23% of Florida home loans past due or in foreclosure in second quarter

WASHINGTON – Aug. 21, 2009 – As home prices fell and the job picture worsened, the percentage of Florida home loans either past due or in foreclosure hit 23 percent in the second quarter, outpacing any other state in the nation.The figure represents 807,000 loans, a staggering sum of the roughly 3.5 million mortgages outstanding in Florida.“Florida deserves special mention as the worst state in the country,” said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association that released the numbers Thursday. “Nevada is a close second, but everyone else is far behind.”Florida, along with California, Arizona and Nevada – states that saw some of the headiest home price increases during the boom – represented 44 percent of the total number of loans in foreclosure nationally.Twelve percent of all Florida loans were in some stage of the foreclosure process as of June 30, with 10.8 percent past due by a month or more.Nationwide, 4.3 percent were in foreclosure and 9.2 percent were 30 or more days delinquent.Barring loan modifications that would help homeowners stay in their properties, the high number of foreclosures will likely result in more homes being put on the market for resale by lenders, potentially contributing to further price declines.Florida’s mortgage hardships swept across all loan categories, with so-called prime borrowers, or those with good credit, showing the biggest increases in delinquencies. This indicates job losses and falling home prices are taking a toll on a new set of homeowners.Between the first and second quarter, the percentage increase in delinquencies and foreclosures among borrowers with fixed loans even outpaced borrowers with subprime loans – or those sold to borrowers with spotty credit histories and staggering default rates.Delinquencies and foreclosures among prime borrowers rose from 10.7 percent to 12.42 percent in the second quarter.Among subprime loans, 52 percent of roughly 536,000 subprime loans tracked by the MBA were past due or in foreclosure in the second quarter, up from 51 percent in the previous three-month period.Delinquencies among prime-fixed borrowers are key because they reflect problems with the underlying economy rather than problems arising from the structure or underwriting of loans.“This is further confirmation of what we have been saying and expecting for the last year or more,” that these problems are being driven by fundamental issues in the economy, Brinkmann said.Falling real estate values often lead borrowers to walk away from their homes rather than continue to pay off loans worth far more than the properties. Until the employment picture improves – sometime in the middle of next year, Brinkmann predicted – delinquencies will continue to rise.Foreclosures should start tapering off about six months after that as the foreclosures cases are worked through the system and the homes are taken back by lenders or sold at auction.
Copyright © 2009 The Miami Herald, Monica Hatcher. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Home buyers' fair

City Of Palm Coast To Participate In The Flagler County Association Of Realtors® Free Home Buyers Fair
13 Jul, 2009 Palm Coast
If you’re interested in buying or selling a home, now or in the future, plan on taking part in the Home Buyers Fair sponsored by the Flagler County Association of REALTORS® on July 18, 2009.
Scheduled from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM on July 18, 2009 at the Flagler County Association of REALTORS® office at 4101 East Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL. This free event offers information covering all aspects of the homebuying, selling, and homeownership process. Flagler County residents participating in the Home Buyers Fair also will receive information about financing, affordable housing programs and how to take advantage of the temporary $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers. For anyone concerned about their mortgage, experts will be available to discuss options and offer foreclosure prevention tips.
“Buying or selling a home is a major life experience,” says Rus Saboe, 2009 FCAR President, “It can be exhilarating, confusing, exciting and terrifying, all at the same time. The more you know, the better prepared you are for a great experience. And, here at our Home Buying Fair, we have gathered together experts and a wealth of information for you – all at one time, in one location. We encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!”
Participants will include:
Flagler County Association of REALTORS®
City of Palm Coast – Neighborhood Stabilization Program – Beau Falgout
Flagler County – Ship Program – Valerie Bradley
Mid Florida Housing Partnership- Lydia Gregg
FCAR Affiliated Mortgage Professionals
For more information about the Flagler County Association of REALTORS® Home Buyers Fair, go to www.FlaglerCountyRealtors.com (click on Events) or call (386) 437-0095.
For more information about the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers or guidance on foreclosure prevention, go to the Florida Association of Realtors® website at: http://www.floridarealtors.org. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also offers a helpful resource for Florida homeowners facing foreclosure at: http://www.hud.gov/local/fl/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm.
The Flagler County Association of REALTORS® serves as the voice for real estate in Flagler County and provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 967 members

Problems for Palm Coast & Florida ahead?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – June 18, 2009 – In a legal victory for Florida Hometown Democracy, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a state law allowing voters to take back their signatures on proposed constitutional amendment petitions, the Associated Press reported late Wednesday. By a 4-2 vote, the high court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of Hometown Democracy, which is seeking a constitutional amendment that requires voters to approve proposed changes to local comprehensive plans. Earlier this month, Hometown Democracy, which challenged the signature revocation law, announced it had enough verified signatures to qualify for the 2010 ballot. The Secretary of State’s office, however, has yet to certify the ballot item as it awaited word from the state’s highest court.“We anticipated that Hometown Democracy would get their signatures, so we have been planning as if the amendment is already on the ballot,” says John Sebree, vice president of public policy for the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). “When we explain to Realtors and others how much this amendment would cost their local governments and property owners, they realize it is not what its authors claim it to be.”FAR is part of Floridians for Smart Growth (http://www.florida2010.org), a coalition of 130 business groups and local governments that supports a statewide campaign against the anti-growth Hometown Democracy amendment. © 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Flagler tightening its budget

An article in the Jacksonville Business Journal states that Flagler County, once known as the fastest growing county in the nation during the height of the real estate boom, has since earned the dubious title of highest unemployment rate in the state. After hitting an all-time high of 14.5 percent in January, unemployment in the Palm Coast metropolitan statistical area was at 14.3 percent in March. Only 19 out of 372 MSAs in the nation had higher unemployment rates in March. The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville area, by comparison, stood at 9.3 percent in March.

Palm Coast 1st time home buyers get more help

First-time homebuyers will soon have another option if they want to use their $8,000 tax credit toward a downpayment. According to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, FHA-approved lenders will soon be able to issue a short-term bridge loan equal to the tax credit. Buyers will then pay back the bridge loan after receiving their tax refund. Donovan hopes to have the details available within a few days. Source: http://Realtor.org

Bottomed out?

According to the latest figures from http://eppraisal.com, Palm Coast did not drop in home values this past month. We stayed at $141,500 as compared to the average Florida price of $145,000 which was down 3.3% and the average national price of $162,00 down 1.8%. So indeed we might have reached bottom and staying steady while the state is still going downward.

News from the Florida Legislature

2009 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - May 8, 2009 - Having approved a $66.5 billion state budget, the 2009 Florida Legislature adjourned. For the Florida real estate industry, the budget includes several gems. Perhaps the shiniest: $30.1 million for downpayment assistance programs. Beginning July 1, those who qualify for the federal first-time homebuyers tax credit will be able to apply for downpayment assistance in advance of closing, and then repay the amount borrowed when they get their tax refund. "What an incredible opportunity for thousands of families," says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 FAR president. "The beauty of this program is that the state will be paid back and, conceivably, more potential homebuyers could take advantage prior to the Dec. 1 expiration of the $8,000 federal first time homebuyer tax credit."The program will operate through local county housing administrators, though details are still being worked out. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.