The latest FNC Residential Price Index® (RPI) indicates that U.S. property values continued to recover through January—the 11th consecutive month of rising prices. Despite the uneven pace of price gains across different geographical markets, there are clear signs that the housing recovery is increasingly widespread. A limited housing supply and declining foreclosure sales are contributing to the recovery of underlying property values.

The new documentary Home exposes the decline and devastation of the foreclosure crisis in the west Phoenix neighborhood of Maryvale. Filmmaker Gail Buck, founder of the nonprofit Project Maryvale, a community activist and one of the state’s leading real estate brokers, tells the story of the suburb’s decline from an industry insider’s perspective as she shows how failed bank policies, favoritism toward cash investors and current housing remedies have, in fact, contributed to the community’s decay. The 50-minute film, which is being privately screened at Cinema Latino in Phoenix next week and by housing leaders around the country this month, characterizes the nation’s foreclosure crisis and traces the displacement of low-income families,

There’s an old business adage that says, “Hire slow and fire fast.” The new mantra seems to be “hire fast and fire fast.” I haven’t decided yet whether hiring cautiously or quickly is the right way to go—I’ve seen both work well—but I do believe that when you have a poor performer on your team, you need to move on...fast! Maintaining a business culture that focuses on and rewards the best-performing individuals is a great way to build a phenomenal business environment. Having a productive and fun workplace, where people are encouraged to innovate and create great processes, systems and marketing ideas, is often the difference between a stress-free and productive office and one filled with pressure and conflict.

Tavern Island: Connecticut’s Secluded Sanctuary There is perhaps no greater space than one’s own private island retreat. Listed in October 2012 for $12.9 million by Doug Werner, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Darien, Conn., Tavern Island in Rowayton, Conn., is a dream. With a total lot of 3.5 acres (not including an additional 0.46 on the mainland), the main abode is a 1902, recently renovated Tudor-style home, clocking in at 6,116 square feet, six bedrooms, four baths, three half-baths, and endless ocean views from literally every room.

The American Securitization Forum has detailed possible ways regulators could merge mortgage-backed securities offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to close the pricing gap between the two. The market discounts Freddie securities on the belief these bonds prepay faster because of differences in underwriting and other guidelines. The government-sponsored enterprises always held smaller market share compared to its twin Fannie,

The housing recovery is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent through the third quarter of this year, then gain momentum and prices are projected to grow 3.7 percent between the third quarters of 2013 and 2014 until settling down to 3.3 percent annual increases over the next three years according to Fiserv, a financial services technology provider using data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Both home prices and home sales volumes increased steadily last year, making 2012 the first positive year for both prices and sales since the housing market crash, excluding gains induced by the home buyer tax credits in 2009

The most significant innovation to hit the residential real estate market in decades occurred in 2012 to little fanfare: A first single family REIT (real estate investment trust) went public. For the first time in history, everyday people

Homeowners looking for the most return on their investment when it comes to remodeling should consider exterior replacement projects. According to the 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects. “REALTORS® know that curb appeal projects offer great bang for your buck, because a home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see,”

Many in the housing industry are wondering not only what today’s home buyers really want, but also what they are ready to leave behind in light of current economic realities. A new study recently released by NAHB, What Home Buyers Really Want, was designed to answer these questions, and more specifically, to provide the most current and accurate information on buyer preferences so that NAHB members can deliver the home (and community) that today’s buyers want and are willing to pay for. So what do home buyers really want? The first answer is energy efficiency. Four of the top most wanted features involve saving energy: 94 percent of home buyers want energy-star

Data through December 2012, released this week by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, showed that all three headline composites ended the year with strong gains. The national composite posted an increase of 7.3 percent for 2012. The 10- and 20-City Composites reported annual returns of 5.9 percent and 6.8 percent in 2012. Month over- month, both the 10- and 20-City Composites moved into positive territory with gains of 0.2%; more than reversing last month’s losses. In addition to the three composites, nineteen of the 20 MSAs posted positive year-over-year growth – only New York fell.

Existing-home sales edged up in January, while a seller's market is developing and home prices continue to rise steadily above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Sales rose in every region but the West, which is the region most constrained by limited inventory. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 0.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million in January from a downwardly revised 4.90 million in December,

Although the economy seems to be transitioning to a slightly stronger growth path, unresolved fiscal policy decisions pose significant headwinds in early 2013, according to Fannie Mae's Economic & Strategic Research Group. Increased taxes and reduced government spending will keep growth at a subdued pace in the first half of the year before activity picks up in the second half. Net exports also are expected to create a drag as Europe remains in recession and U.S. export growth tries to bounce back from a slowdown in late 2012. On the more positive side, the improving performance of the housing market is expected to continue through 2013. Boosted by strengthening home prices,

Though home foreclosures continue to be a challenge in many hard-hit markets, a report released this week by mortgage technology company FNC indicates the ongoing housing recovery should continue for the long haul. According to FNC’s Foreclosure Market Report, foreclosure prices have bottomed out in recent months and the foreclosure market has stabilized while underlying home values are rising. Foreclosure prices are at a 10-year low (when the sizes of foreclosed homes are factored in). This trend of a rising underlying market accompanied by stabilizing foreclosure prices is the first encouraging development in the housing recession, according to FNC Senior Research Economist, Dr. Yanling Mayer.

Regional Spotlight-- Median home-sale price continues to grow by double-digits in the Bay Area of California, but with such a shortage of inventory and fewer new listings, there soon may be nothing left to buy. Year-over-year single family inventory continues its drop from January 2012 levels. Santa Clara County and San Mateo Counties were down more than 50 percent compared to the same month last year, for the second month in a row, with other counties falling only slightly less. Sales were mixed in January; San Mateo County was up 5 percent, Santa Cruz County remained flat, and Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey sales dipped moderately.

(MCT)—In the depth of the recession, homebuilders stopped building. Sales offices closed. Buyers vanished. Developers mothballed housing projects. But as the housing industry reeled from a global economic meltdown, Irvine, Calif.-based Standard Pacific Homes began to invest in the next housing boom. By late 2009, the company had begun to buy land.