Mortgage Regulators Are Shrugging Off Climate Risk. It Could Cost Taxpayers Billions. As sea levels rise and natural disasters become more intense, homes in low-lying coastal areas or tinder-dry mountains are starting to lose value. That's a problem for the finances of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that back half of the nation's outstanding mortgages - and keep the residential real estate market liquid by buying mortgages from banks and repackaging them into securities.
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The U.S. is facing a severe housing shortage. Will Trump's proposals help? Heading into 2025, housing remains one of the most important issues on the minds of millions of Americans. For many, the dream of owning, or even renting, a place of their own is in peril. In some cities, people are paying $1 million for "starter" homes, while about half of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
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Fresno County (CA) offers free alerts to protect against deed fraud The Fresno County Assessor-Recorder's office is taking proactive measures to help property owners protect themselves against home title theft, also known as deed fraud. During a presentation to the Selma City Council on Dec. 2, Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos introduced the Property Owners' Protection Alert (POPA) service available to Fresno County homeowners free of charge. The service is intended to combat title fraud and unwarranted liens.
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Florida couple bought a vacant lot - discovered they're barred by law from building on it When Donna Hartl and her husband purchased a vacant lot in Brooksville, Florida, they thought they'd found the perfect location for their dream home. Nestled between Islewood Drive and Richbarn Road, the $17,500 property seemed ideal. "We really wanted to have some privacy, not be stranded out in the country," Donna Hartl told News Channel 8 reporters. "We just felt this was the perfect match." But as they prepared to build, the couple encountered an obstacle: a decades-old Duke Energy easement that prohibits construction on their new lot due to restrictions on how close homes can be built to a new transmission pole.
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Current Mortgage Trends: Are Mortgage Rates Going Down? Good news for borrowers: The wait for lower rates may soon be over. Now that inflation has slowed and the Fed started cutting rates, mortgage rates are expected to drop next year. The not-so-good news: Rates probably won't go back to the historic lows we saw in 2020 and 2021. And once rates fall, homebuyers will likely have other challenges to contend with, including increased competition and rising home prices.
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