The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 1/7/11

Today’s News Synopsis:

ZipRealty reports housing inventory increased 11.2% in 26 major markets from last year. Bernanke told congress he expects a moderate recovery this year. The Massachussets Supreme Court ruled against Wells Fargo in a major foreclosure case. Radar Logic claims home prices remained nearly unchanged from last year.

In The News:

Inman – “For-sale real estate inventory rises 11.2% in December” (1-7-11)

“More homeowners listed their homes for sale in December compared to the same month the year before, according to a report from national real estate brokerage ZipRealty. The number of multiple listing service listings for single-family homes and condominiums in 26 major markets rose 11.2 percent year-over-year in December, to 595,922 total.”

New York Times – “Bernanke Expects a ‘Moderately Stronger’ Recovery” (1-7-11)

“The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, told senators on Friday that he expected the recovery to be ‘moderately stronger’ this year. He also defended the central bank’s $600 billion program to stimulate the economy by buying government bonds, and urged Congress to put a credible plan in place to reduce the federal deficit.”

Housing Wire – “Mass. Supreme Court rules against US Bancorp, Wells Fargo in foreclosure case” (1-7-11)

“In a case that could cause many others to be reviewed, a Massachusetts Supreme Judge ruled against U.S. Bancorp (USB: 26.12 -0.65%) and Wells Fargo (WFC: 31.62 -1.65%) Friday saying the banks were not the mortgage holders when they foreclosed on two separate homes.”

Housing Wire – “Senator claims HUD help for unemployed has not reached homeowners” (1-7-11)

“Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) sent a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, urging him and the agency to disburse funds allocated to help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosure. As it stands, Casey claims $100 million in promised funding is now more than three months overdue.”

Housing Wire – “Unemployment falls to 9.4%” (1-7-11)

“Nonfarm payroll employment rose last month although lower than most analysts expected, and the unemployment level decreased to 9.4%, the lowest since May 2009. The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy added 103,000 jobs in December”

Housing Wire – “Radar Logic: Stable home prices in October not market trend” (1-7-11)

“Home prices remained virtually unchanged in October of last year, increasing just 0.1% from the month prior on the RPX Composite price index released by Radar Logic Thursday. However, the firm said the monthly data does not signify a substantial stabilization across the market.”

Bloomberg – “Geithner Urged by Senators to Tackle Home-Foreclosure Process `Forcefully'” (1-7-11)

“Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and federal regulators need to fix the mortgage foreclosure process so that it doesn’t derail the economic recovery, Senator Jack Reed and 16 other senators wrote in a letter yesterday.”

Los Angeles Times – “Jerry Brown takes a hard look at Prop. 13” (1-7-11)

“In an interview Tuesday, Brown said he did not support an increase in property taxes. But he said that much of the fallout from the measure should be undone and that he planned to propose a ‘complex reordering’ of government that would address some of the problems the measure created.”

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