Headline News Archive

2008

August

21

• Keeping the IRS in check. Nina E. Olson, the official appointed to speak out on behalf of U.S. taxpayers, has a few major gripes about the Internal Revenue Service.

19

• Property tax reduced for Bay Area homeowners (Chinese). 【明報專訊】樓市泡沫過後，物業業主承受著房價下跌、供樓負擔上升的艱苦過渡期，灣區業主向地方估值官辦公室，申請重估物業稅求助個案驟增。上周五為重估物業估值申請截止期限，有地方估值官辦公室預測，今年有超過3萬個物業單位可獲扣減物業稅。 在經濟不景及次貸危機陰霾籠罩下，不少物業業主苦不堪言，供樓負擔令生活百上加斤，地方政府能提供的協助，最直接的相信是提供審核物業估值免費服務，倘符合資格可調低業主應繳付地稅，算是紓解燃眉之急的一途。除了與銀行商討重整貸款或債務，業主不妨向地方估值官辦公室申請調減物業稅之審核，或有助紓緩個人或家庭財務壓力。

• "Préstamos mentirosos". En la industria hipotecaria, se les llama "préstamos mentirosos" - hipotecas aprobadas sin requerir prueba de los bienes e ingresos del solicitante. El vapuleado

17

• Insurers avoid getting soaked in subprime storm. The one financial industry that seems to be dodging the subprime bullet is insurance. Only a handful of companies have had their safety ratings knocked

• Before you take the housing credit. Part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 authorizes a tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualified first-time home buyers. Based on the questions

• Fannie, Freddie will raise some fees, lower others. The two biggest sources of mortgages for American home buyers plan to raise their base fees to counter what they see as continuing "adverse conditions"

14

• Think of tax credit as 15-year loan. Lots of folks have been asking me whether the much-touted first-time homebuyer tax credit is worth taking. "I'd like to see you write a follow-up

• Mortgage insurers' losses mount. Large mortgage insurers have reported $2.6 billion in losses so far this year, sparking concerns that rising foreclosure rates could force the industry into a money

• Crece cifra de hogares en ejecución hipotecaria. El número de hogares en EE.UU. en proceso de ejecución hipotecaria aumentó en julio un ocho frente al mes anterior y un 55

13

• El robo de identidad para trabajar. El robo de identidad es uno de los crímenes de mayor crecimiento en Estados Unidos durante los últimos años y los hispanos no

12

• The next wave of mortgage defaults. Prime mortgages are starting to default at disturbingly high rates - a development that threatens to slow any potential housing recovery. The delinquency rate for

11

• Cash strapped states quicker to grab unclaimed funds. Faced with swelling budget deficits, a growing number of states are taking control of unclaimed property — such as bank accounts and traveler's checks — sooner. Generally,

• Los bancos restringen el crédito. Los bancos de EU están restringiendo desde abril la concesión de créditos a empresas y particulares, al tiempo que están subiendo

10

• Credit card industry faces reforms. Stricter regulation of the credit card industry will probably be approved by the end of the year, consumer advocates, members of Congress and banking officials

• Help for seniors with reverse mortgages. There's a lot to digest in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. I've addressed a few provisions of the new law already, and over

09

• The case for a new national frugality. Oil prices are plunging and the stocks in your 401(k) retirement account are rebounding. Time to fire up the SUV, head to the mall and

• Living simply provides economic shelter. Keri Rainsberger isn't rich. She works in the nonprofit world for a relatively low-profit salary. Yet, as many Americans are scrimping for every penny, she

• Bill would narrow second home tax loophole. Deep in the nearly 700 pages of the new housing bill is a complicated change in the tax code that could affect substantial numbers of people

• Your first negotiation: The agent's commission. Home sellers could save money by thinking of real estate commissions as an agent's asking price. It's something that's open to negotiation. A new survey

03

• Don't fall for the mortgage rip offs. A little-known provision in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, recently signed into law by President Bush, is supposed to help home buyers understand how

02

• Housing tax credit is free $7,500 loan. Anyone who has been hesitant about jumping into real estate until conditions settle down should keep in mind these dates: April 9, 2008, through June 30, 2009. They mark

01

• 'Serious times' for new federal housing agency. The director of the new agency regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac told hundreds of his employees yesterday that they face a difficult task in

July

31

• Housing tax 'credit' is really a loan. There's been a lot of discussion about how much the new housing bill passed by Congress will help individuals facing foreclosure. Some will be able

• Bush enacts law to ease home crisis. President Bush yesterday signed two of the most significant measures of his presidency -- one the most sweeping housing legislation in decades and the other

30

• Mortgage applications hit a 2008 low despite lower rates. Mortgage application volume tumbled 14.1% the week ended July 25, hitting its lowest level of the year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly application survey. The