MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin agency that temporarily suspended its low interest home loans because of the recession has thrown a nearly $11,000 party to show its employees they’re appreciated. While many state agencies are forgoing the traditional holiday ...

Tagged with: lending Monona Terrace mortgage WHEDA Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

By ALAN ZIBEL AP Real Estate Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Executives at two of the nation’s largest banks say they are struggling to get homeowners to complete the necessary paperwork for the Obama administration’s mortgage relief plan, and only a ...

Tagged with: mortgage Obama Treasury Department

By ALAN ZIBEL AP Real Estate Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage dropped to a record low of 4.71 percent this week, pushed down by an aggressive government campaign to reduce borrowing costs. The ...

Tagged with: Freddie Mac homeowner loan mortgage Mortgage Bankers Association

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction spending posted a tiny increase in October, the first advance in six months, as a surge in home building offset continued weakness in nonresidential construction. The small gain is a ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department construction spending GDP home building homebuyers loan mortgage Obama tax credit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Housing Administration is proposing stricter rules for lenders to reduce its risk and insure it can cover future losses. The agency proposes to require lenders to have a net worth of at least $1 million ...

Tagged with: Federal Housing Administration FHA lenders loans mortgage

By ALAN ZIBEL AP Real Estate Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said it will crack down on mortgage companies that are failing to do enough to help borrowers at risk of foreclosure. According to the Treasury Department, it ...

Tagged with: mortgage Obama Treasury Department

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — With the foreclosure crisis showing no signs of relenting, the Obama administration plans to expand a program aimed at helping people remain in their homes. The goal of the announcement, expected ...

Tagged with: Congressional Oversight Panel foreclosure Home Affordable Modification Program mortgage Mortgage Bankers Association

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration, battling a foreclosure crisis that shows no signs of relenting, will step up pressure on mortgage companies to do more to help people remain in their homes, officials ...

Tagged with: Congressional Oversight Panel foreclosure Home Affordable Modification Program loan mortgage Mortgage Bankers Association Obama Treasury

By ALAN ZIBEL AP Real Estate Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — First-time buyers taking advantage of a special tax credit gave sales of existing homes their biggest surge in a decade, raising hopes for a turnaround in the housing market and ...

Tagged with: economy foreclosure homebuyer mortgage Mortgage Bankers Association National Association of Realtors tax credit

By STEVENSON JACOBS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. is finally becoming a nation of savers. Now if only we could get something for our money. Interest rates are sinking to near zero for the first time ...

Tagged with: Bernanke Fed Federal Reserve interest rates mortgage spending