Real Estate News
- Modifications not a cure-all for distressed homeowners
- By Kathleen Lynn/McClatchy-Tribunue News Service
- HACKENSACK, N.J. — Eager to get their three children into a well-regarded school system, Yomalis Hilario and Johnny Montero paid $468,000 for a house in Paramus, N.J. in 2006. But they soon found themselves struggling to make the $3,700... Full story
- Construction spending rises
- By Martin Crutsinger/Associated Press
- WASHINGTON — Construction spending in September posted a better-than-expected performance, powered by the largest jump in housing construction in more than six years.
The advance spurred hope that the battered housing sector is starting to... Full story
- 30-year rates below 5 percent
- Associated Press
- WASHINGTON — Rates for 30-year home loans dipped below 5 percent this week after rising for three straight weeks.
The average rate fell to 4.98 percent from 5.03 percent a week earlier, mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday.
Rates had... Full story
- Congress wants homebuyers to get $6,500 tax break
- By Stephen Ohlemacher/Associated Press
- WASHINGTON — Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper.
First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted... Full story
- New home sales drop
- Down 3.6 percent as tax incentive comes to an end
- By Alan Zibel/Associated Press
- WASHINGTON — The number of buyers snapping up new homes dipped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wear off.
The 3.6 percent drop in September's new home sales, reported by the... Full story
- Prices rise for third straight month
- Home prices rose in August for the third straight month, a rapid pace of recovery that surprised economists and raised questions about how long the trend can last.
After a steep three-year descent, home prices rebounded this summer at an annualized... Full story

- Short sales are anything but short
- By Mary Shanklin/McClatchy-Tribune News Service
- For buyers, it's a way to get a bargain.
For upside-down homeowners, it's a way to avoid foreclosure.
But for pretty much everyone involved, it's not a way to buy a house quickly.
Short sales are anything but short. Buyers and sellers often get... Full story
- Home sales up 9.4 percent
- By Alan Zibel/Associated Press
- WASHINGTON — Home resales in September clocked the largest monthly increase in 26 years as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.
Sales jumped 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted... Full story
- Homework essential to buy your first home successfully
- ARA Content
- Are you considering taking the plunge and buying your first home? If so, you're not alone. Across the country, owning a home still represents the American dream for many, and the opportunity to buy your first home couldn't be better.
Declining home... Full story
- Lawmakers seek to extend $8,000 tax credit
- The Associated Press
- Hoping to keep the precarious economic recovery on track, the Senate is considering a plan to extend and expand a stimulus-package provision giving first-time homebuyers an $8,000 federal tax credit.
One idea now being discussed is to combine the... Full story