Over the past decade, housing market conditions have changed dramatically. The housing crash and subsequent price rebound have caused a shift from buyer's to seller's market. Add to that lower-than-normal mortgage rates and a lack of for-sale inventory and prospective home buyers could be forgiven for not knowing what …

Sales of previously owned homes rose 1.4 percent in October from the month before, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. The increase was the first in six months. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, said housing inventory is increasing and it's bringing buyers back to the market …

One good way of measuring where home prices are headed is to look at how many homes for sale have had to adjust their initial listing price. If there are a lot of homes in your area with price reductions, it could be a sign that the local market is …

Homeownership isn't a get rich quick scheme. So you shouldn't buy a house expecting its value to skyrocket and your wealth to instantly rise. The housing market will have its ups-and-downs and there are no guarantees. Which means, you probably shouldn't buy a house hoping it'll make you rich. And …

How much money you spend is dependent on how much money you have. This is a simple equation and one that explains the current housing market. That's because, though home prices and mortgage rates have gone up recently, home buyer demand remains high. And the most likely explanation for this …

At a glance, it might seem like home prices can only increase so much before they crash again. After all, they've largely recovered and are now at or above where they were just before they fell the last time. So doesn't that mean we're entering another housing bubble? Well, no. …

Typically, spring and summer are thought of as the prime times to buy or sell a home. There are a number of reasons for this, including weather and the end of the school year. But whatever the reason, there are usually more homes for sale and more active buyers during …

When an offer on a home has been accepted, that home's sale is considered pending. It isn't final until closing, which typically takes place a few weeks later. But, because most accepted offers result in completed sales, the National Association of Realtors tracks contract signings as an indicator of what …

Among all the factors that can help prospective home buyers get an idea of what a particular property will cost them, price is perhaps the easiest to gauge. Things like mortgage rates, potential maintenance and upkeep, property taxes, and insurance are all part of the equation but not as simple …

In order for a home to be considered truly green, there are six elements it needs to contain, according to the Appraisal Institute, a professional association of real estate appraisers. These include water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials, and operations and maintenance. Put simply, to retrofit a home …