Shelley Mastro & Mark Mastro

I am happy to report that Congress has passed a bill extending the Home buyer Tax Credit closing deadline to September 30, 2010.  This is a huge win for REALTORS® and home buyers, and NAR worked closely with members of Congress to make it happen. The extension applies only to transactions that had ratified contracts in place as of April ...

Barclays Lowers REO Inventory EstimateBy: Carrie Bay 05/07/2010 A recent study by Barclays Capital says that U.S. lenders are holding fewer foreclosed homes than previously assessed by the research firm. Some are viewing the revised estimate as a testament to the stability that istaking hold in the housing market, but Barclays warns that the ...

HAFA was introduced to simplify and streamline the short sale process. HAFA accomplishes this in the following ways2:Compliments HAMP by providing viable alternatives for borrowers who are HAMP-eligibleUtilizes borrower financial and hardship information collected in conjunction with HAMP, eliminating the need for additional eligibility ...

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program1 is a government-sponsored initiative led by the US Treasury Department assisting all Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)-eligible homeowners in avoiding foreclosure, specifically through short sales or deeds-in-lieu. First introduced November 30, 2009 in Supplemental Directive ...

 What sellers can expect from participating lenders starting in April: -- Sellers must be unqualified for a loan modification under the Home Affordable Mortgage Program or be unable to afford the modification. -- The bank will set an acceptable value of the home upfront, based on an appraisal or broker's price opinion. -- Lenders ...

 Can't pay the mortgage? You still might be able to stay in your home. Government-controlled mortgage company Fannie Mae is going to give borrowers on the verge of foreclosure the option of renting their homes for a year. The change announced Thursday could give a temporary break to thousands of homeowners, but critics question whether ...