Hancock Tower Sells at About Half Price to Normandy
Bloomberg
Mezzanine loans are intended to make up the gap between a first mortgage and the borrower’s equity. Unlike a mortgage, where the bank has a lien on the actual property, a mezzanine loan is secured by a pledge of equity ownership in the borrowing entity …
Boston's Hancock Tower sells at nearly half price Forbes
Half-Price Sale: Boston's Hancock Tower Wall Street Journal
Boston’s John Hancock Tower May Be Sold for Half of 2006 Price Bloomberg
all 282 news articles

Mortgage fraud reports jump 26%
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA
The recession also has increased pressure on shady mortgage lenders and brokers - as well as borrowers - to lie on loan applications, according to the fraud report. "There's a lot more desperation, with the economy being what it is," said Jennifer …
Obama's Plan Will Fatally Cripple Taxpayers and the Nation Huffington Post
AG declares mortgage fraud crisis Bradenton Herald
Robert Shumake is on a Mission to Stamp out Mortgage Fraud in … BigNews.biz (press release)
all 4 news articles

Dramatic increase in prime-loan foreclosures
Inman.com, CA
While payment shock for subprime borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans was once viewed as a primary driver of delinquencies and foreclosures, delinquency rates on prime fixed-rate and subprime fixed-rate loans continue to climb, …
Foreclosures increase despite lender aid Bizjournals.com
Rescue Scams Miami Daily Business Review
Mortgage Crisis a Prime Problem, Data Shows Housing Wire
SYS-CON Media (press release) - CNNMoney.com
all 31 news articles

Fannie, Freddie Are Pressured as Homeowners Fall Behind
Wall Street Journal
Mr. Sim of JP Morgan says the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable mortgage program, launched earlier this year, is targeted at helping borrowers with Fannie and Freddie loans. This is expected to help some borrowers avoid default. …

UK's Bradford & Bingley bad loan charge soars
Reuters
B&B said on Monday that losses on bad loans soared to 508 million pounds ($720 million) last year from 22.5 million in 2007 as the economic crisis hit borrowers and it adopted a more conservative stance on future losses. "Whilst 2008 was a turbulent …
Bradford & Bingley’s loan write-offs soar as borrowers struggle Times Online
Bradford & Bingley reveals chief earned £1m for five months' work guardian.co.uk
Bradford & Bingley Bad Loans Soar 23-Fold; Net Falls Bloomberg
CityWire.co.uk - The Press Association
all 37 news articles

JPMorgan Chase loan service center to open Tuesday in Phoenix
Bizjournals.com, NC
The regional centers will employ 300 loan counselors, introduce new financing alternatives, reach out to borrowers to offer prequalified modifications, and initiate a process to review each loan independently before moving it into the foreclosure …

Foreclosures spike - so do mortgage-help plans
CNN
By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Lenders have helped an increasing number of mortgage borrowers to get current on payments and stay in their homes, but the tide of foreclosures is still rising. …
Mortgage Crisis a Prime Problem, Data Shows Housing Wire
Foreclosures increase despite lender aid The Business Journal of … Bizjournals.com
Lending Industry Modified 134000 Mortgages in February SYS-CON Media (press release)
all 22 news articles

Mortgage fraud reports jump 26%
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA
The recession also has increased pressure on shady mortgage lenders and brokers - as well as borrowers - to lie on loan applications, according to the fraud report. "There's a lot more desperation, with the economy being what it is," said Jennifer …
Obama's Plan Will Fatally Cripple Taxpayers and the Nation Huffington Post
Robert Shumake is on a Mission to Stamp out Mortgage Fraud in … BigNews.biz (press release)
all 3 news articles

Bargain mortgage rates aren't for everybody
Boston Globe, United States
For a slight increase in rate, the bank may also be willing to hold on to a conforming loan, allowing the borrower to have a more direct relationship with their servicer. This kind of lending is attracting mortgage borrowers. In 2008, Wainwright had a …

Program could help thaw out mortgage lending
Detroit Free Press, United States
Oh, some banks will tell you they're making mortgage loans in Detroit. But read the fine print and you'll find that down payments of 30% or more are needed, even for borrowers with impeccable credit history. Compounding the problem is that virtually …