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Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. Released yesterday, the RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions rose to 48.4 from 43.0 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business was also positive, increasing to 44.8 from 40.4 in the previous quarter.

In his recent State of the Union speech, President Obama announced he will push for legislation that will significantly expand the newly revised HARP program that allows underwater homeowners to refinance at today’s historically low rates.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends President Obama for offering proposals in the recent State of the Union address to help families stay in their homes and stanch foreclosures, and is urging policymakers to take additional actions to mend the housing market and boost the economy. “President Obama’s refinancing plan offers an opportunity for continued exploration of ways to aid struggling home owners and tackle the foreclosure crisis,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “We look forward to working with the White House and Congress to tackle this issue and continue to make progress on foreclosures that are hampering the housing market.”

The end of 2011 brought good news on the nation's economic front, with unemployment in December falling to its lowest level in three years and the economy adding 200,000 jobs during the same month. Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of RE/MAX, said that the country's improving economic fortunes bode well for the residential real estate market in 2012. Based on the recovering economy, the leader of RE/MAX recently predicted a continued rebound in the nation's housing market this year.

HouseLogic.com, a comprehensive website about all aspects of homeownership from the National Association of REALTORS®, has launched a new online sweepstakes. Readers who leave comments on a blog featured at the site will have a chance to win

If being connected 24/7 was supposed to make our lives easier, the business world didn’t get the memo. Most American professionals just can’t shake the end-of-the-day feeling that they didn’t get enough done. So day after day, they find themselves responding to work e-mail on their smartphones right up until their head hits the pillow. Sound familiar? There is good news, says Jason Womack: By implementing a few small changes, you can get more done in less time—which not only staves off burnout, but leaves more time for doing what you love.

In another sign that investors are more important to residential real estate markets than ever, nearly one out of three home sales in December went to buyers who paid all cash.

A caller from Manhattan talks about the complete turnaround that Harlem has experienced over the past 10 years. Now he wants to find the next city poised for gentrification. Is Detroit the next turnout city? Greg Rand (@gsrand), CEO of OwnAmerica (www.OwnAmerica.com), answers his question. ...

Regional Spotlight—Miami home sales set a new record in 2011, exceeding transaction levels during the height of the real estate boom in 2005, according to the 26,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service (SEFMLS). Total 2011 sales, including both condominiums and single-family homes, in Miami-Dade County were 24,929, up four percent from the 24,025 in 2005 and 46 percent from 17,068 in 2010.

While 2011 was clearly a challenging year, there is a lot to be positive about looking ahead. Economically, while buffeted by natural disasters and fiscal policy indecisiveness at home and a European sovereign debt crisis abroad, the U.S. economy was able to stave off economic stagnation in 2011 and is likely to continue to do so in 2012. Housing statistics and the duration of the housing downturn to date indicate that 2012 may be the year we begin to turn the corner. In the summer of 2011, economic concerns peaked as the economy appeared to be on the brink of stagnation.

Recently, Acting Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Carol J. Galante announced the latest in a series of steps to protect and strengthen the FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission

Don’t blame the real estate appraiser if it turns out that house you’re trying to sell or buy isn’t worth what you thought it was. That was the message delivered recently by the Appraisal Institute, one of the nation’s largest professional associations of real estate appraisers. “The fact is that appraisers are undertaking the same thorough research and thoughtful analysis that they always have in order to continue producing reliable, credible opinions of value,” said Appraisal Institute President Sara W. Stephens. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

"Cautiously optimistic" might be the best description of the feelings of members of Midwest Real Estate Data's Board of Managers for the upcoming year in real estate. Most think we may have "hit bottom" in the difficult last few years and that 2012 will be a year of improvement

According to the monthly RE/MAX housing report, December home sales did not follow the seasonal trend but rose an unexpected 5.7 percent from sales in November. Sales were also up 1.1 percent from December 2010, the 6th consecutive month to show a year-over-year sales increase.

More Americans are paying more of their health care costs out of pocket every year because they lack insurance, have higher deductibles and co-payments, or have chosen a Health Savings Account plan. There are ways they can save money without jeopardizing their health and there are steps they should take to ensure they’re getting the best value for their dollars, says physician Angel M. Garcia, an internist who has been in practice for more than 25 years.