There are a lot of factors that play a role in the health of the housing market. For example, in order to have an accurate view of where the market is, you have to have an idea about where mortgage rates and prices are headed, how many new homes are …

When shopping for something, having more to choose from is generally a good thing. And, when the thing you're shopping for is a house, that's especially true. That's because, in addition to giving buyers options, more homes for sale typically helps keep prices in check. When there are …

Paying rent each month can make it difficult to save money for a down payment. But, according to new research, renters who hope to one day buy a home may be finding it a little bit easier. That's because, though rent is up about 3 percent from last year, it …

The real estate market is typically slower in the fall and winter. So, it's not that surprising to see homes for sale are staying on the market longer than they were a few months ago. But according to the National Association of Realtors' most recent existing home sales report, not …

The end of the year is typically the time when experts and prognosticators make predictions for the year ahead. And while it's not easy to see into the future, year-end forecasts can give us an idea of which scenarios are likely to play out. Take Fannie Mae's most recent forecast …

There's a fairly common misconception among prospective home buyers that they'll need a 20 percent down payment before they can buy a house. This, of course, isn't true. It's recommended since it'll help you avoid paying mortgage insurance, reduce your monthly payment, and get you a lower mortgage rate …

When mortgage rates started to trend upward earlier this year, a lot of the focus turned to how it would affect first-time home buyers. Because they have their own unique set of challenges, first-time buyers were expected to be hit harder by increasing rates. However, new numbers from Ellie Mae's …

For a while now, there's been a balance between the feeling that buying a home is becoming less affordable and the perception that the economy is getting stronger. Americans are concerned about rising home prices and mortgage rates but, at the same time, they're also seeing more job opportunities and …

There's a lot to consider when shopping for a house to buy. Not only do you have to think about the type of home you'd like and what features and amenities you'd like it to have but you'll also have to select a neighborhood that fits well with your lifestyle …

Home prices have been increasing for a while. Driven by high buyer demand and a lower-than-normal number of homes for sale, values have been on the rise. But, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the rate of home price increases is now starting to slow. In …