- Kenneth R. Harney
- Columnist
- Mortgage giants make it easier for retirees to secure loans
- Short sales may be treated like foreclosures by credit-reporting agencies
- ‘Pocket listings’ allow realty agents to make sales without sharing commissions
- Is a down payment essential for a solid mortgage? Two credit unions suggest no.
- Even in a hot market, sellers need to be smart about attracting buyers
- Banks grow more willing to allow homeowners to borrow against their equity
- Hot housing markets revive techniques that marked the bubble of a decade ago
- Mortgage-related complaints make up almost half of cases in federal database
- Energy-efficient homes are less likely than others to have problem loans
- Buyers favor ‘green’ houses, but they’re often not easy to identify or appraise
- Home equity continues to grow fast, as many markets return to normal conditions
- Large-scale acquisition of houses may help renters repair credit and buy again
- Reversing course, lenders won’t force foreclosure in reverse mortgage case
- First-time buyers aren’t contributing much to rebound in housing markets
- Mortgage-interest deduction may not be as enormous as previously estimated
- Real estate brokers report unseasonably high interest among shoppers
- ‘Fiscal cliff’ accord allows homeowners to take tax deductions that had expired
- The Nation’s Housing: FHA tightens up on reverse mortgages
- New law expands protections for those in military service
- Polls about tax deductions don’t clearly lean for or against changing federal law
- FHA extends loan support for houses that investors buy, repair and sell quickly
- Short sellers may be hit with big income tax bills if Washington doesn’t act
- ‘Fiscal cliff’ talks may jeopardize tax deductions and home values
- Lame-duck Congress may tackle issues affecting buyers and sellers of homes
- Underwater homeowners can get relief, but new program has some drawbacks
- Capital-gains tax exclusion for homeowners might fall victim to deficit deal
- Limit on mortgage interest deduction would penalize only a minority of taxpayers
- Second mortgages rebound as banks’ confidence in housing market seems to grow
- Lame-duck Congress may address several issues important to homeowners
- Mortgage lenders set higher standards for the average borrower
- Revised condo rules should make it easier to finance mortgages through FHA
- Housing crisis remains untamed, but party platforms pay little attention to solutions
- Short sellers may take a big hit on their credit scores, fairly or not
- Short sales will soon become an option for many more underwater borrowers
- Home buyers would get more information about appraisals under bureau’s proposal
- An alternative to credit scores
- Underwater debtors may get tax relief
- Mortgage lenders may be easing their standards, but not for everyone
- House hunters in many areas are finding it’s no longer a buyer’s market
- Study finds that energy-efficient homes often command higher prices
- Health-care law’s 3.8 percent surtax will not affect many home sellers
- Federal agencies could induce private lenders to ease restrictions on home loans
- Federal Housing Administration rescinds tough new rules on mortgage applicants
- Overpriced ‘pinball’ houses bounce buyers over to cheaper properties
- Condo sales may become easier if FHA revises rules governing mortgages
- To keep their FICO scores up, homebuyers should know the rules of credit reporting
- Energy audit can alert home buyer to problems that could be costly in the long run
- Short sellers seeking to avoid foreclosure will get faster replies from banks
- Low-ball bidders in many markets learn they can no longer get a steal on a house
- New mortgage rule on disputed debts might hamper homebuyers seeking FHA loans
- More realty agents report that their home sales are being canceled or postponed
- Bank of America hopes underwater homeowners become renters to avoid foreclosure
- Check the fine print on FHA refinancings
- FHA may soon further limit how much sellers can contribute at settlements
- Distressed homeowners may lose hefty tax break tied to mortgage modifications
- Loan relief for some underwater borrowers may be stymied by AIG unit’s stance
- Builders try to steer home buyers away from foreclosures
- Obama’s refinancing plan contains elements that don’t need approval by Congress
- Spending on home renovations now exceeds value of single-family construction
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau scrutinizes appraisals and other realty fees
- Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac give mortgage servicers power to aid jobless homeowners
- As consumer credit scores plunged in 2008-2009, lenders raised their standards
- New FHA loan limits could spur home sales
- Flawed real estate appraisals create problems for buyers, sellers, refinancers
- Jumbo mortgages may be next in line to default
- Audit finds that dead people were among beneficiaries of homebuyer tax credit
- Mortgage lenders could soon take homes’ energy costs into account
- FHA rules for condo purchases are causing major headaches for buyers and sellers
- Borrowing from your retirement plan may avert foreclosure, but be aware of risks
- Appraisers get guidelines for setting the value of energy-saving home improvements
- Who’s got positive equity? You might be surprised.
- 20-percent rule for mortgage down payments unlikely in near future
- New refinancing options for lower title fees
- Is green good for home resale value?
- Veterans Affairs mortgage program avoids the pitfalls of other lenders
- Mortgage tax deductions may soon be in play
- Ocwen Financial offers a lifeline to underwater borrowers
- Economic uncertainty leads to canceled home contracts
- Cases of alleged real estate kickbacks raise questions about what’s allowed
- Banks’ inequity in home-equity loans
- Banks see opportunity in reduced federal mortgage limits
- Home warranty fees coming under scrutiny
- Foreclosures for sale, all homes sold as is
- Debts that unsettle the score
- Pregnancy, maternity leave vex lenders
- Lenders, home sellers shortchanged in short-sale scam
- Treasury inspector general highlights problems at IRS with homeowner tax credits
- Consumers trending to shorter-term mortgages
- Building blocks to restoring credit
- More home buyers should put faith in good-faith estimate
- FHA, Fannie Mae programs back loans for energy-efficient upgrades to your home
- With changes ahead for FHA down payments, private mortgage insurers seek inroads
- Why it’s good to be apprised of where appraisal fees go
- Proposed federal rules would drive many out of market for home loans
- FHA mortgage program makes homeowners pay after loan is paid off
- Some builders, mortgage lenders offer home buyers a deal: free job-loss insurance
- Attorneys general try to rein in lenders’ shabby behavior on modifications
- Many still owe taxes on forgiven home-equity debt
- Picky first-time buyers losing out on great housing deals
- As deficit looms larger, senators eye cuts in mortgage interest deductions
- Phasing out Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae could boost what other borrowers must pay
- Phasing out Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae could boost what other borrowers must pay
- HOAs heave sigh of relief as agency revises plan
- More stringent screening means borrowers must watch credit until closing day
- ARM is making comeback -- and could save arm and a leg
- Lower interest deduction better for deficit
- Relaxing anti-house-flipping rules can be a win-win situation
