Housing prices of 20 cities were flat from July to August, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller housing index. Year-over-year and on a seasonally adjusted basis, the composite 20 index was down 3.8% from August of last year. …
real estate
3 Ways to Know You’re Getting a Great Deal on a Home
From Kim Kardashian’s wails that she lost a $75,000 earring in the ocean, to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Dana Wilkey’s boasts that she dropped $25K on sunglasses, reality TV starlets seem to get a rush out of broadcasting …
Obama’s Housing Refinance Program: Underwhelming Policy, Expedient Politics
Did you know that you can’t be for fixing the housing market and not be for President Barack Obama’s American Jobs Act? That was the underlying message of a conference call with two top Obama advisers on Monday morning, …
Radon Awareness Week: Protecting Your Home From A Silent Killer
In case you didn’t know, it’s Radon Awareness Week — which is no World Environment Day, true, but it’s gaining ground.
In honor of this momentous quasi-occasion, here’s a primer on the dangers of exposure to radon and how to protect yourself and your family.
Latest Housing Bust Casualty: Babies
Back in 2007, America was experiencing a mini-baby boom. The recession brought that to a quick halt. As early as 2008, the country saw a significant drop in birth rates. Baby booms and busts do tend to follow economic cycles. But …
The Latest Retirement Strategy: Become A Landlord
With interest rates at historic low levels, an adequate retirement-income stream has become difficult or expensive to secure. Increasingly, baby boomers say they will count on rental income to fill gaps.
Housing Survey: Americans Pessimistic, but ‘Would Buy’ If They Had to Move
Pity the American consumer, especially when it comes to housing. A large proportion of those surveyed (43%) in a recent Fannie Mae poll about homeownership and the economy report that their expenses are “significantly higher” …
3 Ways to Get Help Selling Your FSBO Home
In 2010, some 9 percent of the homes sold in the U.S. were sold FSBO — For Sale By Owner — according to the National Association of Realtors. The fact that the strong majority of homes are sold by real estate agents is …
Real Estate Market Mystery: Record Low For Mortgage Rates, But Nobody’s Buying
Fact: 30-year-fixed mortgage rates dropped below 4 percent for the first time on record, according to Freddie Mac, which has tracked rates since 1971. Yet, the stats show that Americans have not responded by rushing to buy houses.
Car Collector Dream Homes
Henry Ford probably never envisioned that some day we would have garages so vast that the owner could park five, 10, even 20 cars in their house. Here are three homes TopTenRealEstateDeals.com found that are currently for sale …
Conforming Loan Limit Shrinks This Weekend — Will It Hurt the Already Beaten Down Market?
On Saturday, federally guaranteed loans — the limits on which were increased during the financial upheaval of 2008 to as high as $729,750 in some parts of the country — will be capped at $625,500. Homebuyers looking to …
The Grown-Up Homes of Teenage Stars
For years, it seems like those who became wildly successful early eventually grew up, developed a drug habit and tried to collect as many mug shots they could by age 30. But Hollywood now has a coterie of former child stars who …