real estate and housing news

The National Association of Realtors said U.S. home sales will decline less sharply this year than they did last year, while home-price appreciation is expected to gain steam.

The U.S. housing industry is in for a much deeper downturn, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday as it slashed its forecasts for home sales and construction for this year and next.

The homebuilders have been cutting prices and offering incentives late in the summer. Have the effort helped move the sales? This winter may be a tough season for the home builders. For buyers on the sideline? Keep your eyes open and good deals may be around soon.

Nevada, California and Florida had the highest foreclosure rates in the country last month, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Indiana rounded out the 10 states with the highest foreclosure rates.

It's no surprise that the existing home sale dropped again in August 2007. I think the key in this article is: "The fall in sales pushed the inventory of unsold homes to a record 4.58 million in August. That means it would take 10 months to exhaust the inventory of homes on the market at the August sales pace, also a record figure."

This is only the assumption that the unsold home inventory ...

New-home sales has fallen to the lowest level in 7 years.

The Federal Reserve rate cut is good news for borrowers with home-equity lines of credit, and savings could show up as soon as the next monthly statement. But in a twist, the Fed cut could boost rates down the road for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.

The National Association of Home Builders' housing index tracks developers' expectations of future home sales, and it fell to the lowest level since the index began in Jan. 1985.

No. 1 mortgage lender announces program to refinance $16 billion in loans for 80,000 borrowers facing much higher home payments.

This is a tough market for home owners who try to sell their homes. This article shows some pointers for those who plan to sell their homes going the FSBO route.

Economists offer dour outlook for housing prices and construction, citing continuing credit crisis - weakness is likely to persist into 2009.

The new home sale data sent a mixed message. The aggressive price cut by the new home builders might have contributed to the small upper trend of the new home sale.



Regionally last month, new-home sales increased 37.7% in the West and 0.5% in the South. Sales decreased 6.6% in the Northeast and 19.5% in the Midwest.

Landscaping is an important part of your home and helps the home value if done nicely. This article explains some great tips to improve the landscaping both for short term and long term benefit.

Some tips for getting a good deal on a new home in this slow market.

The winter is almost here and it is time to turn up the heat again. This page has some great information about how to make your home more energy saving.

Economist for the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, believes home values may start recovering next year because significant demand has been accumulating. What do you think?

Some house selling tips.

Desperate builders are sweetening deals on new homes in many of the biggest markets in the U.S.

A trade group for real-estate agents on Monday said the battered housing market is on the verge of stabilizing and inched-up its outlook for 2007 and 2008 home sales. Not everyone agrees though.

How much will the home price fall to become affordable?

A home-buyer's market is a beautiful thing when you are eyeing the house of your dreams, your appetite whetted by this year's nationwide drop in home prices. Add to this a free incentive by the seller, such as a finished basement or a flat-screen TV, and you may be tempted to close the deal sooner than you should.

New home sales plunged to the lowest level in 12 years. The weak housing has raised the odds of having a recession. One thing for sure is that housing problem will persist well into 2008, or maybe even longer.

The median price for a single-family home dropped 1.8 percent to $217,000. Sales of single-family homes plunged by the largest amount in 25 years.

With the market gyrating and real-estate prices tanking, deciding what to do with a windfall isn't exactly easy these days. Anyone carrying high-interest credit-card debt should pay it off. After that, the choices get tougher. You could scoop up some beaten-down stocks or battered high-yield bonds, figuring they'll rebound. Or you could play it safe and pay down your mortgage.

Realtors say prices fell faster and in more places over last part of 2007.

A 34 page guide for first time home buyers.

From mortgages to refinancing and home equity lines of credit -- it's getting harder for people to qualify for a loan. And that makes your credit score even more vital.

PMI insurance, or private mortgage insurance is designed to help borrowers get into a home with less than the often mandatory 20 percent down payment.

With home prices falling and families losing their homes to foreclosure, some people who under other circumstances would be looking to buy their first home now see greater security in renting.

Federal Reserve says homeowners' debt on their houses exceeds their equity for the first time since 1945.

A bad housing market means opportunities to home buyers. What should you prepare on the sideline while watching the home prices drop? Are foreclosures really that attractive?

The home price has dropped around 18% in California.

The home price has been continuing to drop across the country. It probably won't stop until the foreclosure rate stabilize. In the meantime, the February sales of existing homes posted a surprising gain, which is probably due to the price drop.

Some basic tips for applying mortgage loan. A good read for first time home buyers.

Price declines in California real estate markets.

Greedy lenders, naive buyers, and sinking home values have driven millions into foreclosure. What it means for you, your community, and your own financial health. Some sad stories, but definitely a lesson learned for some.

You'd better do some smart thinking before starting your home renovation. Some renovations will not pay off.

"We are not out of the woods by any means."

Emphasizes why it is so important to find a reliable, trustworthy and licensed real estate agent when you are looking to purchase a new home. Always verify the credentials of your agent before using them to save yourself a lot of headaches.

A breather in this tough market.

Home buyer tax credit is raised to $15,000. WIth the great mortgage rate and the tax credit like this, maybe it is time for the potential buyers on the sideline.

Wide-ranging $75 billion plan will use government money to subsidize rates and insure servicers against falling home prices.

Telling Clients to Boost Their Home's Curb Appeal is Great Advice from a Real Estate Broker