Home Prices Post Strongest Growth in 6 Years

A home price index based on multiple listing service data showed national home prices were up 3.8 percent from a year ago in July, the biggest annual increase since August 2006.

Home prices were down from a year ago in 23 of the 100 largest markets tracked by data aggregator CoreLogic's home price index, but that's four fewer than in June. Read the Entire Article

Here's More Evidence that Home Prices Have Hit Bottom

In each of the last three years, home prices have increased in the spring and summer, when more people are buying homes, before giving back all of those gains and then some in the fall and winter, when activity cools.
But it is beginning to look like that might not happen this year, absent a major stumble for the economy. Read the Entire Article

Success for Short Sales

NAR President Moe Veissi praises new help for struggling homeowners.    The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Tuesday announced measures to make “short sales” of underwater homes easier for homeowners, including extending help to people who have financial difficulties but haven’t missed mortgage payments.

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Good News for Housing: Home Prices Continue Positive Trend

The Case-Shiller indexes of home prices increased again when compared to the previous month or the previous year. Both the 10-city and 20-city seasonally-adjusted indexes rose 1 percent and 0.9 percent respectively from May to June 2012. This is the fifth straight month for steady increases in the SA indexes.

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New Featured Listing - 76 Club Course Drive

Surrounded on 2 sides by lagoons and a commanding view of the3rd fairway of the Sea Pines CC Club Course combine to make this 3 BR, 2.5 BA home a great value for the buyer who wants an updated home featuring granite counter tops in the kitchen and laundry rm., family room with gas fireplace, dining room with wet bar, spacious living room with cathedral ceilings and large foyer, main floor master suite, deck with stunning views of the lagoon and golf course, circular drive and 1 car garage. This home is ideal as a permanent residence or vacation getaway. MLS# 317737 More Information

Homebuilder Confidence in U.S. Increases to Five-Year High

Confidence among U.S. homebuilders climbed in August to the highest level in more than five years, affirming the improvement in residential construction.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder confidence index rose to 37, higher than projected and the best showing since February 2007, according to figures from the Washington-based group released today. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for no change from July’s 35. Readings below 50 mean more respondents said conditions were poor.

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If you can pull it off, a house is a smart investment

Investment opinions are like, um, noses: Everyone has one. Buy stocks, sell bonds? Go long steel and short copper? Buy sheep, sell deer?  It's pretty easy to see both sides of an investment argument. But it's hard to argue against buying a house now, assuming you can get a loan. Read the full article here.