HomeSale

The number of Americans who bought previously occupied homes rose last month. But the National Association of Realtors says it overstated more than 3 million sales during and after the Great Recession, showing the housing market was weaker than previously thought.

The Real Estate Adviser on Bankrate.com has answered an important question from a reader: Does a registered sex offender living in your neighborhood affect your home's value? The unfortunate answer is "yes."One study found that a sex offender within one-tenth of a mile of your home makes your house...

If you sell your personal residence and you make a profit, you may not have to pay taxes on all or part of it. You don't have to pay tax on the capital gain of up to $250,000 per spouse, provided that you pass certain tests.You must have owned the house for at least two out of the last five years....

If you've been living in your house for the last two years and it's only your personal residence (no business use claimed on any tax returns) you can profit up to $250,000 on the sale and still not owe any taxes. If you're married filing jointly, you can profit up to $500,000 without paying any...