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Author Archives: Rick Sharga

Rick Sharga is EVP of Ten-X. Before joining Ten-X, Sharga was EVP at Carrington Mortgage Holdings and a SVP at RealtyTrac.

The Fed Funds Rate and Unconventional Wisdom

Conventional wisdom suggests that rising Fed Funds rates are bad news for the still-recovering US Housing Market. And it’s easy to see a scenario unfold that supports this theory: lenders react to the Fed action by raising interest rates on ...

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Commentary: What’s in Store for Housing in 2014, Part 2

Despite recent gains, which some of us believe are more of a mirage than an oasis, the economy still isn't creating enough good-paying full-time jobs to drive a full recovery in the housing market. At the same time, stricter lending requirements--and a lending environment likely to get more challenging before it gets easier--are the other major headwinds that could slow down housing.

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Commentary: What’s in Store for Housing in 2014, Part 1

Many economists and market observers have suggested the market is poised for continued growth as the recovery enters its third year, and there are positive elements in play that provide some reasons for optimism. Recent loan vintages continue to perform at levels better than historical norms, which has allowed the industry to work through its backlog of distressed assets; foreclosure activity is declining; and housing starts have begun to rise.

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