Ken Harney
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The nation’s housing: FICO, by the numbersJun 08, 2012 1:00 am - WASHINGTON — In a marketplace where lenders are demanding record-high FICO credit scores — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are averaging around 760 on approved mortgages this...
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Real estate fees get a high court reprieveJun 01, 2012 5:00 am - WASHINGTON — In a decision that could have significant impacts on the fees that people pay in real estate transactions, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that “unearned” ...
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The nation’s housing: Boomers and refis: a warningMay 25, 2012 3:33 pm - WASHINGTON — It’s a mortgage problem that is likely to intensify as homeowning baby boomers by the millions shift into retirement: Though they may have significant finan...
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The nation’s housing: FHA may ease rules for mortgages on condosMay 18, 2012 5:09 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — Thousands of condo unit owners and buyers around the country could soon be in line for some welcome news on mortgage financing: Though officia...
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The nation’s housing: More inspectors to train on energy auditsMay 04, 2012 5:00 am - WASHINGTON — It may be the best-kept secret in home real estate: For a couple of hundred dollars, a potential buyer thinking about writing a contract on an existing hous...
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The nation’s housing: Timelines may speed short salesApr 27, 2012 5:11 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — If you’re one of the estimated 11 million homeowners burdened with an underwater mortgage, a new federal policy change could be good news: Sta...
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The nation’s housing: No longer yours for a stealApr 20, 2012 5:00 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — It’s not something that economists routinely track, but it provides a rough sense of what’s happening in local real estate markets. Call it th...
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The nation’s housing: It’s getting tougher to secure a mortgageApr 13, 2012 3:15 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — How do you stack up as a potential mortgage candidate in this year’s increasingly tough underwriting environment? Do you have the right stuff ...
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The nation’s housing: Change that could be a painApr 06, 2012 5:25 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — A little-noticed mortgage rule change that took effect April 1 could create hassles for significant numbers of homebuyers who plan to use low ...
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The nation’s housing: More deals hit a roadblockMar 30, 2012 5:42 am - By Ken Harney WASHINGTON — What’s behind the unusually high rate of contract cancellations and settlement delays in the real estate market? With signs of recovery emergi...