In an effort to get the earliest reading possible on the housing market, economists at the National Association of Realtors are developing a national index that measures foot traffic, or visits to hou... more
Millions of borrowers will pay off their mortgages this year. But sending in that last payment is not the end of the line. It's the beginning of the end, perhaps, but not the end itself. So don't burn... more
The typical real estate sales contract includes not just a price and a closing date but also a number of clauses, any of which can trip up the buyer or seller and scuttle the deal.... more
More than a third of all potential borrowers would be willing to pay a higher rate if the mortgage came with superior service, according to a new survey.... more
With millions of homes in foreclosure -- and millions more owners having difficulty paying their mortgages -- there's likely to be one in every neighborhood: the property that has gone to seed.... more
Mortgage makers have always been a creative lot. But these days, credit unions seem to have supplanted traditional lenders as the most inventive.... more
How can you make a billion-dollar mistake and still come out ahead? When you are a federal agency that botches payouts to financially strapped homeowners.... more
Prices on a per-square-foot basis rose in 78 of the nation's 100 most-active housing markets, another signal that a recovery is afoot, according to the latest figures from the field.... more
Most people refinance to save money. That usually means jumping to a lower rate. But you also can save big bucks by trimming the term of your loan, possibly at the very same low rate.... more
In the 1970s, clothing shoppers were advised in a popular advertising jingle from the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union to "look for the union label." In that same spirit, anyone shopping f... more
WASHINGTON -- Investors know a good thing when they see one. That's why they are lining up in droves to get their hands on thousands of government-held problem loans and foreclosures under Uncle Sam's... more
There's no question that the Internet has changed the way most people shop for homes. You can find houses online, take a virtual look around and plot their locations in relation to your kids' schools,... more
Faced with an unprecedented opportunity to help Americans find the road to financial security through homeownership, policymakers are looking the other way, according to a new report from a New Mexico... more
PHILADELPHIA -- I'm dirty, sweaty and bone-tired. And I'm filled with a level of self-satisfaction that I've rarely achieved with anything else I've done.... more
Deadlines are looming for anyone seeking a review of their foreclosure proceeding, for borrowers whose lenders require them to carry flood insurance and for homeowners considering a short sale:... more
Location is often described as the most important thing in real estate. It's said to be the second and third most important things, too. But in the rental housing market, finding a high-quality tenant... more
Lost in the euphoria over record low rates for 30- and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages is perhaps an even better alternative: adjustable mortgages.... more
Under new guidelines set down by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, underwater borrowers who are seeking to sell their homes for less than what they owe must now receive decisions from their lenders within 6... more
In many parts of the country, and in most price ranges, the best properties are suddenly piling up offers from multiple bidders who know a good thing when they see one. But sometimes the highest offer... more
The good faith estimate (GFE) of closing costs that lenders are required by law to give borrowers within three days of their mortgage application is supposed to put a stop to that sort of thing. But a... more
House prices rose an average of nearly 10 percent in the first quarter, according to a government survey covering the country's largest metropolitan areas.... more