Freddie Mac said Friday that it has teamed up with real estate auction specialist REDC and the asset management firm New Vista to sell off 135 homes the GSE has repossessed through foreclosure at an auction event in Phoenix, Arizona.
The HomeSteps REO homes will be auctioned off to individual homebuyers at the Phoenix Convention Centeron August 7. Almost a third of the homes are being set-aside specifically for first-time borrowers participating in the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
NSP was designed to help eligible first-time homebuyers purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes in designated areas by providing closing cost and downpayment assistance. NSP funds supporting the Freddie Mac auction are being provided through the State of Arizona Department of Housing.
“The August 7 community homebuyer auction will provide first-time buyers and other Phoenix home shoppers with an outstanding opportunity to buy affordable homes to live in at a time when mortgage rates are at a 50-year low,” said Chris Bowden, VP of HomeSteps, the real estate sales unit of Freddie Mac that markets a nationwide selection of Freddie Mac-owned homes.
Freddie Mac held similar community auctions in Las Vegas and Riverside/San Bernardino counties in April that drew thousands of bidders and sold 207 HomeSteps homes to first-time buyers and other owner-occupants.
GOVERNOR CALLS ON HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF FORECLOSURE TO CONTACT THEIR LENDER
Announces Additional $1.45 Million to Assist Homeowners
PHOENIX – Today Governor Janet Napolitano announced that Arizona will receive $1.45 million in federal funding to expand mortgage foreclosure mitigation and counseling services through the state.
Congress appropriated this FY08 funding as part of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, the first time federal funds wholly dedicated to foreclosure counseling have reached Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Housing will administer $1,333,069 of the funding, working with thirteen certified counseling agencies across the state. Two community-based organizations, Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix Arizona ($62,965) and Primavera Foundation in Tucson ($54,233) will administer the rest.
“When homes are foreclosed, dreams and hopes are too,” said Governor Janet Napolitano. “Thousands of Arizonans have subprime loans that will jump to higher rates, and many are in danger of losing their homes. This grant expands the options for homeowners, but homeowners must take the first step by reaching out for assistance.”
A 1-800 number dedicated entirely to Arizona residents is expected to launch in April to assist at risk homeowners in accessing this counseling service. In the meantime, homeowners can learn more about their foreclosure options by calling the national HOPE NOW number at 1-888-995-4673.
In addition to this new grant, the Governor announced additional steps the state has taken to assist homeowners at risk of foreclosure:
• Expansion of the Arizona Department of Housing’s Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program (from $2.75 million to $4.2 million) and an additional $500,000 to support additional outreach in highly-impacted areas
• Additional foreclosure counselors are being trained across the state
• Foreclosure Prevention Workshops for at-risk homeowners throughout Arizona
• Introduction of legislation to expand regulatory oversight of the mortgage industry to prevent foreclosure scams and future abuses, through new mandated licensing of mortgage loan originators and the creation of the Arizona Home Equity Theft Prevention Act
• Leadership in the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, which brings together 200 organizations, lenders, community leaders and government representatives to coordinate outreach and education efforts to assist homeowners facing foreclosure, including bilingual assistance
Tips on helping to avoid foreclosure can be found at www.azgovernor.gov.
http://azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/NR_031908_Foreclosure%20Funding.pdf
Terry Goddard Warns Consumers About Text Message Scam
Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned consumers about the latest “phishing” scam using text messaging. The scam is a variation on traditional “phishing,” which involves scammers searching for personal identifying or financial information by sending phony emails.
The text message scam works like this: A consumer receives a text message stating that a bank account has been suspended. The consumer is provided a phone number to call to “reactivate” the account. When the phone number is called, a recorded message asks the person to enter his or her bank account number. The text messages have falsely claimed to be from various banks and credit agencies in the state, such as Arizona Central Credit Union.
This is a scam! These text messages are fraudulent and are an attempt to steal personal identifying and financial information.
Goddard offered the following tips:
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has 36 satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov. Please visit the Web site to sign up for scam alerts and weekly messages from Attorney General Goddard.
Nobody really knows how soon the Fed's rate cut will impact mortgage rates, or which direction rates will likely go.
For this reason, consumers are urged not to wait for the market to bottom before looking for a mortgage.
Although rates have been trending higher in recent weeks, they remain low by historical standards. So if you're looking for a mortgage, the time to act is now.
It's a bit easier to determine when the Fed rate cut will affect borrowing costs on adjustable-rate mortgages: You are likely to see a benefit the next time your mortgage resets.
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