Real Estate News - Debby Poronto

washingtonpost.com -
A Look at Congress's Long-Promised, Long-Delayed Mortgage Relief	7/18/2008 10:00 PM
After six months of haggling and political gamesmanship, a massive housing relief bill is heading for final approval.
Keeping Closer Tabs On Brokers	7/11/2008 10:00 PM
Should your mortgage loan officer's fingerprints be on file in a national electronic database, even if he or she has never been convicted of a crime?
Help for Homeowners Hangs in the Balance	7/4/2008 10:00 PM
Congress left town for the July 4 recess with a half-baked cake in its legislative oven -- one that has huge potential significance for the housing and mortgage markets. The relief package left unfinished is designed to help hundreds of thousands of homeowners heading for foreclosure, pull buyers back into the real estate market, and permanently raise conventional and FHA loan limits in high-cost markets.
Keep Watch on Your Credit Report -- Free	6/27/2008 10:00 PM
If you're thinking about buying a home or refinancing a mortgage, you may want to avail yourself of a forthcoming free service that could help you get a better mortgage rate.
FHA Calls for an End To Seller-Funded Down-Payment Charities	6/20/2008 10:00 PM
What's wrong with down-payment "gift" programs in which all or most of a home buyer's equity stake comes from the seller, funneled through a third party? And why is the federal government determined to ban them?
Equity Losses Aren't Felt Evenly	6/13/2008 10:00 PM
As a homeowner, seller or buyer, what should you make of the Federal Reserve's latest report on Americans' declining home-equity positions?
Never Pay In Advance To Fix Your Credit	6/6/2008 10:00 PM
Picture this: You're eager to take advantage of today's troubled real estate market and buy a foreclosed house at a fire-sale price. But you don't have much money for a down payment. And your credit files are scuffed up with late payments.
An Alarm System For Inaccurate Credit Scores	5/30/2008 10:00 PM
When you're quoted a higher interest rate than you deserve because of information in your credit file, wouldn't you appreciate it if someone red-flagged it for you?
Looser Credit on the Way In 'Declining' Markets?	5/23/2008 10:00 PM
Could the mortgage industry scrap its controversial practice of listing hundreds of local real estate markets as "declining" -- and restricting lending there through higher down payments or credit scores?
Appraisal Changes Face Resistance	5/9/2008 10:00 PM
A legal brawl is breaking out over how homes are appraised, at what cost and by whom. The outcome could directly affect how much you pay for your next piece of real estate and how much money you can borrow.