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Rate Rise Clouds Recovery

Wall Street Journal Original article ›

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The failure of the Obama administration's HARP, Home Affordable Refinance Program. It was designed to allow certain homeowners who owe between 80% and 105% of their home's current value to take advantage of lower rates. It was limited to loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie. The HARP program was touted by Obama administration as helping potentially 4-5 million borrowers to refinance. So far only 12,710 refinancings have been completed according to the Treasury department. According to Freddie Mac by refinancing borrowers on average reduce the mortgage rates by 1.3 and 1.5 percentage points, saving around $2500 on a $200,000 loan. Now a new development further aggravates the housing market recovery. On June 10, 2009 rates on 30 year fixed mortgages climbed to 5.79%, up from 5% two weeks ago according to HSH Associates. That increase cuts in half the number of borrowers with incentives to refinance, according to FTN Financial. Now refinance activity is way down.

Voices of caution about the economic recovery in the U.S. as underlying problems remain.

04/20/2008

Underlying problems in foreclosure rates, job losses, and toxic assets at banks remain unresolved, even as the stimulus spending plans and the Fed's putting money into the economy fast have helped restore some degree of confidence.

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Plunge in Home Sales Stokes Economy Fears

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Mortgage Program Pans Out

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Fannie’s and Freddie’s Foreclosure Oversight Questioned

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