Building permits for single-family homes rose 1.8 percent in December to a rate of 444,000 units compared with November, according to a joint release by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.  Single-family housing starts rose 4.1 percent to a Continue Reading

  This week, C.A.R. reported that sales of distressed properties increased in December, as lenders pushed to close REOs and short sales to move them off their balance sheets before the end of the year.   Of the distressed properties sold statewide in December, 22.2 Continue Reading

C.A.R. Pending Home Sales Index dropped as expected between November and December, tracking the annual seasonal slowdown.  However, the index was higher than a year ago for the eighth straight month, a trend that bodes well for the start of the spring home-buying Continue Reading

The New York Times Interest rates are the lowest in decades, enticing many borrowers to shop for a loan.  Mortgage lenders adjust their rates based on perceptions of risk, so unless the borrower can show they’re a low-risk individual, the borrower is unlikely to qualify Continue Reading

Tip of the Week: Unexpected IRS refund If you receive an unsolicited email that appears to be from the IRS requesting that you file a "tax refund request," do not fall victim to this identity theft scheme. Numerous people are receiving unsolicited email informing them Continue Reading

California home sales rose for the third consecutive month in December, marking the highest level since January 2011, according to data from C.A.R.  Sales also were up from a year ago, marking the sixth consecutive annual increase. Closed escrow sales of existing, Continue Reading

Homeowners who had a mortgage loan on a primary residence and who believe were financially harmed during the mortgage foreclosure process by GMAC Mortgage, HSBC Finance Corporation, SunTrust Mortgage, or EMC Mortgage in 2009 or 2010 can request an independent review and Continue Reading

By Mia Lamar Consumer expectations for U.S. home prices perked up in December, matching a modest fourth-quarter improvement in the U.S. economy, according to a monthly survey from mortgage market firm Fannie Mae. For its December reading, Fannie Mae said survey Continue Reading

By Marcie Geffner Bankrate.com, Scripps Howard News Service Posted: 01/05/2012 05:05:42 PM PST Updated: 01/05/2012 05:06:59 PM PST     Mortgage interest rates, near all-time lows, are likely to remain attractive throughout 2012. That means Continue Reading

First-time home buyers planning to purchase a house later this year may have a better chance of qualifying for a mortgage if they have had a history of paying their rent on time. Making sense of the story Last year, credit-reporting agency Experian added a section to Continue Reading