Freddie Mac reports a decline in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 5.78 percent during the week ended Sept. 18 from 5.93 percent the prior week, marking the lowest level in seven months.
During the same period, the 15-year mortgage rate dropped to 5.35 percent from 5.54 percent.
Meanwhile, interest on five-year adjustable mortgages slipped to 5.67 [...]

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Calif. median home price - July 08: $350.760
Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region July 08: Santa Barbara So. Coast $940,000 
Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region July 08: High Desert $177,330 
Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Second Quarter 08: 48 percent
(Source: C.A.R.)  
Mortgage rates - week ending 08/21/08 30-yr. fixed: [...]

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Sales of new, single-family homes rose 2.4 percent in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 515,000 units, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development released Tuesday.
The uptick represents a modest increase from June figures at 503,000, but sales still remain roughly 35.3 percent [...]

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Consumer sentiment rose to 56.9 in August, up from 51.9 in July, according to The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index™ released Tuesday, indicating a slow shift toward an economic recovery, albeit one that analysts predict will likely take until well into next year to fully materialize.
"Consumer confidence readings suggest that the economy remains stuck in [...]

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Home sales increased 43.4 percent in July in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 40.3 percent, C.A.R. reported Monday.
"Sales improved significantly in July 2008 and remained above the 400,000 level for the third consecutive month," said C.A.R. President William E. Brown. "Deeply-discounted, distressed [...]

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Inheriting property can be exceedingly confusing for the heirs, particularly if they plan to sell the property. While getting expert legal advice is the best approach for the person who has inherited property, here is some basic information that can help a real estate professional better understand the situation.
Every state has a legal process that [...]

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Existing-home sales rose in July to the highest level in five months, although they continue to be well below the numbers from last year at this time, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.1 percent in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of [...]

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What does it mean when media reports the number of home sales on a "seasonally adjusted annualized basis"? That’s a question being asked by many consumers. The annual rate of existing home sales has been near the 5 million mark since September of last year. But the "seasonally adjusted" reports can vary and they can [...]

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Despite a generally sluggish market, investing in a home or other real estate remains as very sound investments, according to a recent consumer research study by Architectural Digest and Sotheby’s International Realty. The study was titled, "Seeking an Extraordinary Lifestyle." About 85 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "I think real estate continues to [...]

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The great American dream of building and owning a home is stronger today than ever before. And the vision of what that ideal home should be is as widely varied as the dreamers themselves. For example, some innovative persons are creating homes from shipping containers. Yes, some of those big strong-gauge steel containers used primarily [...]

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