21
Apr
Author: Alex Amaro / Category:
Home Values
Forbes Magazine recently published the top ten cities it believes will continue to decline in prices.
The top 10 cities likely to continue to fall in values were as follows:
- Orlando
- Miami
- Jacksonville, Fla.
- Tampa
- Los Angeles
- Phoenix
- Las Vegas
- Oakland, Calif.
- San Diego
- New York
20
Apr
Author: Alex Amaro / Category:
Home Values
Housing Market Faces New Rules for Appraisals
The housing industry is facing new national rules for real estate appraisals, which will ban mortgage brokers from ordering valuations and divert more business to third-party appraisal management companies.
Lenders seeking to sell their loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have to adopt the home valuation code of conduct; but they have expressed some concern about the new standard, which takes effect on May 1.
Lenders can still focus on FHA financing, considering the agency has its own appraisal rules and does not plan to adopt the code of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Source: Realty Times, Kenneth R. Harney (04/20/09)