reading: Homeowners with “Upside Down” Mortgages: No Foreclosure Help Available

Foreclosure Basics: The After Effects of a Short Sale

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 in Foreclosure by Shanon

With more and more homeowners facing foreclosure nationwide, the short sale transaction is increasingly becoming popular for those who can not refinance their existing mortgages and are having a hard time looking for a buyer who will agree to their asking price.

Continue Reading: Foreclosure Basics: The After Effects of a Short Sale