Many agents across the country are experiencing strong and stable sales. For others, the market is more uncertain. And if the recent economic situation of the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s reinforced that old adage: You shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket. One solution that agents all across [...]

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) released the results of its first quarter refinance analysis showing homeowners who refinance continue to strengthen their fiscal house. In the first quarter of 2012, 79 percent of homeowners who refinanced their first-lien home mortgage either maintained about the same loan amount or lowered their principal balance by paying-in additional money [...]

Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted a White House Forum on Housing to discuss programs and initiatives promoted by the Obama Administration that help responsible homeowners and struggling communities hit hardest by the housing crisis. The White [...]

The list of housing markets showing measurable and sustained improvement held virtually unchanged in May at 100, down from 101 in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI). The number of states represented on the list also held firm from the previous month, at 35 (including the District [...]

While the outcome varied a bit depending on your corner of the map, most power brokers agree that 2011 was yet another challenging year for real estate. According to the results of RISMedia’s 24th Annual Power Broker Survey—(like us on Facebook to see the Top 300 list, which can now be viewed while on-the-go on [...]

That baby boomers are swelling the ranks of older Americans is well-documented, but do we really understand the consequences of this important shift for the housing needs of older adults? A new report from the Center for Housing Policy, “Housing an Aging Population – Are We Prepared?”, explores the effects of this coming demographic change [...]

A new study by economists at the University of California, Berkeley, and Oregon State University suggests that the U.S. housing crisis that started in 2007 and eventually led to a worldwide financial crisis was triggered by rapidly rising gas prices. Economic bubbles have a long history – from the Dutch tulip mania in the 1600s [...]

With annual sales of more than $82 billion, international buyers who are interested in purchasing properties in the U.S. provide a tremendous opportunity for brokers and agents looking to expand their business this year. And with the recent addition of more than 1 million international listings on REALTOR.com® and advanced training and education opportunities, there’s [...]

(MCT)—More Americans are signing contracts to buy existing homes than at any time in nearly two years, boosting the housing industry’s slow recovery, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ index of pending home sales. The measure is up 2 percent to 97 in January after slipping 1.9 percent in December. The index of deals [...]

(MCT)—The U.S. housing market disappointed Warren Buffett last year, but he hasn’t given up hope. Buffett said in his annual shareholder letter, posted this weekend, that he was “dead wrong” when he predicted last year that the rebound in U.S. home prices would begin within a year. This year, though, he’s betting again that the [...]