Several of the largest mortgage servicers will be in Las Vegas Friday and Saturday to work with struggling Nevada homeowners, under a program sponsored by Hope Now and Gov. Brian Sandoval. The free, two-day event will allow homeowners to explore possible alternatives to foreclosure. Since 2008, Las Vegas hosted four similar events, which have assisted almost 5,500 area homeowners, Hope Now said. The last event was in January 2011. Mortgage...

Here’s your annual checklist of things to do to get your home ready for the change of season. Check smoke detectors: 1. Don’t neglect that smoke detector any longer! Take some time right now to check the operation of detectors, and to change the batteries. If you have an older house with a limited number of smoke detectors, install additional ones at each sleeping room, and make sure there is one centrally located on each level...

A group of lawmakers are pushing the Obama administration to extend the forbearance period to 12 months for unemployed home owners with mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. About 27 lawmakers, all Democrats from the House of Representatives, issued a letter to President Obama this week urging the change to help those with job losses save their homes while they seek employment. Earlier in July, the Obama administration...

More home owners who want to trade in their current home to buy a larger one are holding off, feeling trapped by a sluggish housing market and the loss of equity in their current home, The Los Angeles Times reports. “Potential move-up buyers … are largely sitting on the sidelines these days, leaving a key part of the housing market stuck in neutral,” The Los Angeles Times‘ article notes. “The promise of rising prices and...

California real estate agents say closing short-sale transactions are “difficult” or “extremely difficult,” and said procedures by mortgage lenders and servicers are only serving to make matters worse over the past six months, according to a new survey.   The lender satisfaction survey was conducted by the California Association of Realtors. More than three-fourths (77%) of agents said short-sale transactions...