We have all read the headlines in the newspapers, "We are in recovery!".
With home prices beginning to stabalize and Loan Modifications are being processed, we thought the worst was over.
But is it over?
The latest market study from Jacksonville, Florida's "Lender Processing Services" shows that mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures remain alarmingly elevated. They state that, "The number of loans deteriorating further into delinquent status is now more than twice the number of foreclosure starts, indicating another major wave of troubled loans in an already clogged loan pipeline". They go on to say, "Nearly one-third of foreclosures remain in pre-sale status after 12 months - twice as many as the year prior".
The ugly word that started this mess was Subprime Loans...then Subprime Adjustable-rate Mortgages (ARM's). Most of these mortgages were reset in 2007 and 2008...the tide receded and we thought.."recovery is here...finally". .....or is it?
No one is mentioning the SECOND wave of ARM resets and eventually....foreclosures.
This new WAVE of foreclosures will be difficult for the industry to handle. (Unless of course you are a potential buyer of one of these Bank Owned Homes). This new wave is primarily made up of "Option ARM's". Remember this name. These basically gave the borrowers the option of what they want to pay during repayment.
Many chose the option to make a smaller payment which is below the amount needed to cover the interest on the loan. This in-turn causes the mortgage balance to increase. They can continue to make the minimum payment until the mortgage balance increases to 125% of the original amount. What?...that's right...many loans are already their....125%! This is when the wave will start...we already seeing it happen now....just not in the drive-by media!
According to Whitney Tilson and Glenn Tongue of T2 Partners, about 80% of the Option ARMS's are negatively amortizing. These loans were set to reset in 5 years or 2011 but that reset is occuring now for many homeowner's....why? Because for many of the Option ARM's...they are so negatively amortized that they are hitting the automatic reset cap much earlier than expected....the wave is coming!
Can you imagine in this economy receiving a new mortgage payment 2 or even 3 times the amount you were paying before? As REALTORS we keep saying now is the time to buy!...I receive calls all the time from potential buyers looking for Bank Owned Homes in Maryland and Baltimore. If you are looking for purchase a Bank Owned Property or Home in Maryland and are looking for an experienced real estate agent, Robert McArtor with Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. is your answer.
Why Choose Maryland HOMES Team? - I have negotiated deals for my buyers that they are very please with. I even purchased a Bank Owned Property for $100,000 under the Principle Mortgage Amount AND negotiated the bank to pay ALL my closing costs. I know how to do it...I know the timing...contact me today!
