FREDDIE MAC

Home Prices: 5 Questions You Must Ask Before Buying a U.S. Home

U.S. Housing Sector
Incredibly, U.S. home mortgage rates continue to trend lower -- the average 30-year, fixed rate is now 4.07 percent, and they could drop even lower. Still, given soft home prices, jumping into the housing market is hardly a slam-dunk no-brainer, and here are five factors to consider before buying a home.
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IFR-Redwood Trust Set to Launch US$375m Private RMBS

Redwood Trust, a California-based REIT, is about to launch its second private-label RMBS of the year, a US$375.2m prime-mortgage offering called Sequoia Mortgage Trust 2011-2 (SEMT 2011-2), according to a presale report released on Wednesday by Fitch Ratings.
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GE to vigorously contest mortgage lawsuit

General Electric Co said it would vigorously contest a lawsuit by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which said the conglomerate's former WMC unit made inaccurate statements about the sale of two residential mortgage-backed securities.
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U.S. bank stocks slide on mortgage worries

JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America led bank stocks lower on Tuesday after mortgage lawsuits filed late on Friday aggravated investor fears that the biggest banks could face massive legal liabilities.
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European Markets Rocked Monday; Wild Ride Expected for U.S. Markets Tuesday

European stocks got hammered on Monday and the euro tumbled as well, as investors moved into safe assets. Rising fears over Europe's sovereign debt crisis and economic growth concerns in Europe and the U.S. is driving the move away from equities. The yield on the benchmark 10-year German government bond fell to well below two percent -- a new record. The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 4.1 percent Monday, closing at 223.45.
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Regulator to sue major banks over mortgages

A U.S. regulator will soon file lawsuits against major banks accusing them of bundling subprime home loans into bonds that never should have been sold to investors and causing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lose billions, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Construction workers

White House could Unveil Mortgage Plan Next Week

The Obama administration is considering unveiling new plans next week to revive the ailing housing market and reduce foreclosures, including an effort to help troubled borrowers refinance their mortgages.

Nevada, U.S. Regulator Challenge BofA on Mortgages

Bank of America Corp's mortgage practices came under fresh fire as state and federal regulators questioned whether the largest U.S. bank is doing what it must to address perceived harm to homeowners and investors.
Morning sun hits the Grand Tetons as bankers and economists gather at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium in Grand Teton National Park.

Fed's Jackson Hole Retreat Not Always Restful

Central bankers and economists from around the globe will once again flock to the Federal Reserve's annual gathering in Wyoming this week, and once again will meet against the backdrop of volatile markets and the prospect of further Fed support for a struggling U.S. economy.
U.S. Housing Sector

U.S. Housing: Five Tips for Prospective Home Buyers

U.S. mortgage rates are falling to 50-year lows, even as existing home sales remains soft, with both stemming from uncertainty regarding the outlook for the U.S. economy. In this uncertain time, what should prospective home buyers do? Here are five tips that will help you make an informed home purchase decision.
A house for sale in Virginia.

States Might Suffer From Ratings Downgrade

In the municipal market, the downgrade will likely affect credits directly supported by federal aid and credits that rely on federal support streams for part of total revenues.

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