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Recently, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its first NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), a new economic index revealing metropolitan areas that have shown improvement for at least six months in three key economic areas—housing permits, employment and housing prices.

Freddie Mac's (OTC: FMCC) full menu of relief policies for borrowers affected by disaster is being extended to homeowners whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irene and are located in counties that the President has declared to be Major

Regional Spotlight—(MCT)—When it comes to housing, baby boomers are different from many people in two important ways: they have more equity in their homes, and many are preparing to move.

What do you do when the appraisal on the dream home you want to buy comes in below the price in the offer the seller has accepted—even as much as 10 to 20 percent below? Chances are that raising the cash for your down payment and closing cost has tapped you out. Finding thousands more to make up the difference between the appraised value and the contracted amount is out of the question. You’re not the only buyer who has hit the low appraisal snag. This past June and July, 16 percent of real estate pros reported a cancelation in a sale, mostly due to a large number of low appraisals.

(MCT)—With mortgage interest rates hovering around 50-year lows, refinancing is an appealing prospect for many homeowners. I think this is especially true considering the stock market’s August gyrations. Taking nervous energy and using it to focus on

The number of consumers across the country who filed applications for new home loans recently fell considerably, as fewer borrowers sought to refinance their existing mortgages. Informa Research Services, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LSE: INF), suggests that consumers review online rate tables to find the best rates with which to refinance a current home loan.

The average home entering the foreclosure process today won’t house new owners until the next president has been inaugurated and in office for three months. New data from LPS shows that payments have not been made on the average loan in foreclosure in a record 599 days, or 20 months. Of the nearly 1.9 million loans that are 90 or more days delinquent but not yet in foreclosure, 42 percent have not made a payment in more than a year with an average delinquency of 397 days—also a new record.

While certain tips like properly staging your space will help get your home sold no matter what the economic climate, picking a talented real estate agent is one of the most crucial assets in getting your home sold fast and for the right price.

Have you ever felt like you had reached a plateau and could go no higher? If so, you're not alone; many people sabotage their own success. In my work as a real estate business coach for the past 15+ years, I have had many people present a similar question: "Why can't I be more successful? Why do I stop myself? I feel like I am my own worst enemy."

If you’re on the verge of losing your home, or you know someone who is, then you also know about the long, bureaucratic process involved in applying for a loan modification from a lender. The most common approach is to apply under the new Home Affordability Mortgage Program (HAMP), but lenders also accept modifications from mortgage holders because lenders really don’t want to take the house—they just want their money.

Regional Spotlight—Halstead Property Development Marketing and West 147th Associates LLC, the developers of PS90, a Harlem, New York-based school-turned-condo development, recently announced a new tuition incentive of $1,000 per unit for buyers who sign new contracts by September 30th. ...

The price tag for residential properties caused by flood damage from Hurricane Irene’s surges along the East Coast could total than $59 billion worth of flood-related damages to a total of 900,000 properties, and many—if not most—are not covered by flood insurance. Irene’s surges—the result of high winds and low pressure amassing water inside the storm and releasing it in a powerful rush over when the hurricane moves on-shore—reached ten feet or higher from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to New England this weekend. Properties located outside of designated FEMA hazard flood zones are not required to carry federal flood insurance, and the vast majority of owners in moderate to low risk areas do not carry flood insurance, which costs an average of $600 annually. Standard homeowners’ policies usually cover wind and hurricane damage, but not flood damage, even if it is caused by a hurricane.

In my column last month, I discussed a government proposal that could have significant impact on the future of the housing industry: the QRM, or Qualified Residential Mortgage, as part of the Dodd-Frank Act. According to the proposed QRM definition, lenders must hold 5% of the risk of any given residential loan unless it is considered a QRM, which is a loan that has a 20% downpayment and meets other debt-to-income and borrower credit history requirements.

A slow economy combined with stricter lending regulations has caused a surplus of homes in the housing market. With many homes sitting on the market for an extended period of time, it is difficult to get your listing noticed. How can you highlight the best features

Regional Spotlight—(MCT)—Andrew Wells is hoping to buy a Baltimore home for around the cost of an old car: Less than $10,000. Turns out he's in good company.