Housing Market, Real Estate | featured news

U.S. home prices fell by 0.5% in March as compared to February, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. The index measures average home prices in 20 major US cities. On a positive note, prices were up 2.3% versus March of 2009.

Home sales surpassed expectations for April as government incentives provided a temporary boost to the housing market.

A dubious distinction was reached during the first three months of 2010: More than 10% of all borrowers are now behind on their mortgage payments.

In an unstable market, appraising properties becomes especially tricky.

Home prices rose in nearly 60 percent of U.S. cities in the first quarter of this year, as the housing market started to stabilize thanks to billions of dollars in federal spending.

Foreclosure activity fell in 14 of the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas in the first quarter compared with a year earlier, even though total U.S. foreclosures rose, RealtyTrac said on Thursday.

Prospective home buyers tend to focus on a single number: the listed sale price. It's why they're often blindsided by the array of costs that come with buying a home.

Better weather and government incentives help March sales rebound from record low.

The transfer, a record sum, was the result of the central bank’s actions to support the fragile housing market.

U.S. housing starts rose more than expected in March to their highest level since November 2008 and permits to build new homes scaled a 17- month high.