Some higher-priced mortgages will be exempt from certain appraisal requirements following the issuance of a final rule by six financial regulatory agencies. In order to make sure a loan is sound, a physical visit with written appraisal must be made to see the interior of a home prior to making […]
New Guidelines Regarding Appraisal Requirements Released Read More
Investors shied away from the market today as they await word from the Federal Reserve on its plans regarding the stimulus program of buying $85 billion bonds each month. As a result, the three major indexes moved little in today’s trading. CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped -9.31
Little Movement in Tracked Housing Stocks, Three Major Indexes Read More
Drew Industries Inc.(DW) of Elkhart County, Indiana announces it will begin trading of ex-dividend Dec. 18, 2013, paying $2 a share which is scheduled to be paid Jan. 6, 2014. Even purchasers of the stock before the ex-dividend date can receive the cash dividend payment, according to nasdaq.com. Drew’s stock
Drew Industries is Paying a $2 Dividend Read More
Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduced S. 1828, The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act in the Senate as a companion to House Bill 1779 of the same name that protects the ability of manufactured home owners to buy, sell and refinance homes. The new guidelines issued
The National Association of Home Builders reports builder confidence rose four points in Dec. to 58, where any number over 50 indicates builders see the market as good rather than poor. The Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) is based on current sales conditions, sales expectations and traffic of prospective
Home Builders Confidence Continues Rising Read More
Combining forces, the University of New Mexico and Arizona State University entered a solar modular home in the U. S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)s’ Solar Decathlon held in Oct. at Irvine, California, winning first prize in the “energy balance” category and in the top ten in other categories. “SHADE (Solar
Modular Entry from Solar Decathlon on Display in Albuquerque Read More
According to commercialobserver.com, Forest City Enterprises and state-owned Chinese developer Greenland Holdings Group have agreed to develop 6,400 apartments in Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, 2,400 of which will be designated as affordable housing. Greenland will acquire a 70 percent stake in the Atlantic Yards project, which includes phases one and
Forest City Partners with Greenland Group Read More
In anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year and the question of when will the tapering of the stimulus being, investors drove the Dow up 129 points. CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 129.21 points, +0.82 percent, to close at 15,884.57. The Nasdaq climbed +0.71
Three Major Indexes Rise; Liberty Homes Spikes Read More
If Congress cannot decide on the feasibility of passing overall housing reform legislation, banking committee leaders from both houses may just pass Federal Housing Authority (FHA) reform as a stand-alone bill, legislation which almost passed in 2012 with bipartisan support. Overall reform might also include the future of Fannie Mae
Separate FHA Reform Bill may Pass Congress Read More
The Home Design Trends Survey reports consumer interest for pedestrian-friendly communities with mixed-use development grew from 45 percent in 2012 to 58 percent this year. Further, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) says preference for more access to recreational activities increased from 40 to 49 percent over the same period,
Demand Rises for Walkable Communities Read More
A developer of mixed-use multifamily and office buildings in Seattle, Washington says micro- housing is a good solution for housing in urban areas but it should go through the same design review as other projects. Patrick Foley of Lake Union Partners, responding to a query about affordable housing is Seattle,
Builder Hopes Demand Rises for Modular Read More
HomeFinder.com suggests reasons for buying a home before the end of the year include new lending rules which will move debt-to-income ratio requirements higher, possibly making it more difficult to buy property. Additionally, mortgage rates are already up one to two percent, but grabbing a fixed rate mortgage (FRM) at
Lenders Say “Buy Home Now” Read More
Following up on a story MHProNews published Sept. 18, 2013 regarding a survey of manufactured home owners and community operators being conducted by the Queensland, Australia government, respondents must reply by Dec. 20. The survey includes questions on a range of topics including sales, operations, utility charges, rent increases and
Survey of Manufactured Home Owners/Operators ends Dec. 20 Read More
The Alabama Manufactured Housing Association (AMHA) informs MHProNews city dignitaries were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the expanded facilities of CIS Financial Services in Hamilton, Alabama to honor company found Paula Reeves. She began the company in 1991 with two employees and has now grown to 78 employees
CIS Financial Dedicates new Office Read More
Federal regulators are telling their examiners to overlook non-qualified mortgage loans as long as they are underwritten well, according to what nationalmortgagenews.com tells MHProNews. The joint statement from the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) and the National
Non-QM Loans Can Be OK Read More
Investors continue to stick to the edge of the dance floor as they await word next week from the Federal Reserve on the future of the stimulus. CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 15.93 points, +0.10 percent, to close at 15,755.36. The Nasdaq nudged up 0.06 percent,
LPX Rises, Liberty Homes Falls; Three Major Indexes Move Little Read More
A Mercer County couple in West Virginia is suing J&M Quality Construction LLC and Mod-u-Kraf Homes LLC alleging the modular home they ordered was improperly delivered, resulting in damage that made the home uninhabitable. The defects were not discovered until the couple moved into the home, MHProNews has learned from
Modular Builder Sued over Home Read More
Following a post MHProNews last covered April 29, 2013 regarding the housing needs of the Attawapiskat of northern Ontario, Canada, bidding on a $2.2 million contract will close Mon., Dec. 16. It ‘s part of a larger $11.5 million, 15 project, five-year plan to increase the affordable housing stock for
Modular Homes may House Attawapiskat in Canada Read More
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says mortgage applications for new home purchases dropped 18 percent in November over October, but the size of the average loan continued moving up. As HousingWire tells MHProNews, home loan size has risen over $12,000 to $295,523 since last summer. New home sales fell from
New Home Sales Fall, Loan Size Rises Read More
Following up on a story we posted Dec. 11, 2013 regarding the confirmation of Rep. Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), MHProNews has learned from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Rep. Watt has favored measures that require GSEs (government supported enterprises) to support affordable housing. This
New FHFA Head has Supported Duty-To-Serve in the Past Read More
