The latest residential construction statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for December 2011 show privately-owned housing starts posting a big year-over-year increase, rising by nearly 25 percent from December 2010 at an

After reaching positive territory for the first time in three months in November, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), one of the leading economic indicators of construction activity, has now scored two straight months of positive numbers, according to the most recent

The National Association of Home Builder’s Housing Market Index (HMI) rose four points in January to 25, the fourth consecutive month of gains and the highest level for the index in more than four years. Bob Nielsen, the chairman

Mortgage applications and refinancings exploded with activity last week, with the financial options increasing by 23.1 percent and 26.4 percent from the week before, respectively, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Refinancings continued to

We reported last week on rumors that the government is planning a bulk sale program for its REO properties, a long-awaited initiative that would unload the roughly 250,000 properties in several large-scale fire sales with investors, who would maintain the properties

The appraisal process is one that has received continuous coverage in media outlets, ours included, namely in how appraisals often result in lower home values than the deals brokered by agents – and which often cancels the sale. A

A new report from Fannie Mae predicts optimistic home sales data for 2012,with forecasts projecting in new home sales a rise of 10.4 percent and for existing-home sales an increase of 3.5 percent, or, 4.74 million units, for the

A column recently published in the Chicago Tribune has called attention to one of the more understated – and successful – tax provisions passed by Congress in the wake of the housing bust, and the dangers posed by its Dec.

We’ve officially entered the home price index season for the month, and it seems like every day a new index is released with vaguely similar findings on the state of the housing market. CoreLogic’s Home Price Index (HPI), though,

More Americans interviewed by Fannie Mae for its national housing survey are optimistic about their financial prospects and the housing market in the coming year. Most respondents believe home prices will edge up at least 0.8 percent over the

By Bill McBride Construction employment increased by 17 thousand jobs in December, and is now down 2.18 million jobs from the peak in April 2006. Total construction employment increased by 46 thousand jobs in 2011. This was the first

Recently named in the 60 Genius Brands to watch list, real estate search site Trulia.com has compiled data regarding its growth since its 2006 launch, and presented it graphically, showing strength particularly in Florida and California. On the graphs

What were the results of CoreLogic’s latest HPI? Is the government finally unveiling a plan for its REO inventory? And how many Keller Williams offices did Coldwell Banker acquire?  Here’s a quick rundown of stats from this week’s news (Jan. 9 –

A number of legislators in the House of Representatives are hoping that what worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will work at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Twenty-eight congressmen, led by Dennis Cardoza, a Democrat from California, have

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Wednesday released details on how its examiners will asses the inherent risk of subprime loans products offered by both private banks and mortgage lenders. Richard Cordray, the newly-appointed director of the CFPB, said in a

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) announced the addition of its eighth multiple listing service (MLS) along with the MRED web-based implementation of Fannie Mae’s Short Sale Assistance Desk (SSAD). MRED’s Division of Special Projects with Director Chris Lambrou as