REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Congress Calls for Foreclosure Program Revamp

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Congress Calls for Foreclosure Program Revamp "Congress Calls for Foreclosure Program Revamp
The government should retool its foreclosure-prevention program because so far it hasn’t worked, a report released Tuesday by the Congressional Oversight Panel declares.

The program 'will never have the reach necessary to put an appreciable dent into the foreclosure crisis,' the report says.

The report calls for the Treasury Department to set objectives and hold banks that administer mortgages accountable for failing to complete loan modifications properly. It also recommends allowing borrowers to apply for loan modifications online and calls for a system to monitor cases and intervene when borrowers fall behind on their payments on modified mortgages."

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-U.S. Orders End to Dual-Track Process

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-U.S. Orders End to Dual-Track Process: "U.S. Orders End to Dual-Track Process
Acting Comptroller of the Currency John Walsh last week told banks to stop foreclosure proceedings if the borrower is starting or in the midst of a loan-modification program.

This dual-track system has hastened foreclosure for many borrowers who were caught between instructions to pay lower payments during a loan-modification trial period and punishing fines for failure to pay the full amount if the loan mod failed.

One regulator disagreed with the change, saying that lenders needed to be able to press forward with foreclosures, especially when borrowers clearly weren’t going to meet loan-modification standards"

RPC - Frequently asked questions

RPC - Frequently asked questions: "Manufacturer of finely crafted tiny houses and park model RVs

How much do they cost
Depends on size, features and complexity of the design.
The least expensive is a bare bones 12x16+4' porch Camp Cabin model for $15,000. This is a complete turn key cabin and is very basic- just right for a rental."

Plans | Little House on the Trailer

Plans | Little House on the Trailer: "120 square foot, 8′ x 15′ simple structure, designed for a tiny house, studio, home office or shed. Everything you need including a cut list, a shopping list that you can take to your local Home Depot and Lowes. Build the basic shell for as little as $1295 plus your labor.

Typically plans of this quality and detail sell for $100 but to make them more accessible to more buyers we’re keeping our house plan price to $27. Here is what the plans include:"

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Buyers Show Growing Interest in Tiny Houses

Magazine-Daily News-Buyers Show Growing Interest in Tiny Houses: "Buyers Show Growing Interest in Tiny Houses
The tightly built, tiny home is one small segment — no pun intended — of real estate sales that is doing relatively well."

Prices fell during the third quarter and may continue down. - Nov. 30, 2010

Prices fell during the third quarter and may continue down. - Nov. 30, 2010: "U.S. home prices fell 2% in the third quarter after having gained steadily since early 2009.

The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index has recorded gains in four of the previous five quarters, including a 4.7% jump between April and June 2010. That leaves national home prices down 1.5% year over year and off 2% compared to the second quarter, according to the Index, which was released Tuesday."