Nick Zappa

Top News
Regulators close Illinois, Indiana bank
MarketWatch - Regulators on Friday closed a bank in Illinois and another in Indiana, bringing the nationwide tally of bank failures up to nine for the year.
Foreclosure Deal May Help States Fill Budget Deficits
BusinessWeek - Wisconsin plans to use part of its $140 million share of the national foreclosure settlement to fill a budget hole. Missouri would devote $40 million for education. Ohio wants to tear down vacant homes. Ninety percent of the $25 billion settlement...

Market News
Real Estate Weekly: Home builders brace for another rough year
MarketWatch - To some, that signals that despite all the hardships in the home market, owning a home still remains the American Dream. Read more MarketWatch coverage...
Why housing demand defies real estate fundamentals
USA Today - Home prices nationally are down 33% from their bubble peak, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller report, mortgage rates are hovering near record lows, and housing supply, while falling, is still historically high. In other words, it's more...

Technology News
AT&T customers surprised by data speed limits
USA Today - in the past few weeks, there has been none of that, because AT&T put a virtual wheel clamp on his phone. Web pages wouldn't load and maps wouldn't render. Forget about YouTube videos — Trang's data speeds were reduced to...
Mortgage Technology: February 2012 Issue
Origination News - Mortgage Technology Servicer of the Year Award: The Servicer of the Year Award recognizes a servicer using technology to optimize management of performing and distressed mortgage portfolios and ensures efficient communication with borrowers,

Other News
Remodelers struggle as homeowners tighten belts
MarketWatch - activity hasn’t taken as hard a hit as home building, in part because homeowners skittish about the housing market have opted to stay where they are and do general repairs and maintenance on their current homes. But remodelers say they are being asked to...
Keller Williams(R) Realty Announces 2011 Results And First Steps In Worldwide Expansion
Franchise Update - Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the second largest real estate franchise in the United States, announced today that despite the continued downturn in the real estate market, the company continued to move forward in productivity, profitability and profit...
The Cost of Living Longer --- Much Longer
Wall Street Journal Online - But don't let the astronomical scale fool you. This particular bit of math is not merely a challenge for big governments and big business to solve. It's one doozy of a personal challenge as well. As the expectations of human longevity morph and shift, so of course should people's retirement plans

Top News
Who benefits from possible $25B mortgage settlement?
USA Today - After nearly a year of negotiations, federal and state officials and major mortgage servicers are moving closer to a multibillion-dollar settlement over alleged foreclosure and mortgage loan-servicing abuses. A deal could be finalized by early February, some officials say, although that's not a certainty. And its terms could change.
U.S. regulators close 4 banks; 2012 tally at 7
MarketWatch - Regulators closed four more banks in the U.S. Friday, raising the nationwide tally of failures so far in 2012 to seven, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Market News
Real Estate Weekly: Foreclosures smaller share of home sales
MarketWatch - Sales of foreclosures accounted for 20% of all U.S home sales in the third quarter of last year, according to a report from RealtyTrac, released this week.
Tight-fisted mortgage lenders pressure home sales
MSNBC - Today, nearly 90 percent of mortgage applications require full documentation. That’s much higher than the pre-bubble level. You’ll also have to show a much higher
Fed Says Business-Loan Demand Climbs as Economy Quickens
BusinessWeek - Demand for business loans increased in the fourth quarter as economic growth accelerated, according to a Federal Reserve survey of senior loan officers at banks.
States where people carry the most mortgage debt
MSNBC - No state had a more dramatic downfall in its housing market during the recession than Nevada. In 2006, nearly 40,000 building permits were approved in the state, a nation-high average of 15.8 per 1,000 people

Technology News
Tech companies team up to combat e-mail scams
USA Today - Google, Facebook and other big tech companies are jointly designing a system for combating e-mail scams known as phishing. Such scams try to trick people into giving away passwords and other personal information by sending e-mails that look as if they come from a legitimate bank

Other News
It may be time to buy, but is it time to sell yet?
MarketWatch - Many Americans say now is a good time to buy a home, thanks to record-low mortgage interest rates and bargain home prices that are boosting affordability. But is it a good time to sell a house? That’s a different story.
Reverse Mortgages: Big Potential, Small Results
US News & World Report - Reverse mortgages should be a breakout product of demographic destiny. Millions of older Americans are hurtling toward very uncertain retirements. Survey after survey documents a serious lack of retirement planning and nest eggs too small to support even
Tenants Get Ever More Efficient with Space Needs
GlobeSt.com - Each and every morning, we deliver the important stories, data, analysis…as well as the opinions and insights of

Top News
Stimulus money kept Americans off the street, study finds
CNN - 4 million homes have been lost to foreclosure since 2007, according to the online marketer RealtyTrac. Those foreclosures have driven many ex-homeowners into the rental market, driving up rents and pushing some of the working poor to move in with family, friends or other
AG Negotiations with Banks Linger on; Settlement Possibly Imminent
DSNews.com - After the estimations that the state attorneys general would reach a settlement with banks by Christmas failed to pan out, word today is the settlement is weeks away. The negotiation talks between the state

Market News
Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - Mortgage applications increased 23.1 percent from one week earlier (last week’s results included an adjustment for New Years Day), according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 13.
Mortgages: 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hits record low
MarketWatch - Mortgage rates nearly unchanged in holiday week. Interest rates on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit another low this week, averaging 3.88% in
Home builders more optimistic as economic outlook improves
USA Today - Homebuilders are growing less pessimistic about the housing market, despite tighter lending standards that have slowed home sales. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Farg
REALTORS® Recognize Credit Union as Valuable Member Benefit
REALTOR Magazine - REALTORS® FCU has 7,501 members with total assets of $77.9 million. “REALTORS® FCU is one of NAR’s most valued member benefits,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “Credit union members have access to an

Technology News
AT&T hikes rates on smartphone plans
CNNMoney.com - The mobile data our smartphones love to suck up is once again going up in price. AT&T on Wednesday hiked rates on its smartphone and tablet data plans. The new rates will go into effect

Other News
Home staging on the cheap: 9 tips
MSN Real Estate - In the past few months, we've talked about some ways to save money if you're a homebuyer, homeowner or renter. Sellers, now it's your turn. This installment of Real Estate on the Cheap will address the importance of staging your home — and how to save

Top News
Justice Department Issues Report in Support of Foreclosure Mediation
DSNews.com - The U.S. Department of Justice released a 69-page report Tuesday on a foreclosure intervention method that is becoming increasingly popular across the country – mediation. The paper, titled Foreclosure Mediation: Emerging
MetLife Closes Mortgage-Origination Business
REALTOR Magazine - is getting out of the mortgage-origination business and that it will no longer be accepting new mortgage applications as it prepares to shutter its residential mortgage unit. However, the company says MetLife Home Loans will continue to offer

Market News
Mortgage Apps Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - Mortgage applications increased 4.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 6, 2012. The results include an adjustment to account for the New Year’s Day holiday.
Mortgage rates fall to new lows
USA Today - Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. Freddie Mac says the average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages
Foreclosures fall to lowest level since 2007
CNN Money - Foreclosure filings and repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007 last year. Total filings of default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions were down 33% for the year to

Technology News
4 Ways to Enhance Your Web Site
REALTOR Magazine - A good Web site can do some of the work for you to bring in new clients. Tricia Andreassen, CEO and founder of Pro Step Marketing, recently highlighted ideas in an article at RISMedia about how to enhance your real estate Web site to make sure it’s serving as a lead generator for your business.
Real estate site Trulia taps "big data" for new service
Portfolio.com - the best leads by tapping a trove of data the company started analyzing last year. The service, called Trulia Insight, shows agents which consumers have pre-qualified for a mortgage and whether they are looking to buy a home in the next six months. The...
Keeping your online accounts safe
CNN - To keep your personal information and your finances safe, here are five things you need to know about online security.

Other News
5 Things To Do NOW If You Want to Buy A Home In 2012
Forbes.com - planning to house hunt in an area where many of the listings are described as short sales or foreclosures, get educated about what you can expect from a distressed property purchase transaction before you get your heart set on a short sale.
Lennar earnings fall 5.5%, but revenue improves
MarketWatch - Lennar Corp.'s (NYSE:LEN) Lennar had seen its revenue decline for more than a year as the housing market continued limping through the worst downturn in generations. But several builders have reported increased orders in recent months, leading some industry
Multifamily REITs Looking Forward to Strong 2012
Multi-Housing News - those new households are turned off by the prospect of wading into the weak and uncertain single-family housing market. Thus, demand for apartments is growing, says Moody’s, but “other than the relatively modest development pipelines of the multifamily
Is bamboo flooring really 'green'?
MSN Real Estate - Bamboo can be a good alternative to hardwoods, but consumers must know what to look for and what questions to ask suppliers. Bamboo is one of the "it" floors of the moment. The grass that looks like wood has everyone aflutter

Top News
Increased Lending, Loan Modifications Key to Recovery
REALTOR Magazine - rising inventory of foreclosed homes and help stabilize and revitalize the housing industry; an approach long recommended by NAR to help spur the housing market recovery. “As the nation’s leading advocate for home ownership and housing issues, NAR knows

Market News
Real Estate Weekly: Apartment rents march higher
MarketWatch - Read more real-estate news in this week’s pages, including why mortgage rates will remain low this year and a Realty Q&A about co-signing a mortgage loan. And if you’re in the market for an apartment in 2012, brace
Freddie Mac Extends Forbearance for Unemployed Homeowners
DSNews.com - Freddie Mac announced Friday an extension in forbearance for unemployed borrowers. Some unemployed homeowners may now receive up to 12 months forbearance. According to Freddie Mac, almost 10 percent of
As home prices fall, more borrowers walk away
MSNBC - a long wait before they can sell their homes without having to write a big check to their lender to cover the shortfall. Economists at Goldman Sachs recently forecast that after bottoming in 2013 house prices won't recover their 2006 peak until 2023.

Other News
5 Tips to Enhance Your Listing Photos
REALTOR Magazine - High-quality images are important in attracting buyers to your listing and selling a home, real estate pros say. David Rezendes, who won the 2011 “Top Real Estate Photographer” honor by the Photography for Real Estate organization, offers up some
Amy Hoak's Home Economics: How to get a mortgage if you’re self-employed
MarketWatch - It’s tougher for just about all mortgage borrowers to get a loan for a home purchase or refinance these days, but many self-employed business owners are really feeling the
The best- and worst-run cities in America
MSNBC - Miami is among the richest cities in the world. But it is also one of the leaders in income disparity in the U.S. Many qualities separate the best run and worst run cities. But perhaps