The CEO of Fannie Mae, the largest financer and guarantor of U.S. home loans, predicted Tuesday that the housing market downturn is likely to persist into 2010. ...more

January 9, 2008

Will this year be great, or will we see recurring economic themes from 2007? Predictions by industry experts point to an easing of the morass in the housing market but say insuring your home will still be a hairy proposition. On a positive note, Hillsborough County's cancer research center, the county's biggest economic development project, may start paying dividends. Meantime, the cost of energy will go higher, the state is reviewing sales tax exemptions and the local workforce should stay resilient despite ongoing economic crises. ...more

January 6, 2008

There is a new way for people older than 62 to acquire access to their home equity without enduring the pending nightmare of paying off loans. ...more

December 29, 2007

or at least preserve their equity. ...more

December 23, 2007

The Senate moved Friday against the worsening mortgage crisis, voting to make it easier for thousands of homeowners with ballooning interest rates to refinance into federally insured loans. ...more

December 15, 2007

For the second month in a row, Florida's foreclosure rate ranked third highest in the nation, the latest sign many homeowners are falling behind on mortgage payments and increasingly losing their homes, according to California-based research company RealtyTrac. ...more

November 30, 2007

Today, Jane and Enrico Parsons prepare to sit at a table in their attorney's office and sign a document that could keep their lives from crumbling. ...more

November 13, 2007

SEBRING — An old approach to avoiding foreclosure is finding new life in Florida's depressed real estate market. When a homeowner can't repay the loan, banks will sometimes accept a "short sale." That is, the mortgage holder will allow a real estate agent to sell the property for less than the balance of the note, and the remainder is forgiven by the bank. "This is becoming more and more popular due to the rate of foreclosure," said Jenifer McMullian, a real estate sales agent with C.S. Edwards Realty Inc. Grace Bloodwell, who writes for HowToDoThings.com, suggested asking a real estate agent to confirm the value of the property with a comparative market analysis. Then total the cost of selling the property, which may include mortgage payments, legal fees and closing costs. Subtract that against the expected sale price. If it doesn't equal the total of all loans against the property, consider a short sale. ...more

October 27, 2007

SEBRING — The Highlands County Housing Department is known primarily for helping low- and moderate-income people reach the American dream of home ownership. ...more

October 25, 2007

If you're behind on your mortgage payments, be glad you don't live in Georgia. There, a lender can take back the keys to your home in as little as 30 days. Lenders don't even have to go through the court system. A newspaper ad informing the public of an upcoming sale suffices. ...more

October 21, 2007