msnbc.com: Real estate

Defaults on commercial real estate accelerate

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 18:09:57 GMT

Owners of shopping malls, hotels and offices are defaulting on loans at an alarming rate, and the commercial real estate market is not expected to hit bottom for three more years.

Madoff’s former office looking for a tenant

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:58:28 GMT

FBI agents who are camped out on one floor of Bernard Madoff's old office say they'll stay there at least through next summer.

Mortgage rates fall for second-straight week

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 17:43:21 GMT

Average rates for 30-year mortgages fell for the second-straight week, but still remained above record lows reached earlier this year, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Potential home buyers skittish, poll shows

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 14:09:10 GMT

More than half of potential homebuyers say they’re still not prepared to jump into the market, and fear of losing their jobs is the No. 1 reason, a new poll shows.

Mortgage demand climbs from 7-month low

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:36:10 GMT

Demand for U.S. mortgages to buy homes and refinance loans bounced from seven-month lows last week, with average 30-year borrowing rates unchanged.

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Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:36:10 GMT

Foreclosed homes’ pools can be death traps

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 13:26:55 GMT

They’re an unanticipated consequence of the burst housing bubble: the abandoned swimming pools of foreclosed homes. Left undrained and not maintained, they have already lured at least one child to her death — and they can also be breeding grounds for disease.

Big box closures leave big blight across U.S.

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 21:48:32 GMT

As recession takes its toll on big-box retailers, communities across the country are having to confront not just the eyesore of giant empty stores, but also the loss of jobs and tax revenue.

Luxury home market hit hard by slump

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:30:15 GMT

High-priced homes are languishing on the market. The recession and collateral damage in the stock markets, have knocked many luxury buyers out of the market.

Foreclosure is a problem for celebrities too

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 23:13:37 GMT

It seems like just yesterday — excess was in and celebrities lived it up, buying lavish cars, expensive toys and over-the-top homes. Now, they're losing it like everyone else.

Pending home sales climb in May

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:33:47 GMT

Pending home sales rose in May for the fourth straight month, fresh evidence that the housing sector may be recovering, a private group says.

Foreclosure help available to more homeowners

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:45:29 GMT

The Obama administration is expanding a program to stave off foreclosure for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth.

Mortgage applications decline

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:23:52 GMT

U.S. mortgage applications plunged to a seven-month low last week as demand for home refinancing loans tumbled 30 percent, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

Home prices fall, but trend is easing

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:50:29 GMT

There is a clear trend home prices declines are moderating — another sign the beleaguered housing market is stabilizing, according to data released Tuesday.

Reclaiming blighted neighborhoods

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:39:36 GMT

Grassroots strategies to reclaim distressed neighborhoods are taking hold in cities across the country, including Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Detroit.

New-home sales slip, missing expectations

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:46:12 GMT

New U.S. home sales fell slightly last month, in another sign that the housing market’s recovery is likely to be gradual and prolonged.

Home sales climb, but at a sluggish pace

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:27:17 GMT

Sales of previously occupied homes rose modestly from April to May, the third monthly increase this year, but signs of a housing recovery are fragile at best.

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Housing market may return to normal in 2012

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:23:33 GMT

Americans have not seen a boring housing market since the last millennium.

Obama pushes for less risky home loans

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:23:43 GMT

Obama's plan to revamp financial regulation aims to protect borrowers from the confusing and high-risk mortgages that fed a pandemic of delinquencies and foreclosures.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Ennis House’ to be sold

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:59:07 GMT

Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed, long-endangered Ennis House, which served as a location for films such as “Blade Runner,” is putting out a “for sale” sign with a $15 million price.

33 metro areas where builders are confident

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:51:52 GMT

Housing starts are showing early signs of a turnaround in 33 metro areas, according to the Adversity Index data from msnbc.com and Moody's Economy.com . Bill Dedman of msnbc.com reports.

As rates rise, mortgage applications tumble

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:45:19 GMT

U.S. mortgage applications fell for a fourth consecutive week, with overall demand plunging to its lowest level in nearly seven months, data from an industry group shows.