Real estate

FILE - In this July 22, 2019, file photo a sale pending sign stands in front of a house in North Andover, Mass. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the National Association of Realtors releases its September report on pending home sales, which are seen as a barometer of future purchases. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
October 29, 2019 - 11:22 am

Pending home sales reached a 21-month high in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in September, a sign that the housing market is still benefiting from lower mortgage rates. The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that its pending home sales index rose 1.5% from August to September to 108.7, its highest...
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In this June 14, 2019 photo shows a new home for sale in Orlando, Fla. On Thursday, Oct. 24 The Commerce Department reports on sales of new homes in September. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
October 24, 2019 - 10:20 am

US new homes sales fell 0.7% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. new home sales fell slightly in September with all regions of the country except the Midwest showing declines. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that sales of new homes fell 0.7% last month following a big 6.2% surge in sales in August. Homes were sold at a seasonally...
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This Sept. 25, 2019, photo shows a sign indicating a new selling price for a house sits atop a realtor's sign in Jackson, Miss. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in September. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AP Newsroom
October 22, 2019 - 10:28 am

High prices drove US home sales down 2.2% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales fell 2.2% in September, as rising home prices and lower inventories have stifled homebuyers. The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that homes sold last month declined at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.38 million units, ending two months of...
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In this Sept. 3, 2019 photo a for sale sign, top, rests in front of a newly constructed home, in Norwood, Mass. On Thursday, Oct. 17, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. home construction in September. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
October 17, 2019 - 11:12 am

US single family-home construction ticks up, apartments fall

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home building fell last month after reaching a 12-year high in August, driven by a sharp decline in the construction of new apartments. Yet single-family home construction ticked higher for a fourth month. The Commerce Department said Thursday that overall housing starts...
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In this Sept. 25, 2019, photo a realty company's signs rest on several lawns in front of newly constructed houses in Brandon, Miss. On Thursday, Oct. 10, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
October 10, 2019 - 3:03 pm

US long-term mortgage rates fall; 30-year at 3.57%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell this week amid continued uncertainty about the economy's outlook. Mortgage rates have been running near historic lows, a potential boon to homebuyers. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage dipped to...
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In this Aug. 21, 2019, photo, a newly built home coming on the market soon is shown in Surfside, Fla. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index for July is released. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
September 24, 2019 - 9:00 am

US home prices rise at slowest pace in 7 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices rose in July from a year earlier by the smallest amount in seven years, as modest sales are forcing sellers to keep costs in check. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index moved up 2% in July from a year ago, down from a 2.2% annual gain in...
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FILE - In this July 22, 2019, file photo a sign is displayed outside a house for sale in North Andover, Mass. On Thursday, Sept. 19, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
September 19, 2019 - 11:19 am

Average 30-year mortgage rate rose to 3.73%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates shot up this week, yet they stayed close to the historic lows that appear to be helping the real estate market. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 3.73% from 3.56% last week. The rate...
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FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2019, file photo an under contract sign is displayed along Park Avenue in Richmond, Va. On Thursday, Sept. 19, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in August. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
September 19, 2019 - 10:05 am

Mortgage rates boosted US home sales 1.3% in August

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales rose 1.3% in August to the highest level in 17 months, as mortgage rates near historic lows have spurred a rush of home-buying. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that homes sold last month at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.49 million...
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Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
September 18, 2019 - 4:03 pm

What the Fed's rate cut means for you

The Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate again, big news for the U.S. economy but something that will likely have a muted impact on Americans' personal finances, experts say. That's because the reduction doesn't offset the increases of recent years. And as the key rate creeps closer...
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In this Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 photo a sign rests in front of a newly constructed home, in Westwood, Mass. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. home construction in August. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
AP Newsroom
September 18, 2019 - 9:37 am

US home building climbs 12.3% in August to 12-year high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The pace of U.S. home construction jumped 12.3% last month to a 12-year high on a surge in apartment building. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that housing starts came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million, the most since June 2007 and up from a revised 1...
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