The low supply of homes for sale has been the housing market's primary issue for years now. That's why an unexpectedly positive report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development is an encouraging sign for home buyers. The report shows the inventory of new …

For home buyers, affordability is always a top concern. That's why news of home price increases and rising mortgage rates has some buyers feeling hesitant about their home purchase plans. But while affordability conditions have certainly changed from last year, one new measure of monthly mortgage payments found they were …

New data from the National Association of Realtors shows sales of previously owned homes fell in May. Existing home sales were down 3.4 percent from the month before and 8.6 percent from one year earlier. The decline is evidence that the market is beginning to level off, after two years …

You can certainly buy a home without thinking about your budget, but it's not advisable. Without a clear understanding of what you'll be spending and where, you're more likely to get yourself into financial trouble. After all, what you can afford is often different than what you can afford comfortably. …

The standards lenders use to determine whether or not a borrower is approved for a mortgage aren't fixed. There are times when it's easier to qualify and times when it's more difficult. Because of this, the Mortgage Bankers Association tracks whether lending standards are loosening or tightening. Their monthly Mortgage …

The number of homes for sale has been lower than normal for years now. Home shoppers looking for a home to buy have had to compete over limited listings, which has led to bidding wars, rising prices, and frustration. But things may finally be changing. In fact, the number of …

Fannie Mae's monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index measures how Americans feel about the housing market and economy. It asks respondents whether they think it's a good time to buy or sell a house, whether they believe home prices and mortgage rates will rise or fall, and how they feel about …

Every homeowner with a home to sell wants to attract qualified buyers. After all, the more interest there is in your home, the more likely it is that you'll get a good offer. One way to measure interest is to pay attention to how many buyers are scheduling showings to …

Calculating how much house you can afford can be difficult. Not only do you have to take your budget and lifestyle into account, you also have to keep up on changes in the housing market. That's particularly tricky these days. Quickly changing affordability conditions mean potential buyers have to regularly …

These days, it seems like most housing market forecasts are predicting home price increases will begin to slow at some point this year. Whether it's due to improving inventory levels as the number of homes for sale rises or from slower demand due to higher mortgage rates, most industry outlooks …