Reliable, honest, and well supported market valuations. Certified appraiser in Adams County, Colorado 303-200-0004

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MBS RECAP: 1/27/2012

1/27/2012 3:19 PM

MBS Live : MBS RECAP Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-22 : +0-06 FNMA 4.0 105-19 : +0-04 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-01 FNMA 5.0 107-30 : -0-02 GNMA 3.5 105-03 : +0-04 GNMA 4.0 107-23 : +0-02 GNMA 4.5 109-07 : -0-02 GNMA 5.0 110-24 : -0-08 FHLMC 3.5 103-16 : +0-06 FHLMC 4.0 105-11 : +...Read More

Mortgage Rates Improve For a 3rd Straight Day, Nearing All-Time Lows Again

1/27/2012 12:52 PM

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

Mortgages Rates continued their march into better territory today, capping a 3 day effort of improvement following Wednesday's FOMC Announcement. At this point, rates have not only solidified their re-entry into 3.875% Best-Execution levels, but some lenders are once again competit...Read More

AG Holder Announces Structure of MBS Fraud Unit

1/27/2012 12:36 PM

Posted To: MND NewsWire

The formation of the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group tasked with investigating mortgage fraud is now official. The new office, which will be part of the Administrations Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) was first announced by President Obama in his State of the Uni...Read More

MBS End Week Near All Time Highs, But Benchmark Rally Momentum is Slowing

1/27/2012 11:55 AM

Posted To: MBS Commentary

The trading day is rapidly growing uneventful and charts suggest that quite a few market participants already have one or more feet out the door for the weekend. The only real pop of volume and volatility was seen around this morning's GDP report, which was generally a mild boon to...Read More

MBS MID-DAY: 1/27/2012

1/27/2012 10:19 AM

Posted To: MBS Commentary

MBS Live : MBS MID-DAY Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-18 : +0-02 FNMA 4.0 105-17 : +0-02 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-00 FNMA 5.0 108-01 : +0-01 GNMA 3.5 104-31 : +0-01 GNMA 4.0 107-21 : +0-00 GNMA 4.5 109-06 : -0-03 GNMA 5.0 110-30 : -0-02 FHLMC 3.5 103-12 : +0-02 FHLMC 4.0 105-09 :...Read More

LPS: Mortgage Originations Among Highest Quality Ever in 2010-2011

1/27/2012 10:15 AM

Posted To: MND NewsWire

The Lender Processing Services (LPS) Mortgage Monitor Report for December show improvement in a number of the metrics it tracks. Many measures of delinquency rates are down, inventories are clearing in some states, and recent loan originations are "among the best quality on record." The overall del...Read More

What Should the Government do to Address the Inventory of Foreclosed Properties?

1/27/2012 9:06 AM

Posted To: Voice of Housing

Economists calculate that the decline in home prices has cost American homeowners approximately $7 trillion in home equity. Compounding this problem is the fact that the inventory of homes available for sale remains high and there is potential for a significant vo...Read More

California Says "No Thanks"; FHA Compare Ratio, and Lender FHA Changes not to be Ignored

1/27/2012 8:44 AM

Posted To: Pipeline Press

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that it's difficult to determine whether or not they are genuine." So said Abraham Lincoln. But here is one I received yesterday from Steve S., the president of Residential Mortgage Group in Minnesota: "In thinking about th...Read More

The Day Ahead: GDP, Consumer Sentiment, and Euro Headline Potential

1/27/2012 6:56 AM

Posted To: MBS Commentary

Volume in the overnight session was just under recent averages but respectable overall. 10yr Treasuries rose as high as 1.9681 after a relatively strong Italian debt auction. Beyond that, there was no major driver of trade as it seems bond markets have opted to shy away from overly...Read More

MBS RECAP: 1/26/2012

1/26/2012 3:19 PM

Posted To: MBS Commentary

MBS Live : MBS RECAP Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-14 : +0-13 FNMA 4.0 105-14 : +0-08 FNMA 4.5 106-23 : +0-06 FNMA 5.0 107-31 : +0-06 GNMA 3.5 104-29 : +0-15 GNMA 4.0 107-20 : +0-10 GNMA 4.5 109-08 : +0-08 GNMA 5.0 110-32 : +0-08 FHLMC 3.5 103-08 : +0-13 FHLMC 4.0 105-07 : +...Read More

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Land Valuation: Extraction Has No Traction

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

ARTICLE SOURCE: Vol. 4, Issue 1, January 2012 of the Illinois Appraiser newsletter from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. “Land values were based upon the extraction method.” Look familiar? If I had a nickel for every phoned‐in...

Geek's Corner: Magic Plan App Can Create Floor Plans By Photographing Corners of a Room

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

I learned of of the MagicPlan App from the Photography For Real Estate (PFRE) blog. According to PFRE: "The app is free for download. The final floor plan is free for non-commercial use (includes a watermark) and $1.10 USD for...

"Factoring" Accounts Receivable, or . . . .Where's My Money?!

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

GUEST AUTHOR: Ramir Rodriguez is a business development officer for Treasure Valley Factors. He helps real estate appraisers understand what factoring is and how it can help grow their business. He has a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis...

Taking Stock of the 2055 "Exterior Only" Appraisal Form

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

Guest Author: Ken Shure, Certified Residential Appraiser in the Los Angeles, California area. Contact: kbshure@Yahoo.com The 2055 form issued by Fannie Mae is a common vehicle for the reporting of an appraisal. The form includes a pre-printed scope of work...

Appraisal Issues Learned in 2011 - David Towne

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

GUEST AUTHOR: Dave Towne, Certified Real Estate Appraiser - Towne Appraisals. 16422 Britt Rd., Mount Vernon, WA Phone: 360.708.1196 eMail: dtowne@fidalgo.net Web: http://www.TowneAppraisals.com Appraisers…. Some things I’ve learned this past year: a- AMC’s lie. And appraisers often let them get...

FreddieMac Single-Family Updates to Appraisal Related Forms and Reconciling Multiple Opinions of Value

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide (Guide) Bulletin 2011-25 announces updates to our requirements for appraisal-related forms and reconciling multiple opinions of market value. Review Freddie's Guide Bulletin to get complete details on the Guide changes outlined below. Effective April 1, 2012, the...

Appraisal Foundation's Response to NAHB's "Flawed Appraisals" Article

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

We are contacting you in reference to the attached NAHB press release dated Thursday, December 8, 2011, entitled, Flawed Appraisals Killing Home Sales, Hampering Housing Recovery. As the Congressionally-authorized organization that establishes appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications in the United...

New Sponsor - Automated Valuation Technologies (AVT)

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

Welcome Appraisal Scoop's newest sponsor . . . Automated Valuation Technologies (AVT). AVT operates under the belief that there is no substitute for the “Neighborhood Appraiser.” Their knowledge of the local market is unique and cannot be duplicated by remote...

Appraisal Institute Applauds NAHB "Guidelines to a Stronger and More Productive Relationship with Appraisers"

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

The Appraisal Institute commends the National Association of Homebuilders for creating guidelines to foster increased cooperation and information sharing among professionals that play a key role in the home buying process. NAHB recently announced guidelines to enhance builder communication with...

NAHB says "Flawed Appraisals Killing Home Sales, Hampering Housing Recovery"

1/10/2012 8:59 AM

December 8, 2011 - One out of three builders are reporting losing signed sales contracts during the preceding six months because appraisals on their homes are less than the contract sales price, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by...

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Obama administration expands foreclosure prevention program

1/27/2012 6:56 PM

The Obama administration is taking another swing at improving its main foreclosure prevention program....Read More

Retirement saving: Don't shortchange the later years

1/27/2012 4:52 PM

Many people think they can plan on spending less later in retirement since they'll become less active as they age. But if their health declines, they may actually shift spending rather than reduce it. Do you think it's risky to plan as if one's expenses will go down later in retirement? --Tim, U.K....Read More

Mortgage probe unveiled as foreclosure talks loom

1/27/2012 2:34 PM

President Obama's latest probe into the mortgage meltdown will have more power than past efforts, and federal officials say it won't derail a possible $20 billion settlement for underwater and foreclosed homeowners....Read More

FDA blocks orange juice shipments from Canada

1/27/2012 3:28 PM

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it had detained orange juice shipments from Canada after they tested positive for low levels of a banned fungicide previously found in Brazilian juice. The FDA announced earlier this month that it would begin testing foreign orange juice shipments for the presence of the fungicide carbendazim be...Read More

Italy, Spain downgraded by Fitch

1/27/2012 1:46 PM

Fitch downgraded the sovereign debt ratings Friday of five European countries, with Italy and Spain taking the biggest hit....Read More

The anti-Kodak: Eastman Chemical

1/27/2012 11:19 AM

It is every parents' dream that their children enjoy a better life than they have. I am not sure if that's also true for parent companies and their offspring....Read More

SEC to step up scrutiny of private equity firms

1/27/2012 11:09 AM

The private equity world is struggling to stay in the shadows....Read More

Romney's elusive net worth calculation

1/27/2012 9:35 AM

Exactly how much is Mitt Romney worth? Hard to say....Read More

Starbucks CEO Schultz made $65 million

1/27/2012 9:14 AM

Starbucks chief executive officer Howard Schultz was paid more than $65 million in fiscal year 2011, including salary, bonuses and stock options....Read More

Dow breaks 3-week winning streak

1/27/2012 3:41 PM

U.S. stocks ended mostly lower Friday as jittery investors digested a weaker-than-expected economic growth report and as Europe's debt crisis still loomed in the background....Read More