This post originally appeared on Money Talks News. Unless you have a lot of free time, or don’t care about getting the best deal, real estate agents are a necessary part of buying or selling a house. They know the industry in and out and make the task a lot easier for you. But, as with any special… Read More

Property values have come roaring back. Many can now refinance their loans by virtue of having additional home equity. And increased property values can also put homeowners in a better financial position to sell their home without entering short sale territory. But the fact remains: Everyone wants to attain maximum value for their real estate and home… Read More

The housing market has made considerable steps toward recovery in the last several months, and that has led to higher prices thanks to increased buyer interest and a constrained inventory. However, for the time being, it looks like shoppers are willing to pay slightly more for residences. Today, more than two-thirds of prospective homebuyers say… Read More

It’s a good time to be an aspiring property baron. Mortgage rates are still hovering near record lows. And, for most parts of the country, it’s cheaper to purchase than rent, which means you can buy low and rent high. (Curious to see if your region is a hot rental market? Check out our map of… Read More

The housing market recovery is showing signs of getting stronger, as many markets nationwide have had significant home price gains in the last year or so. That trend is expected to continue through the end of this year. The national average home price is expected to increase some 2.5 percent between the end of 2012… Read More

Are you in the process of selling your home? Could you use some help selling it for more — without breaking your budget? You’re in luck! Here are a few tips to help you move your home off the market faster and sell for more so you can move on to the next home of… Read More

The amount of mortgage fraud now being carried out across the country is on the rise, as criminals use a larger number of different methods to deceive industry professionals. The risk of fraudulent home loan filings increased some 16 percent during the final three months of last year when compared with the period from July to September, according to the latest Mortgage Fraud Risk Report… Read More

In the wake of the recent recession, many banks significantly reined in the availability of credit to protect themselves from the wave of defaults that were plaguing consumers and businesses nationwide. But since the downturn ended, credit has remained tight for companies and individuals alike, and could now be curtailing growth in the housing market. National… Read More

The value of properties across the country has been on the rise for more than a year, and that trend continued in the first month of 2013. The average value of homes nationwide ticked up slightly between December and January, rising 0.7 percent to a total of $158,100, according to the latest Real Estate Market… Read More

The national housing market has improved considerably over the past year, but those steps forward appear to have stalled a little in the first month of 2013. While improvements on a semi-annual and yearly basis were still strong, there was no improvement in home prices across the country between December and January, according to the… Read More