Home mortgage rates and real estate news - CNNMoney.com

Housing quagmire: Is it time to remove relief?

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:06:29 EDT

For the growing number of struggling homeowners in this country, more help is on the way. Additional aid from the federal government will begin making its way to them next month -- one program would help qualified homeowners refinance their mortgages after seeing their property values fall below the amount they owe, and the other includes another round of funding to help the unemployed or underemployed with their payments.

A reward for responsible homeowners

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:52:36 EDT

The government has bailed out Wall Street firms, giant banks, creditors of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- and is trying to bail out people who've defaulted or are about to default on their mortgages. But let's say you're a hardworking family that has done nothing wrong except buy a home when the housing bubble was at its peak a few years ago. Your mortgage is now way underwater, but you're still making payments because you want to stay in your home -- and you're actually honorable. You're paying for everyone else's bailout, but because you have no equity in your house, you can't refinance to take advantage of the ultra-low mortgage rates that Uncle Sam's bailout strategy has produced. To use the technical term, you're being screwed.

Home prices gain 3.6% in past year

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:53:31 EDT

Despite a recent spate of bad news coming out of the housing industry, home prices show signs of stabilizing.

Tips for getting homeowners insurance

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:18:50 EDT

1. Loyalty is overrated

America's most overvalued cities

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:56:19 EST

Don't say we didn't warn you.

Foreclosures: How bad is your state?

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:34:34 EST

Surprise! Banks help more homeowners than Obama

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:21:32 EDT

Remember how everyone complained that banks weren't doing enough to help troubled borrowers?

Remodeling your home? Get online

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:50:46 EDT

Home improvement is one of the fastest-growing segments of e-commerce. But the consequences of a bad decision when it comes to finding a contractor or remodeling products online are far worse than buying the wrong paperback.

Say goodbye to the McMansion

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:33:30 EDT

The American home is shrinking. Toll the bell for the McMansion.

Fewer mortgages are in default

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:31:31 EDT

Fewer mortgage borrowers are delinquent on their loan payments, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Best moves for home buyers and sellers

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:57:25 EDT

Plenty of forces, from overly cautious lenders to inaccurate appraisals, are wrecking real estate deals right now. But one of the biggest roadblocks to getting a house sold these days is the disconnect between buyers and sellers.

Housing's a wreck. Builders rally. Huh?

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:46:34 EDT

Stop me if you've heard this before. The housing market is still in shambles.

New home sales drop 12.4%

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:34:36 EDT

New home sales unexpectedly fell in July to the lowest level on record as the housing market continued to suffer from the end of the homebuyer tax credit boost.

Toll Brothers: First profit in 3 years

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:49:12 EDT

Homebuilder Toll Brothers made a profit last quarter -- its first in three years. And it largely has Uncle Sam's tax credits to thank for it.

The latest real estate rip-off?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:22:28 EDT

Would you be willing to pay the original builder a fee when you resell your home? That's an obligation some developers are trying to slap on homeowners in their communities.

Plunging home sales could sink recovery

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:03:08 EDT

With home sales plunging to their lowest level in 15 years, economists warn that a double-dip in housing prices is just around the corner, threatening to further slow the overall recovery.

10-year yield at 19-month low

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:00:27 EDT

Treasury yields continued to fall Tuesday, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year note holding near a 19-month low, as a spate of dour economic news has driven investors into safer assets, like government-backed debt.

Foreclosure program losing its punch

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:43:18 EDT

The president's signature foreclosure rescue plan is losing its punch, according to a federal report released Friday.

5 most affordable cities to buy a house

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:38:15 EDT

These are the five most affordable major metro areas in the nation for homebuyers and five markets where home prices are least affordable.

Refinancing applications at 15-month high

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:23:39 EDT

Applications for mortgage refinancing hit a 15-month high last week as interest rates remained near historic lows, a mortgage bankers' group said Wednesday.