Good news for homeowners facing foreclosure!!

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced Monday that they will suspend all repossessions from Dec. 17  until Jan. 2, 2013.

"The holidays are a chance to be with loved ones, and we want to relieve some stress at this time of year," said Terry Edwards, Executive Vice President of Credit Portfolio Management, Fannie Mae.

Bank of America said it will also suspend foreclosure evictions both for loans it owns and for those it services for investors during the holiday. Still waiting for JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citibank to announce their holiday intentions.

For more information on San Fernando Valley Foreclosures and Short Sales visit http://www.sanfernandovalleyshortsaleandforeclosure.com/

Home prices signal recovery may be here

The S&P/Case-Shiller national home price index, which covers more than 80 percent of the housing market in the United States, climbed 6.9 percent in the three months ended June 30 compared to the first three months of 2012.

California's anti-deficiency protection for "purchase money" mortgages...

On Thursday, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1178 (Corbett), C.A.R.'s sponsored bill that would have expanded anti-deficiency protections. In his veto message, the Governor made clear his view that the bill interferes with an existing contract. While disappointed in the Governor's misinterpretation of the bill, C.A.R. is grateful to the almost 13,000 California REALTORS(R) who urged him to sign the bill by responding to the Red Alert.

C.A.R. sponsored SB 1178 to better protect homeowners going through foreclosure. SB 1178 would have ensured that homeowners keep the same "anti-deficiency" protections they have in the original loan after the loan has been refinanced.

California's anti-deficiency protection for "purchase money" mortgages says that if a homeowner defaults on a mortgage used to purchase his or her home, the homeowner's liability on the mortgage is limited to the property itself. The law has worked well since the 1930s to protect borrowers, ensure the quality of loan underwriting and allow borrowers brought down by financial crisis to get back on their feet.

Unfortunately, the 1930s law hasn't kept up with current times. Current law doesn't apply to loans used to refinance the original purchase debt, even if the refinance was only to gain a lower interest rate. Recent years of low interest rates have induced tens of thousands of homeowners to refinance their mortgages. During those years, almost no one realized that refinancing their mortgage to obtain a lower rate, they were forfeiting their protections and were becoming personally liable on the new note.

SB 1178 would have corrected this injustice by extending anti-deficiency protections to those who have refinanced their loans.

Thank you again to everyone who joined C.A.R.'s Government Affairs Team and fought for our clients.

Mortgage Modification

More underwater homeowners to get cuts in principal balance
For hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages, it’s been a tantalizing question: Is there any way that our lender might agree to lower the amount we owe – not just the monthly payments, but the principal debt itself?

To read the full story, please click here.

Mortgage rates slip below 5%

Loan applications jumped 13% last week and are up 50% from late June, borrowers have been taking advantage of rates that now average 4.97% on a 30-year loan. This is the time to buy!!! Talk to me about the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit. Time is running out but if you are eligible you can still get the credit if you act quickly.

First-Time Homebuyers Push Sales Up In Studio City and Sherman Oaks

Southland Regional Association of Realtors® reported that first-time buyers are taking advantage of favorable market conditions and are pushing home sales up in the San Fernando Valley with May being the eleventh straight month of sales gains.
Seven hundred and eight single-family homes sold during May, an increase of 5.8 percent over a year ago and 2.5 percent above figures.
Currently there is a 3.8-month supply of homes compared to the 8.5-month supply of May 2008 (a five- to six-month inventory indicates a balanced market.)
The median price of homes sold during May was $350,000, down 22.2 percent from a year ago. The condominium median price of $185,000 was off 38.1 percent from May 2008.

Studio City California Real EstateFast Facts

Calif. median home price - November 08: $285,680(Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region November 08: Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,200,000 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region November 08: High Desert $148,580 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Third Quarter 08: 53 percent (Source: C.A.R.)

Mortgage rates - week ending 12/31/08 30-yr. fixed: 5.10% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.83% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.85% Fees/points: 0.5% (Source: Freddie Mac)

Fannie Mae Will Halt All Foreclosure Sales

Fannie Mae has issued a Lender Letter announcing that it will halt all foreclosure sales on occupied single-family properties that are scheduled to occur between November 26, 2008 and January 9, 2009. This halt also applies to eviction lockouts of occupied single-family properties. During this period, lenders are encouraged to continue working with borrowers whose foreclosure sales have been halted to pursue possible workout solutions. What does this mean to you? Well, I may just be jaded but I think it will just mean the market will be flooded with new foreclosures after January 9th. Sure hope I'm wrong.
To read the entire news release go to the Fannie Mae site.