The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of contracts to buy homes signed each month. Because it tracks signings and not closings, the index is a good indicator of future sales of existing homes. In February, it was down 4.1 percent, marking the fourth consecutive …

In an interconnected world, events in other countries have an effect on our economy. That's certainly the case these days, according to Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group's latest monthly outlook. According to the group, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with existing supply-chain issues, has caused considerable downside …

Homeownership has its perks. Among them, it's a financial investment. When home prices rise, homeowners benefit. And last year, homeowners benefited in a big way. In fact, according to one new analysis, home values rose higher than the median income in 25 of 38 of the metropolitan areas included in …

Sales of previously owned homes fell in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales were down 7.2 percent from the month before and 2.4 percent from last year at the same time. There were a number of factors that likely contributed to the decline, including higher mortgage rates …

The housing market needs more homes. They are plenty of buyers but not enough houses for sale. That leads to higher prices and more competition for available listings. Fortunately, though, new home construction is expected to increase this year and, according to newly released numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau …

For the most part, homes are all the same. They all have a kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and a main living area. Those are givens. Aside from the number and size, those rooms aren't what get buyers excited, though. For home buyers, the things that really set a listing apart are …

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell last week for the first time in 12 weeks. Rates were down for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Joel Kan, MBA's associate …

You don't need to be an economist to understand supply and demand. It's a pretty simple concept. When supply is low and demand is high, prices rise. That's what's been happening in the housing market. Home prices have been increasing because a lot of people want to buy a house …

Figuring out how much your down payment will be and where it'll come from is a big part of getting ready to buy a house. Whether you're using money from the sale of your current home or saving from scratch, you have to have an idea of how much you'll …

When there are fewer homes available for sale, those that are on the market receive more interest. After all, it's easier to get buyers interested in your home, if there aren't many others to see. That's the case these days. Simply put, it's a good time for homeowners who want …