Real estate agents report banks are keeping foreclosures off the market in hopes of higher prices, a practice that is temporarily reducing the percentage of distress sales but lengthening the foreclosure timeline. Read More »

Homeownership fell across all age groups in the first quarter of the year, but declines were greatest not among younger Americans under 35 who have been having problems getting financing and finding homes to buy but among middle aged households over 45, which traditionally register the highest homeownership rates but suddenly registered significant decreases. Read More »

In the first quarter, it took nearly 16 months to process the average foreclosure in America, a new record and an increase of 14 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012.

The inventory of properties in the foreclosure process expanded by nearly 10 percent in the first quarter, casting a pall over the housing recovery as local markets prepare for more foreclosures than expected. However, a high level of demand driving by investor activity may mitigate their impact. Read More »

Perhaps the greatest advantage of a short sale to beleaguered homeowner facing default and foreclosure is the opportunity to move on with life and put the bad debt behind them as quickly as possible. That advantage is shrinking as short sales take longer to sell than foreclosures. Read More »

While the rest of the nation’s housing markets experience various levels of recovery, most markets in Florida seem to be relapsing to the heyday of the Foreclosure Era after a brief period of improvement. Read More »

Last month the New Republic published a provocative article on hedge funds and real estate investing (<a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112395/wall-street-hedge-funds-buy-rental-properties">Your New Landlord Works on Wall Street</a>) by former TV producer David Dayen. He said out loud what many people have been whispering. Read More »

The low prices that make foreclosures attractive to investors also make foreclosures toxic to communities and homeowners. The discount between “normal” priced homes and the prices paid for properties than have been through the foreclosure process can spell the difference between profit and loss to an investor at the same time that they drive real estate values into the ground. Read More »

RealtyTrac reported today 947,995 U.S. properties in some stage of foreclosure or bank-owned (REO) were sold during the year, a decrease of 6 percent from 2011 and down 11 percent from 2010. Read More »

It”s <em>deja vu</em> all over again in Florida. In a virtual re-run of Florida”s housing economy, its foreclosure starts lead the nation, prices are falling and inventories are too big, especially on the coasts. Read More »