After falling for three months, the pace of existing-home sales rose in December, pushing 2013’s tally to the highest level in seven years, according to data from the National Association of Realtors . For 2013 sales hit 5.09 million, the most since 2006, and up 9.1% from the prior year. “The data are consistent with…
Once their grown children had moved away from the family home, John Goodman, 65, and his wife, Donna, realized they were ready to move on as well. “We had an old 1940s, beautiful home, but we just didn’t need it anymore, and we didn’t need the taxes and the maintenance that went with it,” says…
Home prices in the 20 biggest cities rose 2.4 percent from April to May, according to the monthly S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, with a 2 percent monthly gain in the Washington market. Compared with May 2012, prices in those same 20 cities rose an average of 12.2 percent, nearly double the 6.5 percent annual gain…
U.S. 30-year mortgage rates fell to the lowest in three weeks, reducing borrowing costs for homebuyers as the residential-property market strengthens. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 4.31 percent in the week ended today from 4.37 percent, McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac said in a statement. The average 15-year rate slipped to…