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CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a provider of information, analytics and business services, recently released its first-ever Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis, detailing the record-breaking natural disasters that struck the United States in 2011. The report provides an analysis of significant hurricane, wildfire, tornado, flood and earthquake events, as well as a summary of potential risk in 2012 and the implications of unexpected changes in natural hazard frequency, intensity and geographic patterns.

Finding a new place to live just became easier for consumers who can now browse apartments on their smartphones, according to Apartment Finder (ApartmentFinder.com), which recently launched an additional mobile tool—a free Android App to make looking through photos, maps, and more

Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nevada, recently issued the following statement on a congressional plan to raise fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and use them to help pay for an extension of this year’s payroll tax cut through 2012: “Congress is essentially proposing to raise taxes on millions of potential home buyers in order to pay for a payroll tax cut and other non-housing legislative initiatives. With the housing market struggling to regain its footing, such a short-sighted move would be extremely counterproductive and threaten the fragile economic recovery.

Editor's Note: The below article, which originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Real Estate magazine, features updated information regarding the National Flood Insurance Program. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) is a leading advocate regarding federal legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry and homeowners. NAR’s efforts drove these accomplishments in 2011:

The UFA Default Risk Index for the fourth quarter of 2011 edged lower to 131 from last quarter’s revised 133, which suggests that residential mortgage default and prepayment risks are continuing their return to normalcy. According to the latest UFA Mortgage Report by University Financial Associates of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the stage is set for a recovery in the housing market. Under current economic conditions, investors and lenders should expect defaults on loans currently being originated to be only 31 percent higher than the average of loans originated in the 1990s, due solely to the local and national economic environment.

Purchasing a home, especially if it is your first time, can be an extremely stressful and complicated process. It is easy to get overwhelmed by your choices and the many steps it takes to get the deal closed and the keys in your hands. 1. Get organized. Before you start your search make a list of "must-haves" for your ideal future home. Try not to go overboard but include attributes that aren't negotiable, like the number of bedrooms and school district you want access to.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently released the November edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard—a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market. Included in this month’s report are detailed assessments for the 10 largest mortgage servicers participating in the Making Home Affordable Program with results from the third quarter of 2011. In addition to providing greater transparency about servicer performance in the program, the servicer assessments—first introduced in June 2011 and published quarterly—are intended to set a new industry benchmark for disclosure around servicer efforts to assist struggling homeowners, while prompting them to correct identified deficiencies.

Residential real estate is not rocket science. We know that this housing crisis is: 1. Explainable – bad lending, mad speculation, wild expectations, government meddling 2. Isolated – bad mortgages, negative equity, strategic default, government meddling 3. Temporary – demand for housing always catches up to supply eventually

Home prices have declined over the past three months and now trail last year by 3.9 percent, according to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Index.

There’s no place like home for the holidays, and a new consumer survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC confirmed that the majority of Americans wouldn’t have it any other way.

The holidays are fast approaching. Regardless of what denomination you are- the next couple of months are probably going to be more hectic than most as you prepare to conclude 2011 with friends and family. If your home is on the market, this time of year is also particularly tricky. Fortunately there is great advice for those of you looking to get your home sold during the holiday season (And it doesn't include taking your house off the market). Regardless of the time of year, most home stagers will advise a seller to remove as many personal items and decorations as possible, "Less is more." This includes photos, trophies, and even your son's gallery of refrigerator artwork. To you this might make your home feel cold and impersonal, but it allows a potential buyer to envision themselves living in your house—thus upping your odds of making the sale.

The Alliance to Save Energy urges American consumers to give themselves the gift of energy efficiency this holiday season—and reap the benefits when they file their 2011 federal tax returns—by taking advantage of tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements.

According to a recent report by eMarketer, one form of social media leads all others when it comes to small business marketing, and that includes exposure for corporate videos. Citing a survey by Constant Contact, the report revealed that Facebook led the pack, with 83% of respondents saying it was moderately effective or better in producing results. Twitter came in a distant second, at 46%.

This year’s holiday season is primed to be the most mobile yet and this is a trend that is sure to continue for years to come. As tradition has it, the Monday after Thanksgiving is normally referred to as ‘Cyber Monday’ because that’s when all the online retailers release the deal gates. However, this year, with an overwhelming amount of people going online from their mobile devices we may soon need to rethink the name; perhaps ‘Mobile Monday’ (I like it).

If you’re a parent, you can relate to the kids in the back seat constantly asking, “Are we there yet?” Invariably, the answer is, “No, not yet.” This time-honored exchange is probably not too different from how people feel about the U.S. real estate market and its slow recovery. One day a high-profile report says real estate continues languishing, and then another report shows that home sales are on the rise. Where are we? Are we there yet? I feel that U.S. real estate markets are heading in the right direction but at an agonizing pace. Getting back to the car ride analogy, we in real estate are traveling at about 15 mph. At that speed, the scenery doesn’t change much and, since we’re all used to traveling faster, we’re growing impatient.