January home sales in Southern California inched higher while prices fell — a trend occuring in other parts of the U.S. across the nation — as traditional buyers retreated and investors snapped up homes at a record level. More than 14,523 new and resale houses and condos sold in January in the six counties that comprise Southern California, according to DataQuick. The figure held steady from a year earlier when home sales totaled...

Housing affordability conditions improved in most metropolitan areas from softer existing-home prices and record-low mortgage interest rates in the fourth quarter, with rising sales and lower inventory creating more balanced conditions, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of REALTORS®. Introduced with this release is a new annual metro-level housing affordability index, with historically favorable...

Representing Buyers and Sellers in the Greater Nashville area, I have relationships with lenders, inspectors, builders, and appraisers to help make your real estate transaction a pleasure from start to finish. Real estate transactions can be confusing and frustrating. When you work with me, you can rest assured that I will not only handle the details, but make sure your interests are protected. Whether you’re a first time homebuyer,...

Homebuilder confidence in the single-family homes segment jumped for the fifth consecutive month in February, reaching a four-year high, an industry trade group said Wednesday. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index, which measures homebuilders general view of the market, rose to a score of 29. While that score is up from 25 the previous month, it is still far below 50, which generally indicates more...

Mortgage applications declined 1% in the past week on fewer home purchases, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday. The trade group’s market composite index shows the loan application volume falling for the week ended Feb. 10 as the seasonally adjusted purchase index declined 8.4% from the previous week. The refinance index rose 0.8% and refinancings represented 81.1% of all home loan applications. The average loan size rose...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seeks industry feedback on a prototype monthly mortgage statement that aims to provide borrowers with more detailed information about their home loans. Under the sweeping reforms of the Dodd-Frank Act, mortgage statements must contain information about the creditor, loan assignee and mortgage servicer. In addition, the new law stipulates mortgage statements should provide borrowers with information...