Articles filed under Harney, Ken
-
Class action suit could change real-estate commissions
Mar 22, 2019 6:00 AM - In what could be the most far-reaching antitrust lawsuit for the real estate market in decades, the National Association of Realtors and four of the largest realty companies have been accused of a conspiracy to systematically overcharge home sellers by forcing them to pay commissions to the agents who represent the buyers of their homes.
-
Buying a home just got easier for many in the gig economy
Mar 15, 2019 6:00 AM - If you're one of the millions of Americans who are self-employed or earn money on the side through freelance, contract or "gig" work, you may know the drill firsthand: Applying for a mortgage can be an intrusive ordeal.
-
More Americans are paying mortgages on time
Mar 1, 2019 6:00 AM - WASHINGTON -- It's a real estate and social barometer that doesn't get a lot of publicity, but it's important: More Americans are paying their mortgages on time today than they have in nearly two decades -- maybe even longer.
-
Latest credit breach exposes mortgage data for thousands of borrowers
Feb 8, 2019 6:00 AM - The personal information we all supply to get a home mortgage, such as Social Security numbers, frequently does not remain with the lender that made the loan. Mortgages routinely are pooled and sold to investors in a vast secondary market; those investors may resell chunks of their portfolios to other investors.
-
Your FICO score is not your mortgage destiny
Feb 1, 2019 6:00 AM - The higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate quote you'll get on your mortgage, right?
-
Housing market shows signs of hope
Jan 25, 2019 6:00 AM - Some of the real estate fundamentals have been changing for the better. Take mortgages. They've gotten cheaper. As of last week, you could readily find conventional rates averaging 3.87 percent for five-year adjustable-rate home loans, or conventional 30-year loans at fixed rates of 4.45 percent, according to investor Freddie Mac.
-
Your DIY project didn't turn out quite right? You've got company.
Jan 18, 2019 6:00 AM - Do-it-yourself projects by homeowners are a multibillion-dollar growth area within the U.S. economy and the bread and butter of corporate giants like Lowe's and Home Depot.
-
Federal shutdown creating mortgage victims
Jan 11, 2019 6:00 AM - When the government shuts its doors because of a funding brouhaha that pits the White House against Capitol Hill, who gets hit hardest among people needing a home mortgage? The latest version of federal breakdown made one fact painfully clear: It all depends on the type of loan you seek and where you're located.
-
Is your realty agent looking out for you, or someone else?
Dec 21, 2018 6:00 AM - Stephen Brobeck, author of the new report and immediate past executive director of the Consumer Federation of America, says the vast majority of people don't understand the varying types of representation by realty agents. The key question they need to ask before agreeing to work with any agent, he says, is: Will you be representing us exclusively throughout the transaction and have a fiduciary duty to us?
-
House tax bill contains early holiday gifts for homeowners
Dec 7, 2018 6:00 AM - December is mega-tax-bill time on Capitol Hill, when legislation loaded with gifts and goodies for special-interest constituents moves ahead for action before the end of the year. House Republicans have unveiled their 2018 version -- nearly 300 pages worth -- and it has goodies galore.
bottom clear