March 22, 2011, 3:36 pm
A rally scheduled for Thursday to push for legislation to help homeowners deal with a wave of foreclosures in Utah has been postponed.
A coalition of groups backing the rally at the state Capitol has rescheduled the event for 4:30 p.m. April 20.
Attorney Abraham Bates, one of the organizers, said the postponement will give backers time to conduct talks with more groups who have an interest in the issue, including the Utah Bankers Association, the Utah Association of Realtors, the Attorney General’s Office and members of the Legislature.
The rally is aimed at drawing attention to three main concerns, Bates said:
• Utah is the one of the “hardest-hit” states when it comes to foreclosures, a trend expected to accelerate.
• Utah is the only state among the top-five hardest-hit without a law that provides families facing foreclosure an opportunity to meet with a representative of the lender or loan servicer of their mortgage to discuss alternatives.
• To push for a June special session of the Legislature to consider legislation to address the foreclosure issue.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights Continue reading post…
March 22, 2011, 11:29 am
Prudential Financial Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld Tuesday announced that The Prudential Foundation is contributing $6.1 million to support disaster-relief efforts in Japan. Prudential Real Estate Network representatives can contribute to the relief effort, and get their funds matched by The Prudential Foundation, by donating to the Prudential CARES Disaster Relief Fund.
– The Prudential Foundation will only match from personal funds, not company funds. No cash will be accepted.
– Collections of donations from friends, relatives, etc. cannot be submitted for matching.
– Funds will be matched from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $5,000 per individual.
– Donations are tax deductible. Those d
Continue reading post…
March 20, 2011, 3:51 pm
A trade group says Ohio’s home sales last month were better than in January but down from a year ago.
Ohio Association of Realtors President Meg Hudson says in a statement that the market’s challenges from a difficult economy have not completely dissipated.
Her group said Monday that 5,524 new and existing single-family homes and condominiums sold in Ohio during February. That total is up 3.7 percent from January but down 5.4 percent from the number sold in the state during February 2010.
Last month’s average Ohio sale price was just over $118,000, 1.6 percent lower than in the same month last year.
The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales of existing homes nationwide fell 9.6 percent in February, compared to January.
March 20, 2011, 12:11 pm
New York • Fixed mortgage rates tumbled this week and the 15-year loan dipped below 4 percent for the first time in three months. Rates followed the yield on U.S. Treasury bonds, which fell on worries that the crisis in Japan could slow economic growth.
Freddie Mac said Tuesday the average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage, a popular refinance option, dropped to 3.97 percent from 4.15 percent. The last time the rate was below 4 percent was in mid-December. It reached 3.57 percent in November, the lowest level on records dating back to 1991.
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.76 percent from 4.88 percent the previous week. It hit a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November.
Mortgage rates tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. T
Continue reading post…
March 4, 2011, 5:42 pm
A new upscale community development has its official groundbreaking event in Deerfield Township. Representatives from the builder, Hills of Blue Ash, along with Deerfield Township officials were on hand for the event. It was not ideal weather for digging in the dirt, but planners are certainly excited about this next step of the project.
The $36 million development called Palmera is located on Butler-Warren Road near Bethany Road in Deerfield Township. It includes 360 apartments in the garden-style home or townhome concept. There are a variety of floor plans to choose in 1, 2 or 3-bedroom apartments.
Continue reading post…