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Crisis In The Housing Market
Sales of new homes rose last month in all regions except the South. The median price inched up to $235,700.
New Home Sales, Prices Up In April
()Sales increased 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000 last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. They rose in all regions except the South. The median price climbed to $235,700.
Homebuilders' Confidence Index At 5-Year High()
May 15, 2012 An index that measures builders' sentiment rose to the highest level since May 2007, a sign that the housing market may continue to improve. Homebuilders reported improving sales and higher traffic from prospective buyers this month.
Bank Of America Offers To Cut Mortgage Principal()
May 8, 2012 Bank of America is giving about 200,000 homeowners a chance to wipe out a big portion of their mortgage debt. It's part of a settlement the bank and others reached with state and federal regulators earlier this year.
Should Banks Maintain Abandoned Properties?()
May 2, 2012 WBEZChicago has dug in its heels on a new city ordinance that puts banks on the line for securing and maintaining vacant homes. But the federal government, on behalf of mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is fighting the law in a test case that could affect other cities, too.
Time To Trade The Lease For A Mortgage?()
May 1, 2012 Falling prices and low interest rates are making it even cheaper to buy a house these days. And rising rents in many areas make it more tempting to take the plunge. According to the Census Bureau, the national homeownership rate is at a 15-year low.
Some Housing Markets Rebound, But Bargains Scarce()
May 1, 2012 The real estate market has turned around in some parts of the U.S., but many buyers aren't seeing true bargains anymore. Investors are driving up prices, and inventory is low, especially for homes priced under $250,000. That's not great news for anyone hoping to buy an affordable house to live in.
For Some, 'Frustration' Over Mortgage Settlement ()
April 26, 2012 Earlier this month, a judge approved a $25 billion settlement between five major banks and nearly all of the state attorneys general over shortcuts lenders took to push through some foreclosures. Housing counselors say the deal has yet to make an impact in communities around the country.
Hoping For Payout, Investors Become Landlords()
April 16, 2012 With the huge supply of foreclosed homes, the rental housing market is becoming increasingly dominated by investment companies — not the mom-and-pop operations down the street that used to fill that role. Some experts worry about what kind of landlords the companies will make.
Planet Money
We Stand At The Doorstep Of A Foreclosed House. Then We Go In()
April 12, 2012 We tag along with a real estate agent whose job is to investigate a foreclosed house in Florida.
The Two-Way
Reporter's Dream: A Mansion Straight Out Of 'Please Don't Eat the Daisies'()
April 12, 2012 Where could a newspaper (or radio) reporter pick up a mansion/castle like the one David Niven and Doris Day take over in Please Don't Eat the Daisies?
Fannie, Freddie Weigh Mortgage Write-Downs()
April 11, 2012 Some economists say the government-run enterprises should be allowed to help distressed homeowners by lowering their loan principals to reflect today's lower values. But critics of the move say it would cost taxpayers money and encourage strategic defaults.
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