real estate market

U.S. New-Home Sales Jump to Highest in 4.5 Years

U.S. new-home sales jumped in January from the previous month to the highest level since July 2008, a sign that the housing recovery is accelerating. New-home sales rose nearly 16 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 437,000, the largest percentage increase in nearly 20 years.

Home Prices Post Healthy Gains in December

U.S. home prices rose at a healthy pace in December compared with a year ago, driven higher by rising sales and a smaller supply of available homes. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 6.8 percent year over year, up from a 5.5 percent annual gain in November.

U.S. Home Sales Rise to 2nd-Highest Pace in 3 Years

U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose in January to the second-highest level in three years, a sign the housing market is maintaining its recovery and helping to bolster the economy. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that sales rose 0.4 percent in January compared with December.

U.S. Housing Starts Dip But Remain at Solid Pace

U.S. homebuilders began work at a slower pace in January, though the level was still the third-highest since 2008. The pace of building was viewed as a sign of further strengthening in residential real estate.

Late-Payment Rate on U.S. Mortgages Hits 4-Year Low

Homeowners who took on mortgages well after the housing bubble burst are doing a better job in keeping up with payments, a trend that has helped push the national rate of late payments on home loans to the lowest level in four years.

Home Prices Rose in December by Most Since May 2006

U.S. home prices rose 8.3 percent in December compared with a year earlier, according to data Tuesday from CoreLogic, a real estate data provider. That is the biggest annual gain since May 2006. Prices rose last year in 46 of 50 states.

10 Top Banks Agree to Pay $8.5 Billion for Foreclosure Abuses

Ten major banks and mortgage companies have agreed to pay $8.5 billion to settle complaints that they wrongfully foreclosed on homeowners. Under the settlement, people who were wrongfully foreclosed on could receive from a few hundred dollars up to $125,000.

U.S. Pending Home Sales Rise to Highest in 2.5 Years

A measure of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes increased last month to its highest level in two and a half years, the latest sign of improvement in the once-battered housing market. The National Association of Realtors said Friday that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index rose 1.7 percent in November from October to 106.4.

Home Prices Increase in Most Major U.S. Cities

Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller reported Tuesday that its 20-city index of home prices rose 3 percent in September compared with the same month last year. Prices also gained 3.6 percent in the July-September quarter compared with the same quarter in 2011.

U.S. New-Home Sales Rise to Highest in 2.5 Years

U.S. sales of new homes jumped last month to the highest level in more than two years, further evidence of a sustained housing recovery that could help lift the lackluster economy. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that new home sales rose 5.7 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 389,000.

Homebuilder Confidence Hits Highest Level Since 2006

Confidence among U.S. homebuilders remains at its highest level in six years, reflecting improved optimism over the strengthening housing market this year and a pickup in visits by prospective buyers to builders' communities.

U.S. Home Sales Jump to Highest Level Since May 2010

U.S. sales of previously occupied homes jumped in August to the highest level in more than two years, adding momentum to the housing recovery. Sales rose 7.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.82 million, the National Association of Realtors said.

US Home Prices Rise in July by Most in 6 Years

U.S. home prices jumped 3.8 percent in the 12 months ending in July, according to a private real estate data provider. The year-over-year increase is further evidence that the housing market is steadily recovering.

Treasury Tightens Up Terms of Fannie and Freddie Bailout Deal

The government is changing the terms of its bailout agreement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a way that will shrink the holdings of the two mortgage giants more quickly and will require payment to the government of all quarterly profits the companies earn.

Home Prices Rose in All Major U.S. Cities in May

Home prices rose in May from April in every city tracked by the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index, a sign that increasing sales and tight inventories are supporting a modest housing recovery.

Where Walmart Builds, Higher Home Prices Follow

Many people react to the news that Walmart is coming to their neighborhood with dismay. The "Bully of Bentonville" lays waste to local businesses, increases traffic, and can lead to higher crime rates. But here's a twist: Where Walmart builds, property values go up.

Home Prices Rise in Nearly All Major U.S. Cities

Home prices rose in nearly all major U.S. cities in April, further evidence that the housing market is slowly improving. According to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index, the only top 20 metro area to see prices fall was Detroit.

Foreclosures Were 26% of Home Sales in Q1 as Short Sales Rose

Homes in some stage of the foreclosure process saw their share of U.S. home sales grow in the first quarter even as sales of bank-owned homes fell. The increase was driven by a spike in short sales, or homes that sell for less than what the owner owed on their mortgage.

6 Simple Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy a Home

Houses are cheap. Interest rates are low. And the economy is improving. Even Warren Buffett says that housing might be the best investment today. So should you run out and buy a home? Not necessarily.