Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen capped a week of rising expectations about an imminent interest rate increase by explicitly supporting a hike in mid-March if U.S. economic progress persists. There would have to be a major disruption with an economic report, or politically, over the next week, for ... » Learn More about Fed Will Move Rate Higher Sooner, Rather Than Later
Mortgage Regulations
HERO and PACE Loans Get a New Disclosure Jan 1 – For Good Reasons
As I blogged and gave presentations on over a year ago (Think Twice About Using a HERO Energy – Water Conservation Financing Program), the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) and HERO (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity) loans pitched by the government and sold by contractors to make energy and ... » Learn More about HERO and PACE Loans Get a New Disclosure Jan 1 – For Good Reasons
Conforming Loan Limit Increased the First Time in 10 Years
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today increased the conforming loan limits for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae from $417,000 to $424,100. This is the first time the loan limit climbed above $417,000 in 10 years. The baseline loan limit was established by the Housing and Economic Recovery ... » Learn More about Conforming Loan Limit Increased the First Time in 10 Years
A Sample of Pending California Real Estate Legislation
As a Government Affairs Chair for the California Association of Mortgage Professionals I was recently in Sacramento advocating for the consumer of housing, discussing housing issues and pending legislation with our state Senators and Assembly Members. One thing of interest, our representatives in ... » Learn More about A Sample of Pending California Real Estate Legislation
Real Estate and Finance Tidbits 112015
A few recent items of interest, that probably won't hit the general media, or may not hit for a while... Bill Passes House to Expand Mortgage Availability By a vote of 255-174, the House approved the “Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act,” which would broaden the definition of qualified ... » Learn More about Real Estate and Finance Tidbits 112015