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The offers seem like answers to the prayers of a struggling homeowner: a promise of legal tactics to forestall foreclosure, reduce mortgage balances and interest rates, or restore credit.

But these so-called mass joinder lawsuits being advertised in mailings are fraudulent -- sent out by companies purporting to be law firms, according to a consumer alert posted on the Federal Trade Commission's Web site.

The F.T.C. last month filed a lawsuit against one operation based in Santa Ana, Calif., asserting that it had persuaded more than 1,000 homeowners nationwide to pay $6,000 to $10,000 each to join "mass joinder" suits, which are akin to class-action suits. Homeowners ended up with little or nothing in return, the F.T.C. said.

This entry was posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:41 PM and has received 43 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Mortgage loan rates are touching new 60-year lows, but many consumers won't be able to take advantage of them.

The lower rates will likely spur some homeowners to refinance, economists say. But mortgage standards remain so tight that many people won't qualify for a loan if they want to buy a house.

Disappointing economic growth helped drive fixed 30-year mortgages down to an average of 3.84% this week, says mortgage giant Freddie Mac. That bested the previous record low of 3.87% in February.

Please call Tammy Petit at 720-331-2355 or Kimberly Keenan at 303-564-6988 if we can assist you!

This entry was posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:09 PM and has received 34 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Buying a home may never get any cheaper than this. Several housing experts are predicting that this year will be the last chance for bargain hunters to cash in on the best deals of the weak housing market.

With home prices down 34% nationally since 2006 and mortgage rates at historic lows, homes have never been more affordable -- but it won't stay this way for much longer.

This entry was posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:38 AM and has received 47 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Bank of America Corp., the U.S. lender with the most housing-related writedowns, is allowing the highest number of properties to be sold at a loss as short sales become an increasingly common foreclosure alternative.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank approved 5,276 short sales in January, topping JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), with 2,976, and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), the biggest home-loan originator, with 2,788, according to a report today by RealtyTrac Inc. The total number of U.S. short sales, in which properties are bought for less than what's owed on them, rose 33 percent from a year earlier in January, the latest month for which figures are available, and is expected to set a record this year, the Irvine, California-based data provider said.

This entry was posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:28 AM and has received 59 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Lenders that Sell Short Sales Faster and for Less, According to RealtyTrac

Pursuing a short sale is often thought of as a painstaking process, and it's not uncommon to hear of complaints about slow responses from servicers and last minute rejections on offers. Fortunately, not all lenders/servicers are the same when it comes to dealing with short sales, and RealtyTrac compiled a list of data revealing which institutions tend to move through the process quicker and for less.

This entry was posted on April 25, 2012 at 9:10 AM and has received 63 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Q. What's the best way to declutter my home before I show it to potential buyers? Can I leave packed boxes in a corner or do I need to move things into storage?

A. Even if your house hasn't been featured on "Hoarders," making an effort to clear out clutter and to ensure that your home is as neat and tidy as possible before opening your door to buyers is common advice in real estate circles

This entry was posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:06 PM and has received 46 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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What a difference a couple of years makes.

Back in 2007, homebuyers would beg to purchase your house. They would even bid more than the asking price for the privilege to do so.

Today ... well, not so much. Once the real estate bubble burst and foreclosures poisoned the housing pool, buyers suddenly regained the upper hand. But instead of buying, they're waiting, convinced that housing prices will continue to drop.

What's a smart seller to do in this environment?

This entry was posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:26 AM and has received 70 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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Download this free guide to credit, neighborhoods, and down payments to help you prepare for your home purchase.

This entry was posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:23 PM and has received 73 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry. Download attachment.

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Losing Your Fridge Can Make You Hot Under the Collar. Avoid up to 75% of all service calls with this simple 5-minute task

Quick, name one appliance you can never live without. Air conditioners are important, but even they get a break in the winter. If your stove and oven give up the ghost, you can always forego a hot meal or order take-out. But when your refrigerator takes the day off, your life gets turned upside-down. Think about it, it's the only major appliance that you expect to work 24/7 no matter what the season. If you want to save yourself heartache – and a lot of dough – take five minutes to protect this unsung hero of the household.

This entry was posted on April 20, 2012 at 3:05 PM and has received 45 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

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It's getting more difficult for noninvestors to buy foreclosures in some parts of the country, as lenders shift their strategies on how to deal with distressed inventory.

When homebuyers consider a foreclosure, they're usually looking at real-estate owned properties, in which the lender has taken back and is selling the property. But REO sales have been shrinking for a few reasons.

This entry was posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:42 AM and has received 43 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.