Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

This probably doesn't apply to many other mortgage rate watchers, but for me, like a witch on a broom stick, this week flew. Mortgage rates had their little hissy fit and consumer borrowing costs moved to one month highs. But it was all part of the game. We anticipated this would happen. The correction process is already underway. Our plan is playing out as expected. So far at least.... If you've been M.I.A from Mortgage Rate Watch all week. This is what you missed.... (WHY MORTGAGE RATES ROSE) If you're still a passenger on the float boat, it's because you made a decision to pass on rates below 4.25% in favor of a chance to lock in a rate below 4.00%. It's because you decided to PLAY THE RANGE UNTIL BERNANKE PLAYED YOU Plain and Simple: The bond market got way head of itself about QEII. The...(read more)

Posted To: MND NewsWire

This article originally appeared in the November issue of the Asset Securitization Report The recent news coverage has returned many mortgage and MBS-related issues, both real and illusory, to prominence. The initial headlines that stemmed from the announcement of problems with GMAC's foreclosure filings have morphed into questions about the foreclosure process, the extent and potential cost of loan buyouts and the legal standing of the securitized mortgage market itself. This article addresses some of the issues currently roiling the financial markets. The Legitimacy of Securitization Stories in major news outlets (including a front-page story in BusinessWeek subtitled "Who Owns Your House? A $1 Trillion Crisis of Faith" have suggested that unknown huge numbers of mortgage loans are floating...(read more)

Posted To: MND NewsWire

Title insurance protects the owner of a real estate property from claims/losses related to title defects created before they acquired the property. In the title insurance underwriting process, the insurer checks county records to confirm the title is free and clear of issues that might call into question the ownership of the property or result in monetary liabilities for the new owner. The insurer is looking for things like tax liens, easements, zoning issues, missing heirs, unpaid mortgages. Title defects are not common and are generally an annoyance requiring time and energy to be resolved, however some issues are not so clear. For example, if the home in question was a foreclosed property bought from a bank that failed to follow proper foreclosure protocols. This would imply the previous...(read more)