Archive By Section - HOME SCENE
Rate on 30-year mortgage stays at record 3.87%
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage stayed at a record low this week, providing some added incentive for those looking to buy a home or refinance.
Is owner's title insurance worth the cost?
DEAR BENNY: We are getting ready to close on a home and there is a settlement fee of $685 for lender's title insurance and $683 for owner's title insurance. Must we pay both fees? --Phyllis
What settlement will and won’t do for homeowners
WASHINGTON (AP) - The mortgage settlement that government officials announced Thursday is intended to help victims of foreclosure abuses that followed the housing bust.
Easy-to-install suggestions for bathroom remodeling
Dreaming about a bathroom remodel? With today's easy-to-install products - many of which are also easy-to-clean - your new bathroom can actually exceed your wildest dreams. What could be better than an easy-to-clean new bathroom?
Tips for a secure home & peace of mind
Homeowners often worry about keeping their homes safe and secure for their families. And it's no wonder: nearly 70 percent of home break-ins are in the form of kick-ins to a door, according to the U. S. Department of Justice.
Home prices dropped in November in most cities
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home prices fell for a third straight month in nearly all cities tracked by a major index. The declines show that most homeowners are not reaping the benefits from some signs of an improving housing market.
Obama seeks to broaden reach assistance
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) - Conceding his earlier housing programs have fallen short, President Barack Obama on Wednesday proposed a vast expansion of government assistance to homeowners, aiming to make lower lending rates a possibility for millions of borrowers who have not been able to get out from under burdensome mortgages.
Home prices dropped in November in most cities
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home prices fell for a third straight month in nearly all cities tracked by a major index. The declines show that most homeowners are not reaping the benefits from some signs of an improving housing market.
Builders step up spending for 5th straight month
WASHINGTON (AP) - Builders increased their spending in December for the fifth consecutive month, ending a weak construction year on a hopeful note.
Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record low point of 3.87%
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell this week to a record low, the ninth time that has happened in the last year. Even with the cheapest rates in history, the housing market remains depressed.
Exercising lease option during foreclosure
DEAR BENNY: We have been renting a house with an option to buy for two years now. We recently learned from mail the bank has sent that the property was listed for foreclosure. (No, we have not opened the letters addressed to the owners, but they are from the bank that holds the mortgage and they have been coming every two weeks addressed to both lien holders.) We also received a letter from an attorney indicating that the property was listed for foreclosure.
The hottest colors for your home
As you anticipate what exciting things this year will bring, you might notice your home decor has been left behind. Fortunately, you can easily beautify and modernize your home using hints from design experts on the hottest color trends. Don't worry that you'll need to break the bank - simply updating the shades of your walls can create the feel of an entire new home without the cost of buying one. And you'll enjoy starting the year in fresh, contemporary surroundings.
A shocker as agent refunds client’s $20K
DEAR BENNY: I am selling my house and received two offers on the same day: The first offer came in first thing in the morning, and I made a counteroffer. Several hours later there was another offer. My agent informed both buyers' agents of the competing offers and shortly after was informed by buyer's agent No. 1 that his clients had accepted the counteroffer. I rejected offer No. 2, as required, and started packing.
Foreclosures made up 20 percent of home sales in 3Q
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Foreclosures made up a smaller slice of all U.S. homes sold in last year's third quarter, as banks delayed placing properties for sale and home sales slowed.
Rate on 30-year fixed mortgage rises to 3.98%
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week for the first time this month, though it remained below 4 percent for the eighth straight week.
Articles by Section - HOME SCENE
Solid new-home sales lift hopes for housing market
WASHINGTON (AP) - A surprisingly strong pace of new-home sales last month has boosted hopes that the spring buying season will be solid enough to lift the overall economy.
Average 30-year mortgage rate reaches 4.37 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose for a third straight week as new data showed a surprisingly strong pace of new-home sales last month. Rates still remain near historically low levels.
Freddie Mac posts $8.6B profit in 4Q
WASHINGTON (AP) - Mortgage giant Freddie Mac posted net income of $8.6 billion for the October through December period, its ninth straight profitable quarter. Earnings were boosted by the continued rise in home prices, which reduced the amounts the company had to set aside to cover losses on mortgages.
Oscar horse race to be a photo finish
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Many of the winners who will take home an Oscar on Sunday have long been forecast, their triumph made seemingly self-evident after months of anticipation. That is, except for one little category: best picture.
ND home prices soar with oil boom
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota's oil boom isn't just driving up housing prices at the epicenter. Getting a roof overhead is getting more expensive throughout the state, with the average value of a home sold last year topping $200,000 - up more than 20 percent from 2011, a real estate trade group says.
Builder confidence sinks in February
NMEW YORK (AP) - U.S. homebuilders' confidence in the housing market declined sharply this month as the severe weather battering much of the nation keeps many would-be buyers at home.
Put your decorating fears to bed by employing the latest color trends
The bedroom is an oasis. It's the place where you wake up, energized and ready to start the day, as well as where you slip away and unwind from the day's activities. This is the one room that is truly yours, so make sure it's a reflection of your personality.
Put your decorating fears to bed by employing the latest color trends
The bedroom is an oasis. It's the place where you wake up, energized and ready to start the day, as well as where you slip away and unwind from the day's activities. This is the one room that is truly yours, so make sure it's a reflection of your personality.
4 quick color tips to awaken your home
While many resolutions are based on eating healthier and exercising more, homes rarely receive the same promise of improvement. This year, resolve to give your home some attention by committing to a new coat of paint. Painting can be a quick and cost-effective way to refresh your home, so consider updating several spaces for a clean start.
Storms put chill on new housing starts
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home construction fell in January for a second month but the weakness in both months reflected severe winter weather in many parts of the country. The expectation is that housing will deliver another year of solid gains, helped by an improving economy.
Average 30-year loan rate up to 4.33 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained near historically low levels.
Prepping sun-friendly skylights
When spring finally arrives, windows and skylights across the country will open, as happy homeowners revel in all that sunshine and warm, fresh air. But before you can savor spring, you still have weeks of winter to get through. You can use that time wisely to ensure all your home's windows, skylights and doors are in good working order - and ready for action when spring arrives.
Fewer homes repossessed during January
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lenders repossessed fewer U.S. homes in January, bringing the number of completed foreclosures down to the lowest level in more than six years.
Few homes on market; California sales lower
SAN DIEGO (AP) - California homes sales dropped sharply in January due to a seasonal slump and a lack of affordable homes on the market, a research firm reported Thursday.
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