Federal Housing Administration

MECU to acquire Advance Bank in Baltimore

2013-04-04 14:31:43

Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore Inc. announced Thursday that it had agreed to acquire Advance Bank, another Baltimore-based institution. A sale price hasn't been determined and will be based on which Advance assets regulators say MECU can...

Howard County housing fair coming up April 13

2013-03-22 05:00:00

If you want to live in Howard County, one of Maryland’s fastest-growing jurisdictions, where it’s competitive — and can be pricey — to buy a home, consider attending the 7th Annual Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair. The...

FHA policies helped cause foreclosure crisis

2012-12-31 11:17:00

Imagine that a federal agency wanted to hurt America's working-class families on purpose. How would it inflict maximum damage? It might start by aggressively marketing homeownership to marginal borrowers. It would tell them that bad credit scores aren't...

Study concludes FHA lending practices in Baltimore area could lead to high foreclosure rates

2012-12-16 10:53:00

Homes with federally insured mortgages — afforded to mostly lower-income borrowers — are expected to see a spike in foreclosures because of dicey lending practices, according to a recent study. More than a dozen ZIP codes in the Baltimore...

Mortgage settlement gets mixed reviews

2012-12-13 12:04:00

Deatrice S. Besong says it feels like winning the lottery: Her mortgage servicer recently agreed to reduce her loan by $249,000 next year, saving her $300 a month and erasing the debt overhang that has her owing far more than her house is worth. "It's...

House-flipping waiver is extended

2012-12-31 15:55:00

Federal officials have extended a regulatory waiver that makes it easier to "flip" properties — a move meant to encourage the renovation of foreclosed homes but that critics say could herald the return of predatory schemes. The Federal Housing...

Letter: Low-income housing fits Rouse vision for Columbia

2012-10-23 15:21:12

Steve Carter argued Oct. 11 that low-income housing in Columbia makes little sense ("Low-income housing does not belong in high-cost Columbia," letter). Perhaps Mr. Carter does not realize that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is...

Wells Fargo agrees to pay $175M settlement in pricing discrimination suit

2012-07-12 18:24:00

About 1,000 Baltimore-area residents are expected to receive thousands of dollars each under a landmark $175 million settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Wells Fargo over accusations of discriminatory lending practices. Under the terms...

Low-profile Obama donor has deep pockets

2012-06-11 15:50:00

When President Barack Obama comes to Baltimore for a large fundraiser Tuesday at an Inner Harbor hotel, he'll first stop at the home of an Owings Mills developer who has kept a remarkably low profile despite having poured hundreds of thousands of...

Tumultuous decades for a housing-aid activist

2011-07-10 00:00:00

Vincent Quayle knows the corrosive effect of foreclosures well, sitting as he does at the helm of a nonprofit group that helps homeowners in trouble. But he says the current foreclosure crisis is nothing compared to the damage wrought by the...

Mortgage settlement has shortcomings, critics say

2012-02-09 17:34:00

As the federal government and 49 states signed a landmark mortgage relief settlement Thursday, housing advocates and others pointed to shortcomings and raised questions about how the $25 billion plan would be able to provide relief to nearly 2 million...

Council passes bill aimed at helping condo buyers

2012-05-07 19:12:00

The County Council Monday unanimously passed a bill that will prohibit a property owner from obtaining a county rental license if they are more than 30 days behind on their condominium association or homeowner association fees. "The key is that we want...

The Federal Housing Authority guarantees mortgages, especially for first time and special needs buyers. FHA loans require smaller down payments than conventional loans, but also involve additional fees and home inspections. FHA loans require more approvals so can take longer, delaying closing.

2012-02-15 14:44:06

You will be writing lots of checks. Expenses typically borne by the buyer include: Down payment - Exactly how big the down payment must be depends on the type of loan you are trying to get. Expect to have at least 3.

2012-02-13 09:29:55

and in advising prospective home buyers on how to repair their credit. He has been in the mortgage business for 10 years, most recently serving First Advantage Mortgage as a loan officer. Miller is a Licensed Loan Originator and was formerly a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist.

2011-04-14 00:00:00