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May 8, 2008

      Bloomberg.com

U.S.home slump puts owners 'under water,' Zillow says

Home values dropped 7.7 percent nationally in the first quarter and five California metropolitan areas were among the markets whose prices plunged by the highest percentage year over year and whose homeowners had high rates of negative equity, according to a report issued Tuesday by Zillow.  Nationally, a little more than half of homeowners who purchased during the 2006 market peak today owe more on their home than its current value.

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a5fN1s4jvUmE&refer=us

For a Silicon Valley perspective, please click here:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9167620?source=most_emailed

     MarketWatch

Banks squeezing credit to consumers, businesses

Despite efforts to maintain the availability of credit to consumers and businesses in the wake of the subprime credit crisis, more than half of banks surveyed by the Federal Reserve said they have tightened lending policies during the past three months on a wide range of consumer and commercial loans, including residential mortgages.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

• · Consumers have been most affected by stricter credit guidelines.  A record 62 percent of banks reported tighter standards for prime mortgages and 72 percent said they tightened subprime requirements.  However, the number of lenders offering subprime loans declined to only 17 percent from about 30 percent two years ago.
• · The majority of lenders tightened standards due to worries about risk, illiquid markets and their own deteriorating capital position.  Most said they were increasing spreads on interest rates, requiring more documentation, increasing collateral requirements, or requiring co-signers and/or covenants before approval a loan.

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/banks-squeezing-credit-consumers-businesses/story.aspx?guid=%7BB449EDEF%2D0D14%2D48BF%2DAE62%2D1FB693529F31%7D&dist=msr_2

    The Associated Press

Fannie Mae loses $2.2B in 1Q, warns of severe weakness

The nation's largest government-sponsored mortgage lender, Fannie Mae, reported a loss of $2.2 billion for the first quarter Tuesday and announced plans to raise $6 billion in capital to fund the purchase of mortgage loans the company rebundles for sale as securities.   The company announced it set aside $3.2 billion to cover bad loans, will cut its dividend from 35 cents a share to 25 cents, and expects "severe weakness" in the mortgage market through the rest of the year.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

• · Seventy-five percent of mortgage-backed securities are issued by Fannie Mae and the smaller Freddie Mac.  The federal government has positioned the two companies as key players in the effort to restore liquidity and stability to the nation's real estate finance system. However, some analysts worry that taking on additional debt could be damaging down the line if the real estate downturn continues or worsens. There also are concerns that Moody's Investor Service may lower Fannie Mae's credit rating based on its diminishing capital position.
• · Fannie Mae's regulators have taken steps to help free up additional sources of cash by reducing the mandatory reserves the company must maintain. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight has said it will again reduce this surplus requirement by five points to 15 percent. That will be followed by another five-point cut in September if Fannie Mae's position does not worsen.

To read the full story, please click here:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVAF4FNNGCiKCJfNJMp-FCePBQxAD90G5PA00

      Bloomberg TV

Feder of Radar Logic sees "bright spots" in housing

Michael Feder, CEO of Radar Logic, Inc., and Rod Dubitzsky of Credit Suisse Group talk with Bloomberg's Kathleen Hays about their outlook for home foreclosures, housing prices and sales, and Federal Reserve monetary policy.

To view the full video, click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/avp/avp.htm?clipSRC=mms://media2.bloomberg.com/cache/vty46VzRAM.c.asf

In Other News...

      The New York Times

Doubts raised on big backers of mortgages

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/business/06fannie.html?th&emc=th

      Parade Magazine

What your home is worth

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_05-04-2008/1What_Your_Home_Is_Worth

     Chicago Tribune

REALTORS® try house parties to push sales

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-re-parties-sales-0504may04,0,4817652.story

     Los Angeles Times

House sitting -- on a grand scale

Forget staging--the latest weapon in the savvy seller's arsenal is the home manager

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/news/la-re-sitters4-2008may04,0,2116928.story

      San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune

Lure of a deal startstobringbuyersback

To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/350569.html

Here's what to tell consumers

• · The number of U.S. businesses and individuals filing for bankruptcy is rising, in part because of tighter lending standards that make it more difficult for small businesses and individuals to stay afloat. In April, 5,173 businesses filed for bankruptcy, a 49 percent increase from a year ago, reports Jupiter eSources LLC. Total bankruptcy filings, which include both businesses and individuals, rose 31 percent to 93,096 from the same period a year ago. Jupiter said it expects total 2008 filings to hit 1.1 million nationally, up from 827,00 in 2007 and 590,000 in 2006.
• · Last week's action by the Federal Reserve to cut its key interest rate fell on deaf ears as 30-year mortgage rates hit a seven-week high, according to Freddie Mac. The reason? Fears of inflation. A 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.06 percent last week, up from 6.03 percent the prior week, the highest level since they reached 6.13 percent in mid-March. Fifteen-year fixed rate mortgages fell slightly to 5.59 percent, down from 5.62 percent. The good news for buyers is that rates are still better than a year ago, when a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 6.13 percent and a 15-year fixed went for 5.87 percent. 

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