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CNN recently interviewed Karen Weaver, the global head of the securitization research division at Deutsche Bank, showing the surprising belief that almost half of U.S. mortgage borrowers could be underwater by 2011. Deutsche Bank predicts that housing prices will fall another 14%, severely hurting many borrowers.

Mortgage owners that barely have any equity will be especially prone to… Continue

Everyone loves the first time home buyers tax credit; it's helping stimulate the housing market and benefiting people just starting out in life. Unfortunately, there seem to be a few other people attempting to reap the benefits without qualifying.

According to the Boston Herald, the IRS is already conducting 24 investigations for fraud related to the first time home buyer tax credit. One case in… Continue

By now, everyone’s heard the big news. Housing sales increased this summer compared to last. Although prices are still falling, the rate of decline is slowing. Unfortunately, higher priced homes seem to be left out of this uptick.

According to the Wall Street Journal 2.3% of existing home sales exceeded $750,000 in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 4.4% in 2007. Record low mortgage rates and the first tim… Continue

As the demand for new homes rises slowly (according to a prediction by Bloomberg.com), those who argued months ago that the housing decline would continue until 2010 and 2011 may begin to look a little sheepish. Home builders have lowered their prices to compete with foreclosed homes, and its starting to show.

Near record low mortgage rates are bringing some extra business to the housing market, a… Continue

Nearly everything about real estate is seasonal, even apartment leases. Spring and early summer is typically the peak time of year for rental activity, but the Wall Street Journal reports that vacancies have hit a 22 year high.

Obviously the job market has an effect on the vacancy rate, but this year it has a particularly strong hand. Only 19.7% of 2009 college graduates who applied for a job received one, acc… Continue