Category Archives: Real Estate News

McMansions Return: Big Houses Are Coming Back

The average size of a newly built home increased 3.7 percent in 2011 from 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That was the first annual increase since 2007 and indicates that home builders are seeing demand for larger spaces. … Continue reading

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Housing Recovers, but the Repo Man Is Back

Foreclosures continue to ease in the formerly hard hit states, like California, Arizona and Nevada, as investor demand continues to prop up home prices and clear distress from those markets. Newly started foreclosures fell 63 percent from a year ago … Continue reading

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Best US Housing Markets for Buyers and Sellers

“Much of that strength is driven by investor interest, as many distressed and non-distressed homes are purchased and transformed into rentals,” says Stan Humphries, Zillow’s chief economist, in the report. “This investor activity is contributing to very low inventory levels, … Continue reading

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Housing’s Recovery Means Fewer Can Afford Homes

Rising home prices are not the only factors hitting home affordability. Fees charged to lenders by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (known as “guarantee fees” for bundling and selling mortgages) began rising dramatically in the past month and are now … Continue reading

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Attention Mortgage Shoppers, Could Walmart Be Next?

They also want better service and transparency. Although most respondents to the survey showed satisfaction with primary banks (81 percent), many expressed frustration that could push them to find a lending alternative. Top on the list of gripes: “slow execution.” … Continue reading

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