As new homes become larger and larger, the added space is going into bigger master bedrooms and grander kitchens. But the biggest beneficiary of the extra square footage is the secondary sleeping area... more
It sounds like a lot. Together, the country's top 100 largest landowners hold some 33 million acres, according to a new report from Fay Ranches. But that's less than 2 percent of America's landmass.... more
Major corporations raise capital by selling shares in themselves. So do companies with little or no substance behind them. Even startups sometimes "go public" before they really start up. So why can't... more
A New York developer may be the first homebuilder to integrate wellness into its products. But if a major real estate education and research group has its way, healthy living will soon be incorporated... more
A New York developer may be the first homebuilder to integrate wellness into its products. But if a major real estate education and research group has its way, healthy living will soon be incorporated... more
Despite efforts at all levels of government to stamp out illegal schemes that promise to save the homes of financially strapped owners, the scams "remain at a high level," according to a new federal r... more
Millions of would-be homebuyers who do not otherwise have credit scores -- that all-important snapshot of how they use credit -- will soon be able to generate one. They can use the latest version of a... more
You'd think that applying for a mortgage would be the same whether you are buying a newly built house or an existing one. But it's not, so buyers of brand-new homes need to understand the differences.... more
Why do houses in Vancouver neighborhoods with a high percentage of Chinese residents tend to sell for more when the house number ends in 8? And why do they sell for less when the house number ends in ... more
Most people spend more than 50 percent of their time indoors -- children, some 90 percent -- so it is important to pay attention to the quality of the air in your home. And that means more than instal... more
Yapmo, an internal communication program designed to replace inefficient group communications, has unexpectedly found a niche in the real estate sector. Agents are using it to help sellers price their... more
Anyone thinking of skating on mortgages owned by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may want to think again. As a result of new government reports, the two companies say they are going to do a better jo... more
"The devil made me do it" was perhaps the most famous catch phrase of comedian Flip Wilson. And it was among the numerous excuses one potential borrower gave his lender to explain his lousy credit rep... more
In little-noticed proceedings earlier this year, 11 people pleaded guilty in a federal court in northern Virginia to a scam that fleeced banks out of millions of dollars.... more
A system for rating real estate agents is being tested by the National Association of Realtors, the trade association for realty pros and, at more than a million members, the largest trade group in th... more
All the hand-wringing aside, underwriting guidelines for prime mortgages haven't changed much since the housing bust. But what has changed are lenders and their automated underwriting tools.... more
Changes in technology now allow would-be borrowers to apply for financing whenever they like -- every day, 24-7. But many, it appears, are doing so during the workday, at a time, perhaps, when they sh... more
Wildfires like the one this summer that killed 19 elite firefighters in a blaze near Yarnell, Ariz., can't be stopped. But there's plenty homeowners can do to protect their properties.... more
With interest rates slowly on the rise, that means bad news for homebuyers and good new for renters, right? After all, aren't the single-family and multi-family markets countercyclical?... more
When the going gets tough in the mortgage business, the tough starting laying off loan officers, underwriters, processors and any other workers whose jobs are tied to the origination function.... more
Fixed mortgage rates have definitely been rising, and recent forecasts generally indicate they are not going to drop again anytime soon. So is now the time to lock in a low fixed rate, if you haven't ... more
A reverse mortgage works best as a line of credit that allows seniors to meet their immediate needs, such as home repairs, while preserving the remaining balance as a nest egg in case of emergencies.... more
Mortgage rates are on the rise, making it even more difficult to finance a house. But that doesn't mean the market will flounder before it has had a chance to really get going.... more
How hard do you think it might be to obtain a mortgage on a patch of real estate in Yellowstone Park? If you answered "pretty difficult," you'd be right.... more
When it comes to the little things that sellers do to make their homes stand out from the competition, a new splash of paint is usually at the top of the list. Sprucing up the front yard and removing ... more