Articles

Citibank, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are creating interesting structured instruments for their subsidiaries' brokerage customers. These products offer a fixed return above those available in even the best savings and CD accounts. Is the environment still dangerous for banks and are these products too good to be true?

Some local banks are gaining assets through creative products. The Provident Bank of NJ is offering a very high yield checking account. They are bucking the trend and driving business.

Banks are trying to differentiate themselves by quirky products. One challenge is how brick and mortar banks can compete with internet banks. Sovereign is trying its best. One of their newest products allows one to triple their interest.

Few people can argue that there is no need for changes in the mortgage industry. But are the changes being proposed by Congress and the government the best way to turn things around?

Many people are calling HAMP an unsuccessful flop and a waste of money. Was it a success? And if not, what more can be done to help those homeowners who are having problems making their mortgage payments?

Mortgage rates have dropped for the second week in a row. What are the current mortgage rates and how can you find the best deal for you?

In a previous article, we reported on how JPMorgan Chase had overcharged thousands of mortgage borrowers who were fighting for our country. There were even several of these military members and their families who were being unfairly evicted from their homes as a result of foreclosure.

Did you know that the average homeowner that is in the middle of a foreclosure has not made a single mortgage payment in the last 17 months? Now that’s an average. That means there are some homeowners who have held on to their mortgage payments even longer while some are not that far along. But an average of 17 months is a long time regardless. Especially when you consider that the average length of time for the same situation only two years ago was at 11 months.

Data through December 2010, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index declined by 3.9% during the fourth quarter of 2010.

'The Democratic Wave of the Middle East' has begun sweeping across North Africa. Oil production and pipelines are tied to the region and due to supply disruption concerns, the price of oil is going up.

While there is a great stress on all citizens to save, we are often presented with sub-par rates. Banks need deposit accounts to fund their loan and mortgage business, but are giving little in return. Yet, there is a push to get customers to come back (or in) the bank as well and curb the purely internet use. Sovereign Bank is one of thise banks and is currently offering a 3.00% APY 5 year CD.

It has been 30 years in the making, but on February 18, 2011 the shiny metal reached an intra-day high of $32.57 an ounce. Technically speaking there is support at the $30 an ounce level and resistance at $35, which is the range I mentioned in the article Silver´s Strength in 2011, so this is not a three sigma move, but exciting, nonetheless. The metal is up about 2.5% for the day and 5.3% since January 1, 1011.

With the number of people needing mortgage modifications before losing their home, it is essential to know the basics about how to request a modification and some other information. Here are five common questions that troubled homeowners have about mortgage modifications and the answers to those questions.