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Fidelity real estate division buys Realigent assets

By Inman News, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions, a division of Fidelity National Financial, has acquired the assets of Realigent, an Irvine, Calif.-based technology company that provides software for real estate professionals in a move that boosts Fidelity's real estate technology offerings.

Fidelity's real estate division will now own and offer Realigent's rDesk, CMA Deluxe, VantagePoint and SearchPoint, as well as HomeSeekers.com, Realigent's consumer portal for locating properties and Realtors, the company announced today.

"This asset acquisition marks a tremendous boost in capabil  more...

GSE reform bill wouldn't set cap on Fannie, Freddie portfolios Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

The government shouldn't impose arbitrary caps on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's lending portfolios, but should distance itself from some of the government-sponsored mortgage repurchasers' debt obligations should they get into financial trouble.  more...

Real estate rates up overnight

By Inman News, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Long-term mortgage interest rates inched up Friday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield rose to 4.59 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average gained to 5.69 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate increased to 5.45 percent. The 1-year adjustable edged up to 5.35 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield was up at 4.72 percent.

Rates are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Mortgage rate figures are according to Bankrate.com, which publishes nightly averages based on its survey of 4,000 banks in 50 states.  more...

Subprime tsunami threatens to extend housing downturn Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Editor's note: This is part one of a four-part series on the crisis in subprime mortgage lending. Part one looks at how economic events like the dot-com stock market bust and the flow of global investment capital helped ease access to credit, fueling a housing boom.  more...

Real estate's not about 'me, me, me'

By Bernice Ross, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Are you still marketing your listings the same way you did two years ago?  more...

Another reason to avoid 100% home financing

By Jack Guttentag, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

"After being in my house for a year, I learned that the market value is considerably less than the appraised value. I was obviously deceived by the builder and the appraiser. Who do I talk to about that?

My mortgage was for the full appraised value. I want to stay in my house, but I don't want to pay for a mortgage that is for more than the house is worth. Is there any way I can get the lender to reduce my note to the real value of the house?  more...

Don't fix house before you own it

By Dian Hymer, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Recently, a couple buying a home in the desirable Upper Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland, Calif., asked the seller if they could have some work done to the property before closing. Ordinarily, this is something that real estate agents discourage for a number of reasons.  more...

Lowball offer wise in buyer's market

By Robert Bruss, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

DEAR BOB: I recently found a first-floor condo that I was ready to make an offer on. However, when my buyer's agent took me for a second viewing, we discovered water dripping from the ceiling in one of the bedrooms and a small pool of water in the second bedroom. The condo, in a completely renovated building, comes with a two-year builder's warranty. The unit has not been lived in since the renovation was recently completed. Besides repairing the leaks, I expect replacement of the hardwood floors where the water damage occurred.  more...

Office towers sold in Orange County

By Inman News, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Voit Commercial Brokerage arranged the acquisition of two high-rise office buildings totaling 250,000 square feet in Santa Ana, Calif.

The value of the transaction was $28 million.

Citivest Inc., an Orange County developer, acquired the two buildings from Caribou Industries.

At the time of purchase, the first office building totaling 143,456 square feet in nine stories at 1200 North Main in Santa Ana was predominantly leased to the County of Orange, which may expand into additional space within the property.  more...

Top subprime lenders: Where are they now? Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Sunday, March 11, 2007.

Some economists say that the tightening of credit following a real estate boom can have a bigger impact on home prices than loan defaults and foreclosures. With that in mind, observers may be getting shivers as they look back to see where the lenders that were at the top of the subprime lending heap are today.

(See Inman News' four-part series on the Subprime Tsunami this week.  more...