From: money.cnn.com By: Lee Christie NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The Obama administration on Wednesday detailed its latest plan to help millions of homeowners refinance their mortgages to today’s historically-low rates. The plan, which requires approval by Congress, would allow borrowers who are current on their mortgage to save an average of $3,000 a year by...

In his election-year State of the Union address, President Obama set forth a long list of domestic economic proposals, many of which centered on jobs and changing the tax code....

12 Mortgage Tips For 2012 Tip #1. Study your credit Good credit is the key to snagging a mortgage in this tight lending environment. Get copies of your credit scores and credit history from the three main credit-reporting bureaus. Study the reports carefully to make sure there are no errors or issues to resolve before...

Article From: www.cbsnews.com By: Ilyce Glink Ever since the housing market collapsed five years ago, buyers, sellers and investors have been climbing their way out of the rubble. Things have improved a little, but it’s clear we’re not there yet. Even so, there are signs of hope. Existing home sales are up by a large margin...

Article From: www.money.cnn.com By: Tami Luhby NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Federal officials hope to launch a pilot program in early 2012 to convert government-owned foreclosures into rental properties. The program, which was cited by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last week as one way to address the housing crisis, would sell foreclosed homes now owned...

Article From: www.inman.com By: Tara Nicholle-Nelson Q: We bought a house this year! We put $33,000 down and the bank financed $28,000. Can I write this off on my 2011 taxes? How much of it? A: First things first: Congratulations! You’ve become a homeowner, and seem to have done so using an enviable financial arrangement....

Article From: US News (via: finance.yahoo.com) By: Meg Handley It’s been a pretty long ride down from the meteoric highs the housing market hit in the boom years. Who knew more than five years later, Americans would still be trying to shake off the one of the worst financial hangovers the country has ever known. Millions of...

1. Price it right from the get-go The old-school strategy of real estate sellers crossing their arms and holding out for a better offer will be brushed off by most homebuyers. Consider that of the homes that took four months or more to sell in the past year, almost half of their owners accepted less...

From www.costar.com By Mark Heschmeyer The commercial real estate world this year will look a lot like it did in 2011, according to CoStar newsreaders. During the last few weeks of the year, we asked readers to give us your boldest, best predictions that you could take to Las Vegas and put money on. Based on that...

Article from: Rismedia.com By: Alan Shifran In recent years, it has been hard to ignore all of the negative publicity that has been circulating about the national economy, the stock market and current events. The state of the real estate market in particular has received a lot of bad press. With all of the foreclosures...