Real Estate News

RealtyTrac is out with its report on the 10 best places to buy foreclosures in 2012. To draw up the list RealtyTrac considered the 100 largest metro areas with at least 200 foreclosure sale transactions in January 2012.0Thu, 03 May 2012 07:00:00 GMTRealtyTrac is out with its report on the 10 best places to buy foreclosures in 2012. To draw up the list RealtyTrac considered the 100 largest metro areas with at least 200 foreclosure sale transactions in January 2012.

NPR infographers Robert Benincasa and Nelson Hsu offer three interactive maps showing March foreclosure and jobless rates as well as household income by county, using RealtyTrac, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Nielsen Claritas data. 0Wed, 02 May 2012 07:00:00 GMTNPR infographers Robert Benincasa and Nelson Hsu offer three interactive maps showing March foreclosure and jobless rates as well as household income by county, using RealtyTrac, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Nielsen Claritas data.

Foreclosure activity climbed in 54 percent of U.S. metros in the first quarter of 2012.0Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosure activity climbed in 54 percent of U.S. metros in the first quarter of 2012. Overall, foreclosure activity decreased nearly 16 percent year-over-year across the U.S. and was down a marginal 2.25 percent from the previous quarter, according to the latest data from RealtyTrac.

Foreclosures are on the rise in parts of the U.S., according to new data from RealtyTrac. 0Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosures are on the rise in parts of the U.S., according to new data from RealtyTrac. Foreclosure activity rose for the first quarter in 114 out of the 212 metropolitan areas around the nation surveyed by the real-estate industry research firm.

The number of foreclosures rose during the first three months of the year in more than half of the nation’s metropolitan areas, even as such activity dipped from the previous year in many of those cities, according to RealtyTrac.0Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe number of foreclosures rose during the first three months of the year in more than half of the nation’s metropolitan areas, even as such activity dipped from the previous year in many of those cities, according to a report released Thursday by the research firm RealtyTrac.

In a quiet office in downtown Charlotte, N.C., dozens of Wells Fargo’s foreclosure foot soldiers sit in cubicles cranking out documents the bank relies on to seize its share of the thousands of homes lost to foreclosure every week.0Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTIn a quiet office in downtown Charlotte, N.C., dozens of Wells Fargo’s foreclosure foot soldiers sit in cubicles cranking out documents the bank relies on to seize its share of the thousands of homes lost to foreclosure every week. They stare at computer screens and prepare sworn affidavits that are used by lenders in courts across the country to seize homes. Paid $30,700 to start, these legal process specialists, the title that goes with the job, swear an oath under penalty of perjury that they're corporate vice presidents. They're peppered with e-mails from managers to meet daily quotas of at least 10 or 11 files day.

The golden age for foreclosure squatters may soon be coming to an end now that the $26 billion mortgage settlement has been approved.0Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe golden age for foreclosure squatters may soon be coming to an end now that the $26 billion mortgage settlement has been approved. The settlement, agreed to by the nation's five largest mortgage lenders, is expected to speed up the foreclosure process by providing stricter guidelines for the banks to follow when repossessing homes.

A new report predicts the market for foreclosed homes that are turned into rentals will be worth more than $100 billion this year.0Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTA new report predicts the market for foreclosed homes that are turned into rentals will be worth more than $100 billion this year. Rents are on the rise as home prices fall. That has policymakers promoting the idea that selling foreclosed homes to investors as rentals could be a positive for the housing market -- helping take down the inventory of distressed properties and putting a floor on prices.

In its latest foreclosure report, RealtyTrac has identified the 10 states with the highest foreclosure savings rates in March. 0Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTIn its latest foreclosure report, RealtyTrac has identified the 10 states with the highest foreclosure savings rates in March.

The foreclosure activity in the US for the first quarter declined to the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2007, according to a report by RealtyTrac.0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe foreclosure activity in the US for the first quarter declined to the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2007, according to a report by RealtyTrac. RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties, said Thursday that foreclosure filings were reported for 572,928 properties for the quarter, which is 2 percent less than those accounted in the last quarter. This is a 16 percent decrease compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Foreclosure filings dropped to their lowest level in more than four years for the quarter ended March 31, according to RealtyTrac.0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosure filings dropped to their lowest level in more than four years for the quarter ended March 31, according to RealtyTrac. The measure — which includes default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and real estate owned properties — also fell to a 56-month low in March, dipping below 200,000 for the first time since July 2007.

Foreclosure filings in the U.S. fell in the first quarter to their lowest level in more than four years after lenders under legal scrutiny slowed actions against delinquent homeowners, according to RealtyTrac Inc. 0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosure filings in the U.S. fell in the first quarter to their lowest level in more than four years after lenders under legal scrutiny slowed actions against delinquent homeowners, according to RealtyTrac Inc.

Foreclosure filings in the U.S. fell in the first quarter to their lowest level in more than four years after lenders under legal scrutiny slowed actions against delinquent homeowners, according to RealtyTrac Inc. 0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosure filings in the U.S. fell in the first quarter to their lowest level in more than four years after lenders under legal scrutiny slowed actions against delinquent homeowners, according to RealtyTrac Inc.

More U.S. homes are entering the foreclosure process, setting the stage for a surge in properties repossessed by lenders this year.0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTMore U.S. homes are entering the foreclosure process, setting the stage for a surge in properties repossessed by lenders this year.

Although nationwide foreclosure filings dipped 2 percent in February compared with a month earlier, in 21 states foreclosure filings were on the rise, according to RealtyTrac.0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTAlthough nationwide foreclosure filings dipped 2 percent in February compared with a month earlier, in 21 states foreclosure filings were on the rise, according to RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace. East Coast and Midwest cities reported sharp increases in foreclosures for the month.

Foreclosure filings fell during the first quarter of 2012 to their lowest levels since the housing market began its collapse nearly five years ago, according to new data from the firm RealtyTrac. 0Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTForeclosure filings fell during the first quarter of 2012 to their lowest levels since the housing market began its collapse nearly five years ago, according to new data from the firm RealtyTrac.

The housing market is facing swelling ranks of homeowners who are seriously delinquent but have yet to lose their homes.0Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe housing market is facing swelling ranks of homeowners who are seriously delinquent but have yet to lose their homes, and this is threatening a new wave of foreclosures that could hit just as the real estate market has begun to stabilize.

RealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist writes on the shadow inventory issue in the March 2012 issue of Cityscape, a journal published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.0Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMTRealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist writes on the shadow inventory issue in the March 2012 issue of Cityscape, a journal published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Blomquist shares his thoughts on how the shadow inventory has actually decreased significantly over the past year and a half and how sloppy foreclosure paperwork and government intervention helped to grow the shadow inventory back in 2009 and 2010.

The specter of shadow inventory continues to loom over the housing market, despite an undeniable decrease in the actual shadow inventory numbers.0Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe specter of shadow inventory continues to loom over the housing market, despite an undeniable decrease in the actual shadow inventory numbers. The inventory of properties in some stage of foreclosure or Real Estate Owned (REO) shrank from a record high of more than 2.2 million properties in December 2010 to slightly fewer than 1.5 million properties in September 2011—a 32-percent drop in just 9 months—according to RealtyTrac® Inc. proprietary data.

The number of homes entering foreclosure dropped in February, but a new up-turn may soon be on its way according to RealtyTrac. The reason? The $26 billion settlement between 5 major banks and state attorneys general over past foreclosure practices. 0Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMTThe number of homes entering foreclosure dropped in February, but a new up-turn may soon be on its way according to RealtyTrac. The reason? The $26 billion settlement between 5 major banks and state attorneys general over past foreclosure practices.