The National Association of Realtors® thanked Congress for speedy action in passing a congressional resolution yesterday that would extend the current higher Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA loan limits through 2010. The present loan limits would expire at the end of 2009 and revert to previous … [Read more...]

Lenders commonly check with 3 credit bureaus to assess your payment histories. In cleaning up your credit, you should do so with each of the three credit bureaus. Cleaning up just ones does not affect the reporting to the others.  Ask for a Free Copy of Your Credit Report First you must … [Read more...]

Existing-home sales bounced back strongly in September with first-time buyers driving much of the activity, marking five gains in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Existing-home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - jumped … [Read more...]

What's Next for Interest Rates? The economy has continued to show signs of gradual but consistent improvement over the past month, while the Federal Reserve has pledged to keep its target rate at zero to 0.25 percent for the next six weeks. As the mortgage market's slow season begins, interest … [Read more...]

Consumers are just starting to see the first glimmers of a bright future for the housing market and the overall economy. It's up to Congress to make that glimmer a reality by building on the momentum created by the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. One of the key ways to do that is for Congress to … [Read more...]

Make an Offer with the Listing Agent or Not? Suppose you see a property that you really like and don't have an agent your working with yet. Should you make an offer with the listing agent? Most real estate deals have two agents included. The listing agent promotes the house and represents the … [Read more...]

Making the current FHA loan limits permanent would ensure liquidity in the housing market and make mortgages more affordable for qualified buyers at a time when the market is showing signs of a fragile recovery, the National Association of Realtors® testified to the House Subcommittee on Housing … [Read more...]

Homeowners insurance is needed because a home is a big investment, often one of the largest purchases most people make in a lifetime. People want to protect the value of their precious property. Homeowners insurance is a contract between a homeowner and an insurance company. As long as the owner … [Read more...]

Making the current FHA loan limits permanent would ensure liquidity in the housing market and make mortgages more affordable for qualified buyers at a time when the market is showing signs of a fragile recovery, the National Association of Realtors® testified to the House Subcommittee on Housing … [Read more...]

The best available tool for sustaining the still-fragile housing market is the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit, and it is essential that Congress extend the credit into 2010, the National Association of Realtors® testified at a hearing of the U.S. House Small Business Committee today. The tax credit … [Read more...]