Existing home sales on the rise

Existing home sales climbed for the second month in a row in September, fueling some hope that a housing recovery is underway. Sales of previously owned homes rose 10% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million units last month, the ...

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Census Bureau Releases Detailed Information on Nation’s Housing

The nation’s homeowners paid a median of $1,000 in monthly housing costs in 2009, compared with $808 for renters, according to data released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. H...

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Consumer confidence rises in May

The Consumer Confidence Index rose to 63.3 in May (1985=100) compared with 57.7 in April, the Conference Board reported yesterday. The Present Situation Index increased to 30.2 in May from 28.1 in April, and the Expectations Index improved...

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What do buyers want in a home? Survey offers clues

A recent study of more than 22,000 homeowners who bought their homes within the last nine years found that current homeowners plan to be “more practical” in their next purchase, focusing on livable space rather than unnecessary upgrade...

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Fixer-Upper Financing: 203k Program

The word “as-is” can indeed be one scary phrase. Especially when buying a home in today’s market where foreclosures and short sales that need fix-up work are plentiful. But a little-known Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan pro...

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Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades

Instead of playing the trade-up game, more homeowners are staying in their homes, upgrading kitchens and baths and building additions to accommodate their needs instead of moving into a bigger house, but there are also some early signs of a...

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Fourth Quarter Housing Affordability

The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California remained at 64 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with 61 percent (revised) for the same period a year ago, according to a report released ...

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FHA 90 Day Flip Rule Waived

If you’re a real estate investor who has avoided deals because of the 90 day resale or flip rule, go find a deal! Friday, January 15, 2010, the FHA waived the rule, and will finance homes with no requirement for seasoning in a flip start...

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