Index:
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This section contains an archive of news stories and articles on the net related to purchasing a home. Many are specific to the Southern California market. The stories are listed in reverse chronological order. My sources are the following:
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How to Boost 'Score' for Lower Mortgage (Washington Post, Nov 7 98)
- Settlement Act Comes Up Short On Enforcement, Study Shows (Washington Post, Aug 8 98)
- Preparation Will Help You Pick Loan; You Can Score Points to Save Money (OC Register, Jun 1 98)
- Shopping for a Mortgage? (CNNfn, Jun 4 98)
- 5 Loans That Qualify You for Nothing But Many Years of Repayment Pain (OC Register, May 11 98)
- A Home for No Money Down (CNNfn, May 6 98)
- Know Investment Pros and Cons of Buying a Home Before Deciding (OC Register, Apr 27 98)
- Buyers Beware: Don't Allow Agent To Pick Inspector (Washington Post, Apr 25 98)
- Personal Tax Data Are Not So Private After Settlement (Washington Post, Mar 28 98)
- Private Mortgage Insurance Has Its Place, But There Are Alternatives (OC Register, Mar 16 98)
- Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Has Good Short-Term Advantages (Washington Post, Mar 14 98)
- FA Loan Program Worth Checking Out for First-time Homebuyers -- and Others (OC Register, Mar 9 98)
- To Get the Best Mortgage Deal, You'll Have to Talk to More Than One Lender (OC Register, Feb 9 98)
- Lenders Test System That Uses Risk To Set Rates (Washington Post, Feb 7 98)
- FTC Charges Mortgage Firm (CNNfn, Jan 30 98)
- To Score a Good Interest Rate, You Need Good Information and a Little Bit of Luck (OC Register, Jan 19 98)
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Freddie Mac Offers Homes in Move-In Condition Through Homestep Program
(OC Register, Jan 18 98) - Here's How Secondary Market Helps Keep Mortgage Interest Rates Down (OC Register, Jan 5 98)
- With FICO Standards Still a Mystery, Experience Hints at Keys to High Score (OC Register, Dec 29 97)
- The Ultimate Dream House (CNNfn, Dec 17 97)
- Mortgage Brokers May Have to Make Disclosures About Residential Loans (OC Register, Dec 15 97)
- IRS Issues Warning on Loans Exceeding a Home's Value (Washington Post, Dec 13 97)
- Options for Your Mortgage (CNNfn, Nov 5 97)
- Going from Zero to Escrow (OC Register, Nov 3 97)
- What Floor Plan Defects Should I Watch Out For? (Inman News, Nov 3 97)
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What's the Best-Kept Secret in Home Loans? Money for Remodeling, Too
(Inman News, Oct 29 97) - When Shopping for the Right ARM, Make Sure You Pick the Right Index (OC Register, Oct 27 97)
- What is a Clean Contract? (Inman News, Oct 27 97)
- Credit Scores for Mortgage Applicants Can Vary Sharply, Depending on Data Source (Washington Post, Oct 25 97)
- Less Can Be More for Self-Employed Borrowers (Washington Post, Oct 25 97)
- How to Cure Homebuyer's or Homeseller's Remorse (Inman News, Oct 21 97)
- Is a Fixer-Upper a Good Deal? (Inman News, Oct 20 97)
- Learn to Ask Questions and Negotiate and You're Set to Get Best Loan Deal (OC Register, Oct 13 97)
- What are the Pros and Cons of Buying a New Home Before Selling the Old One? (Inman News, Oct 11 97)
- Home Tax Break Comes at a Big Cost for U.S., States (Washington Post, Oct 4 97)
- Pre-pay Your Mortgage (CNNfn, Oct 2 97)
- HUD Publishes New Manual to Help Women Past Obstacles to Ownership (Inman News, Oct 4 97)
- Freddie Mac Publishes Spanish-Language Version of Home Inspection Guide (Inman News, Oct 2 97)
- O.C. Cities Are Foiling Crime--By Design (OC Register, Oct 1 97)
- Does a 'Tear Down' Make Sense? (Inman News, Oct 1 97)
- Flood Insurance in Brief (OC Register, Sep 30 97)
- Paying Off Your Home Mortgage Early Could Put More Money in Your Pocket (OC Register, Sep 29 97)
- 'Piggyback' Mortgage Alternatives Can Help Ease Insurance Requirement (Washington Post, Sep 27 97)
- New Study Shows 20-year Home-building Boom on the Horizon for Golden State (Inman News, Sep 25 97)
- Protecting Homes From Loss (CNNfn, Sep 23 97)
- Ratios Can Hurt Mortgage Prospects, But It's Possible To Get Around Them (OC Register, Sep 15 97)
- FHA Appraisal Policy Switch Under Investigation by GAO (Washington Post, Sep 13 97)
- With Costco's New Program, Discounts Are on the House (Washington Post, Sep 6 97)
- Condo Owners Need to Look Before They Buy (Inman News, Sep 3 97)
- The Biggest Mistakes Homebuyers Make (Inman News, Sep 3 97)
- Deductibility of Mortgage Loan Points Is Retained in the New Tax Law (Washington Post, Aug 30 97)
- Can You Afford a House? (CNNfn, Aug 21 97)
- What Mistakes Should I Avoid When Applying For a Mortgage? (Inman News, Aug 18 97)
- The American Homeowner Ethic (Inman News, Aug 7 97)
- Building That Big House Means More Than Square Feet (Inman News, Aug 6 97)
- Home Offices Become More Desirable Selling Points in Era of Telecommuters (Inman News, Jul 15 97)
- The Long Search (Inman News, Jul 14 97)
- Freddie Mac Gives Lenders the True Score: Borrowers Add Up to More Than Numbers (Washington Post, Jul 12 97)
- How Can I Make Sure that Contract Contingencies are Removed on Time? (Inman News, Jun 23 97)
- High Foreclosure Levels Hurt Home-Sale Market (Riverside Press-Enterprise, Jun 11 97)
- Your New Home (Inman News, Jun 11 97)
- 10 Ways to Describe a Bad Loan (Inman News, Jun 12 97)
- Police Take Anaheim Up on Home-Purchasing Incentive (OC Register, Jun 10 97)
- San Clemente Developers Unveil Plan (OC Register, Jun 4 97)
- Sex Offenders Must be Disclosed (Inman News, Jun 4 97)
- A Cheap Way to Buy Homes (CNNfn, May 30 97)
- Virtual House Hunting is a Reality (Washington Post, May 17 97)
- Buy a House for Zero Down (CNNfn, May 15 97)
- Alternatives for the Bath (Inman News, May 13 97)
- Buyers' Mortgage Options (Inman News, May 12 97)
- Mortgage Credit Card (Inman News, May 5 97)
- Tax Relief May Exact a Price on Realty Swaps (Washington Post, May 3 97)
- Loan Search (Inman News, Apr 30 97)
- Straw Houses Sprout Up in Grass-Roots Movement (Washington Post, Apr 26 97)
- Retirees Fuel Construction (CNNfn, Apr 25 97)
- How to Buy a House (MSNBC, Apr 19 97)
- Airport Proposal Lowering Values? (OC Register, Apr 18 97)
- House Passes Bill to Halt Indefinite Payment of Mortgage Insurance (OC Register, Apr 17 97)
- Selling the Dark Sites of Executioners' Songs (Washington Post, Apr 12 97)
- Tax-Free Exchanges of Property Can Lighten the Capital Gains Burden (Washington Post, Apr 5 97)
- New Homes--Are Limited Warranties Worth the Money? (Inman News, Apr 2 97)
- Guardian Angels--Explaining the Differences Between Mortgage Insurance Plans (Inman News, Mar 27 97)
- Bills Would Subsidize Anti-Fire Roofs (OC Register, Mar 26 97)
- Title Fight (Inman News, Mar 25 97)
- Masterplanned Communities (Inman News, Mar 24 97)
- Foreclosures in California Soared in '96 (Washington Post, Mar 22 97)
- Residential Building Codes (Inman News, Mar 18 97)
- When Couples Beg to Differ on Design (Washington Post, Mar 15 97)
- Fannie Mae Wants a Level Playing Field When It Comes to Scoring Loan Applicants (Washington Post, Mar 8 97)
- Tax Tip: Deductible Closing Costs (Inman News, Mar 4 97)
- Bid to Change PMI Rules Gains Support (Washington Post, Mar 1 97)
- Existing Home Sales to Fall in 97 (Inman News, Mar 1 97)
- Protecting Homebuyers Against Building Defects and Problems (ABC 20/20, Feb 28 97)
- Better Business Bureau Tips for Home Inspection (Business First of Louisville, Feb 24 97)
- Fannie Mae to require disclosure (Inman News, Feb 26 97)
- Legislation Targets Overcharges On Private Mortgage Insurance (Washington Post, Feb 22 97)
- Allstate Settles Allegations of Insurance Bias (Washington Post, Feb 22 97)
- Lenders Add Economic Data to Mix (Washington Post, Feb 15 97)
- Fannie Mae Designing a Program to Link Life Insurance, Loans (Washington Post, Feb 8 97)
- New Homes--Visiting the job site (Inman News, Feb 5 97)
- Judge's Ruling On Mortgage Fees Shakes Brokers (Washington Post, Jan 25 97)
- When a House, by Definition, Is Not a Home (Washington Post, Jan 25 97)
- Tips for New-Home Buyers (Washington Post, Jan 25 97)
- Getting your credit in shape (Inman News, Jan 23 97)
- Insuring your mortgage (CNNfn, Jan 22 97)
- Southern California Home Buyers Fairs set (Inman News, Jan 20 97)
- Winners and Losers of 1996 (LA Times, Jan 19 97)
- Rollover Tax Rules Keep Alive Dream of Owning a Home (Washington Post, Jan 18 97)
- Home prices climbed in December (Press Enterprise, Jan 17 97)
- Property-value study says airport would hurt (OC Register, Jan 15 97)
- ARM lenders compete--Shop, advises Freddie Mac, rates vary (Inman, Jan 13 97)
- Once-in-a-Lifetime Exemption Offers Homeowners a Valuable Tax Benefit (Washington Post, Jan 11 97)
- Housing sales end 6-year slump in O.C. (OC Register, Jan 10 97)
- Valuing value range marketing--The latest realty practice comes under scrutiny (Inman, Jan 07 97)
- Hazard a guess--For buyer or sellers, new book offers practical advice for avoiding environmental problems (Inman, Jan 07 97)
- Buying a reject (Inman, Jan 06 97)
- Taking Advantage of Itemized Tax Deductions That Can Benefit Homeowners (Washington Post, Jan 04 97)
- HUD to police affiliated businesses (Inman, Jan 03 97)
- New home sales jump 14.2 percent (Inman, Jan 02 97)
- Strong SoCal Home Sales (DataQuick, 12/96)
- Top-Heavy Loans Could Burden Borrowers Weighed Down by Credit Debt (Washington Post, 12/28/96)
- Taken in the Spirit That It Is Given (Washington Post, 12/28/96)
- Standing Up to Mortgage Broker Referral Fees (Washington Post, 12/21/96)
- Top 10 places to live -- Orange County ranked number one (Inman, 12/17/96)
- Color blind real estate (Inman, 12/11/96)
- Watch out for garbabe fees (Inman, 12/11/96)
- Home Prices Rise Again -- Sales of New Houses Fall (Washington Post, 12/7/96)
- Homeowners Seeking Tax Relief Can Look to Congress -- Again (Washington Post, 12/7/96)
- California quake insurance agency opens for business (Inman, 12/4/96)
- Undisclosed spirits, sickos or smells can sour a sale (The Business Journal of San Jose, 12/2/96)
- Be fully prepared to act on the mortgage rate you want (The Business Journal of San Jose, 12/2/96)
- Interstate moves require more planning than you think (The Business Journal of San Jose, 12/2/96)
- HUD's Cisneros to Leave a Legacy of Public Housing Reform (Washington Post, 11/30/96)
- Fair-Housing Opinion Spurs Questions (Washington Post, 11/30/96)
- Fannie & Freddie up loan limits (Inman, 11/30/96)
- What is a payment option loan? (Inman, 11/30/96)
- October home resales down (Inman, 11/26/96)
- How to buy a home during the best time of the year to buy (Inman, 11/26/96)
- What is a kick-out clause? (Inman, 11/25/96)
- Construction Slows for New Housing (Washington Post, 11/23/96)
- Making smart choices with a new home (Inman, 11/23/96)
- Planning for the outdoors (Inman, 11/22/96)
- Freddie Mac offers deal (Inman, 11/21/96)
- Home prices up (Inman, 11/19/96)
- Interest rates dropping, prompting 300,000 refinancings in past 3 mos. (CNNfn, 11/14/96)
- Borrow today, fly tomorrows (Inman, 11/14/96)
- Home buyer education for teens (Inman, 11/13/96)
- Housing market to cool in 1997 (Inman, 11/12/96)
- Learning the importance of prequalification and preapprovals (KC Star, 11/11/96)
- Thoughts of a Slowdown Brings Rates Low Down (Washington Post, 11/9/96)
- Mortgage rates continue dive (Inman, 11/8/96)
- Third-quarter home sales strong (Inman, 11/8/96)
- Home prices reach record levels (Inman, 11/8/96)
- California home building lags behind forecasts (Inman, 11/7/96)
- B&C loans are hot (Inman, 11/1/96)
- From drawing board to Windows (Inman, 11/1/96)
- Mortgage lending to minorities up by one-third (CNN, 10/31/96)
- Negotiating the non-negotiable on new homes (Inman, 10/29/96)
- Low balling the purchase offer: Coming in too low can derail a deal (KC Star, 10/28/96)
- Existing home sales down (Inman, 10/26)
- Figuring out what you can afford (Inman, 10/24)
- Builder index falls (Inman, 10/19)
- What do home buyers want? (Inman, 10/17)
- Seniors Power Market (Inman, 10/14)
- New book: "How to Buy a House in California" (Inman, 10/14)
- Countrywide Turns Up the Heat (Inman, 10/14)
- Borrowers go direct (Inman, 10/7)
- HUD starts bridal registry (CNN, 10/3)
- New homes more spacious (Inmna, 10/3)
- The new FHA (Inman, 10/1)
- Protect yourself and inspect it (Inman, 10/1)
- Five Tips for Getting a Fair Home Appraisal (LA Times, 7/21/96)
- Spy Before You Buy? (LA Times, 6/23/96)
- Be Your Own Detective (LA Times, 6/23/96)
- Tales from the Trenches, Part 2 (LA Times, 5/5/96)
- Tales from the Trenches, Part 1 (LA Times, 4/28/96)
- Buyers and Sellers Find Advantages to Calling in ... The Inspector (LA Times, 1/21/96)
- Selecting the Right Home Inspector (LA Times, 1/21/96)
- Winter Is the Time for Home Buyers to Find Bargains (LA Times, 12/10/95)
- Six Steps to Help Make Buying a Home Easier (LA Times, 10/15/95)
- Tips for Saving on Newly Built Homes (LA Times, 5/14/95)
- How to Save Enough for a Down Payment (LA Times, 5/7/95)
