US long-term mortgage rates edge up; 30-year loan at 3.65%

January 16, 2020 10:12 am Leave a comment

A "Coming Soon" sign hangs from a real estate sign outside a home in Derry, New Hampshire, on Jan. 9. On Thursday, Jan. 16, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose slightly last week after financial markets that had been roiled by the U.S.-Iran conflict became stable.

Tagged with: mortgages

Federal agency supports more condo mortgages

August 14, 2019 11:17 am Leave a comment

The Federal Housing Administration is changing regulations to make it easier for more first-time condo buyers to obtain mortgages.

Tagged with: condominiums condos mortgages Residential Construction

Report: Some Wisconsin residents face housing cost burden

March 19, 2019 2:31 pm Leave a comment

A county health report says about 13 percent of Wisconsin residents are paying more than half of their income on rent or a home mortgage.

Tagged with: housing mortgages

Bill would rein in mortgage companies targeting veterans

January 12, 2018 9:26 am Leave a comment

Backers of a bill aimed at cracking down on mortgage lending companies that target veterans say the measure is gaining support.

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How Trump tax plan would alter mortgage interest deduction

October 11, 2017 7:49 am Leave a comment

President Donald Trump speaks about tax reform at the Farm Bureau Building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sept. 27. The Trump administration's tax plan would double the standard deduction, which taxpayers can take if they don't itemize deductions. (AP File Photo/Alex Brandon)

Each year, taxpayers subsidize America's homeowners by roughly $70 billion, and the benefits flow disproportionately to coastal areas with high incomes and pricey homes, from New York and Washington to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Tagged with: income taxes mortgages

How new mortgage disclosure rules may affect buyers

October 8, 2015 12:45 pm Leave a comment

ForSale_klh A home stands for sale Thursday, Oct. 8 in the west 7100 block of Mt. Vernon Ave. in Milwaukee. New rules enacted Saturday aim to give buyers a better understanding of the financial obligations they are signing up for when they take on a home loan. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Closing on a home can be exciting but also stressful for buyers, particularly those who are relying on financing. New rules aim to make sure buyers at least have a better understanding of the financial obligations they are signing up for when they take on a home loan.

Tagged with: home sales Mortgage Bankers Association mortgages

Eau Claire mortgage broker ordered to pay $444K

August 10, 2015 9:15 am Leave a comment

An Eau Claire mortgage broker convicted of 47 securities-related crimes has been ordered to repay $444,000 to the victims.

Tagged with: mortgages

Why homebuyers face a tough spring

May 11, 2015 11:11 am Leave a comment

realtor Stephan Marshall, right, walks with potential buyer Sasha Martinez at a home for sale on Perez Drive in Pacifica, Calif. Among the toughest markets for homebuyers are San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as Seattle, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Nashville and Boston, according to Zillow. In those areas, homes are selling an average of 48 days faster than properties in markets where buyers have the edge, according to Zillow. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Eager to buy your first home this spring? Already own, but want to trade up? Be warned: there'll be plenty of competition.

Tagged with: foreclosures mortgages National Association of Realtors

US Supreme Court clarifies rules for rescinding mortgages

January 13, 2015 1:41 pm Leave a comment

a home is for sale in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. A resurgent housing market, rising home values and steady job gains are helping more U.S. homeowners stay on top of their mortgage payments. The percentage of mortgage holders at least two months behind on their payments fell by 21 percent in the first three months of this year versus the same period in 2012, credit reporting agency TransUnion said Wednesday, May 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that home buyers don't need to file a lawsuit, but may simply write a letter if they want to back out of a mortgage because they claim their lender violated the federal Truth in Lending Act.

Tagged with: mortgages U.S. Supreme Court

Court to consider when second mortgage can be void

November 17, 2014 8:57 am Leave a comment

A forclosure sign tops a for sale sign outside a home in Denver. Foreclosure activity jumped in 149 of the 206 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. last year, according to foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. (AP File Photo/David Zalubowski)

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether homeowners who declare bankruptcy can void a second mortgage if the home's market value has dropped below the amount they owe on their first mortgage.

Tagged with: bankruptcy mortgages