News

monkeybusinessimages | Getty There are signs that the housing market is swinging to favor buyers. However, renewed worries about the economy are holding some buyers back. On the upside for homebuyers, home price growth has slowed and mortgage rates have retreated from recent peaks. The median sale price for homes was $375,475 in the four

A sign is posted in front of a home for sale in San Rafael, California, on Aug. 7, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Mortgage rates dipped slightly last week, but so did mortgage demand, as housing affordability continues to sideline potential buyers. Total mortgage application volume fell 6.6% for the week, according to the

In this article FMCC FNMA Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two pillars of the U.S. mortgage market, are currently controlled by the federal government. Some in Washington, D.C. expect President Trump to push for the end of their conservatorship. “We have a mortgage finance system that works really well

It’s still too soon to fully calculate the cost of the Los Angeles wildfires, but one thing is clear: The cost of insurance will go up, and that will affect not just the value of LA real estate but of real estate across the nation. The losses from those wildfires may seem unimaginable now, but

Martin Barraud | Ojo Images | Getty Images As U.S. home equity climbs, owners are more likely to face capital gains taxes from selling property. But a lesser-known tax strategy could help shrink your bill, experts say. When selling your main home, there’s a special tax break that shields up to $250,000 of profits for

Sentiment among the nation’s single-family homebuilders dropped to the lowest level in five months in February, largely due to concern over tariffs, which would raise their costs significantly. The National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index (HMI) dropped a sharp 5 points from January to a reading of 42. Anything below 50 is considered

It can cost on average of $2,050 to live in Tokyo for a month as a single person, according to Numbeo’s data. Jackyenjoyphotography | Moment | Getty Images Moving to a major city often comes with big benefits and opportunities, but it’s important to figure out if it makes sense financially before taking the leap.

Patchogue, N.Y.: A For Sale sign hangs in front of a house in Patchogue, New York, on June 1, 2024. Steve Pfost | Newsday | Getty Images Mortgage rates moved slightly lower again last week, keeping refinance demand on the rise. Applications to refinance a home loan jumped 10% compared with the previous week and

People walk by a sign for Freddie Mac headquarters on July 14, 2008 in McLean, Virginia. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images) Paul J. Richards | Afp | Getty Images Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — the two giant mortgage finance firms controlled by the federal government

The city of New Orleans is still rebuilding and repairing homes that were damaged in the fallout from 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The storm flooded hundreds of thousands of homes in New Orleans, killed over 1,800 people and displaced millions. It remains the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history, with an estimated $201.3 billion in associated

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images Renters should reap the benefits of a lower-cost rental market while they can. It might not last, experts say.  As of December, the median asking rent price in the U.S. was $1,695, down 0.5% — or $8 — from November, according to a report by Realtor.com. The latest rent price

A Ferrari-inspired mansion known as Casa Maranello in Delray Beach, Florida, shattered a local record last week when it traded for $50.5 million. Not only was the megadeal the biggest the area has ever seen, but it was also one of the most unusual: The sale included a mansion swap, bespoke furniture, elaborate chandeliers, art,

Homebuyers are seeing very little reason to get a jump on the all-important spring housing market, even with more listings coming up for sale. Mortgage rates haven’t moved much in the last few weeks, and home prices continue to rise. Mortgage applications to purchase a home last week dropped 4%, compared with the previous week,

The U.S. housing market was already struggling under the weight of high mortgage interest rates, a low supply of existing homes for sale and historically high home prices. Now tariffs on building materials are adding even more pressure. Roughly 30% of softwood lumber consumed in the U.S. is imported, largely from Canada. Wallboard, known as