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Author Archives: Esther Cho

Treasury to Receive Billions in Return from AIG Stock

After bailing out American International Group, Inc. at a price tag of $182.3 billion, Treasury and the Federal Reserve are expecting to see their full investment back, plus a return. On Monday, Treasury estimated a return of $12.4 billion after selling about $18 billion in shares. On Tuesday, Treasury then announced it expects to see an additional $2.7 billion after underwriters exercised their over-allotment option to purchase more shares. Treasury's proceeds from the public offering are expected to reach $20.7 billion.

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Homes Spending Less Time on Market: NAR

Homes are spending less time on the market as supply conditions tighten, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors released Wednesday. The median time homes stayed listed was down 29.6 percent to 69 days in July compared to 98 days in July 2011. While the overall median is down, the report stated one in five homes bought in July stayed on the market for at least six months. At the current sales pace, it would take 6.4 months to clear the supply of homes available as of the end of July, a 31.2 percent decrease from a year ago when there was a 9.3-month supply.

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Illinois to Set Aside Settlement Funds for Legal Assistance

Illinois has decided to set aside part of its funds from the national mortgage settlement to provide free legal assistance for Chicago area homeowners, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced earlier this week. About $4.7 million from the national foreclosure settlement funds will go to the Legal Assistance Foundation. LAF will use the funds to reach out to distressed homeowners and provide services to keep struggling owners in their home. The funds will also help LAF work with the courts to improve the Cook County Foreclosure Mediation Program and support its staff.

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Bankruptcy Judge Bars Bonuses for 17 ResCap Execs

Residential Capital was denied approval from a federal bankruptcy judge to pay its executives bonuses, Reuters reported Wednesday. The key employee incentive plan was for bonuses between $4.1 million and $7 million to be distributed to 17 of the top 20 employees from ResCap. The written court opinion stated the debtors, or ResCap, argued the bonuses would serve to "motivat[e] . . . key talent" during a sales process that has required ResCap employees to assume "responsibilities above their normal duties," and subject them to ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£extraordinary stress, pressure, and uncertainty as to the security of their jobs."

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Developer Pleads Guilty to Massive Fraud Scheme

A developer and restaurateur from Virginia pled guilty Friday for his role in a massive bank fraud scheme that contributed to the collapse of Bank of the Commonwealth, SIGTARP and federal officials announced Monday in a statement. Thomas E. Arney, 56, of Chesapeake, Virginia pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and making false statements, according to the statement. Arney faces sentencing on December 3, 2012 and could receive a maximum penalty of 20 years ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô five years each for the conspiracy and false statement counts.

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Sellers Hold Off to See If Home Prices Will Rise

After surveying more than 1,800 active home sellers, Redfin found that some of its customers are holding back from selling now because they believe patience will pay off in the form of higher offers for their home. The survey revealed that 38 percent of respondents plan to wait more than a year before selling their home, while 25 percent said they plan on selling now. About 36 percent of homeowners plan on waiting somewhere between 3 months and 12 months. More than a quarter (27 percent) of respondents said now is a bad time to sell as opposed to only 13 percent who said now is a good time to sell.

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Freddie Mac: 95% of Q2 Refis Went for Fixed-Rate Loans

For borrowers who refinanced in the second quarter, fixed-rate mortgages dominated consumer preferences. Among those who refinanced in Q2, more than 95 percent opted for a fixed-rate mortgage, according to the Freddie Mac Quarterly Product Transition report. For those who had a hybrid ARM, 81 percent transitioned into a fixed-rate loan during the second quarter; the percentage represents the highest share in two years. In contrast, for those with a 15-year fixed rate loan, 2 percent transitioned into a hybrid ARM.

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