real estate news

The nation's five largest mortgage lenders have agreed to overhaul their industry after deceptive foreclosure practices drove homeowners out of their homes, government officials said Monday. A draft settlement between the banks and U.S. states has been sent to state officials for review.

The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in November rose to the highest level in a year and a half. Normally, such a gain would suggest a turnaround for the depressed housing market. But a growing number of buyers are canceling their contracts at the last minute, making it a less reliable gauge.

If you've got cash money, now could be the time to, very selectively, put some of it into real estate. I do a lot of editorial grunt work for the National Association of Realtors. One of the benefits is being privy to practically everything that anybody and everybody writes about the business....