Home / Author Archives: Daren Blomquist

Author Archives: Daren Blomquist

Creative Buyers, Brokers Keep Sales Humming Despite Lack of Listings

Many in the real estate industry believe there is a listing shortage, but a close look at the numbers suggests buyers in most markets are purchasing homes in increasingly larger volumes--even if some of those sales involve off-market homes not yet listed. Buyers and their real estate brokers are getting creative in buying off-market inventory in a number of ways.

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Commentary: DeMarco Disappoints with New Streamlined Mod Program

Starting July 1, large numbers of non-paying borrowers will have the opportunity to modify existing mortgages through a more streamlined process. This sounds like a good way to reduce foreclosures and prop up home prices, but as we will shortly see the proposed program is oddly risky and likely to encourage additional defaults. The program is open to borrowers who have already modified their loans once, perhaps a few years ago when rates were higher. This, at least, is a good idea. So what's the big difference between the new program and the modifications offered previously?

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A Tricky Transition from Housing Stability to Strength in 2013

Some level of certainty and stability returned to the U.S. housing market in 2012, providing a solid foundation for the market to build on in 2013. But there are still significant risks that threaten this hard-won stability and could trip up some local markets trying to make the tricky transition from stability to strength. RealtyTrac expects 2013 to be bookended by two discrete increases in foreclosure activity: a jump in bank repossessions (REOs) near the beginning of the year and a jump in foreclosure starts near the end of the year.

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