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Author Archives: Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan is a multi-award-winning journalist and editor based out of Texas. During his 11 years as a newspaper journalist, he wrote more than 4,000 published pieces. He's been recognized for his work since 2001, and his creative writing continues to win acclaim from readers and fellow writers alike. He is also a creative writing teacher and the author of several books, from short fiction to written works about writing.

Home Warranties Help Homes Sell Faster, Higher Prices

A study released Monday by the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC) has found that homes covered by a protection plan sell faster and for more money than those without one. According to SCIC's most recent look at home sale prices nationally, homes sold with a protection plan spend, on average, 11 fewer days on the market. SCIC's findings also show that homes on average sold for about $2,300 more when covered by a plan.

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Home Prices Moderate as Markets Stabilize

According to Trulia, for the first time since July 2012, none of the 100 largest markets in May—anywhere in the United States—saw home prices rise more than 20 percent year-over-year. This is the first sign of sustainability in the housing market in years and is a welcome change from the hyper-rebounding that occurred in some markets—particularly in the West, where asking prices rose by as much as 30 percent from 2012 to 2013.

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NAHB Index: More Metros Return to Normal Housing Activity

The First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) , a report released Thursday by the National Association of Home Builders showed that 56 of approximately 350 metro markets nationwide have returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, as recorded before the recession. This is nine more metros than a year ago, suggesting that even though the lion's share of metros in the U.S. are still underperforming, more are coming back to stable ground.

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Winter, Affordability Hampers Fannie Mae Growth

In its latest economic forecast, released Wednesday, Fannie Mae reported that housing remains the weakest link in the national economy. Through the first three months of 2014, existing-home sales, new single-family home sales, single-family housing starts, and multifamily housing starts all declined year-over-year.

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Small Banks Coping with Population Loss

A new study by the FDIC found that thanks to a strong agriculture sector, small banks based in rural areas are coping better than expected in the face of a steady exodus of residents. In fact, they’re doing better than metro-based community banks. But how long rural banks will be able to stay strong is a much dodgier question to answer.

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Economy and Housing Market Projected to Grow in 2015

Despite many beginning-of-the-year predictions about spring growth in the housing market falling flat, and despite a still chugging economy that changes its mind quarter-to-quarter, economists at the National Association of Realtors and other industry groups expect an uptick in the economy and housing market through next year.

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Mortgage Credit Availability Down in April

A report released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) showed that mortgage credit availability was down slightly in April, which means a tightening of standards in the mortgage industry. The results showed that the Mortgage Credit Availability Index decreased by 0.18 percent to 113.8 from March to April. Credit availability is, however, still above the index benchmark of 100, which was set in March of 2012.

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Fannie Mae: Americans Optimistic About Housing Market

With concerns about employment easing, Americans are increasingly optimistic about the housing market, reports Fannie Mae in its April National Housing Survey. And, according to the mortgage buyer, this climbing optimism may foreshadow an upswing in housing activity through the summer months.

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Fannie and Freddie Stress Test Results ‘Not Surprising’

Worst-case scenario: In the event of repeat of the 2008 economic downturn, the federal government’s main mortgage buyers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may need another $190 billion bailout to keep them solvent. So say the results of the inaugural Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test, released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Wednesday.

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