WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve wants to find a clearer way to signal to the public when it might start raising interest rates. The Fed has told investors that it plans to keep short-term rates low for at least another ...

Tagged with: Ben Bernanke Economy fed federal reserve mortgage rates Unemployment

WASHINGTON  — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage held steady this week, staying slightly above the lowest level on record. Low mortgage rates have aided a modest housing recovery. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate ...

Tagged with: Economy fannie mae freddie mac great recession joblessness jobs mortgage rates mortgages Recession

WASHINGTON — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages have risen for a fourth straight week, remaining slightly above record lows. Cheap mortgages have helped fuel a modest housing recovery this year. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on the ...

Tagged with: Economy great recession home ownership home sales homeowners mortgage rates mortgages Recession

WASHINGTON — The government’s consumer lending watchdog proposed new rules Friday aimed at protecting homeowners from unexpected costs and shoddy service by companies that collect their monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage servicing companies would be required to provide clear monthly billing ...

Tagged with: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mortgage rates mortgages Richard Cordray

WASHINGTON — Average rates on fixed mortgages rose this week, the first increase in seven weeks. But mortgage rates remain near historic lows, boosting prospects for home sales this year. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the ...

Tagged with: housing mortgage rates recovery

WASHINGTON — A gauge of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes fell in April from nearly a two-year high in the previous month. The decline was the biggest in a year. Still, sales are well ahead of last year’s ...

Tagged with: americans contracts Economy home prices homes housing market interest rates job market jobs mortgage rates National Association of Realtors sales sales agreements Unemployment

WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in March from February in most major U.S. cities for the first time in seven months. The increase is the latest evidence of a slow recovery taking shape in the housing market. The Standard & ...

Tagged with: builders case-shiller cities credit employers employment home home prices housing market mortgage rates permit prices Real Estate sales standard & poor's/case-shiller home-price index

WASHINGTON — Americans bought more new homes last month, the latest evidence that the U.S. housing market could be starting to recover. New-home sales increased 3.3 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000, the ...

Tagged with: builders buyers commerce department homes mortgage rates mortgages National Association of Realtors new-home sales prices sales toll brothers

WASHINGTON — U.S. builders started work on more homes and apartments last month and requested more permits to build single-family homes. The increases suggest the battered housing market is healing. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that builders broke ground in ...

Tagged with: apartments builders building permits commerce department construction homes housing starts jobs mortgage rates national association of home builders/wells fargo builder sentiment index national association of homebuilders single-family homes Unemployment

WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage dropped near its all-time low this week, making home buying and refinancing a bargain for those who can qualify. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the ...

Tagged with: fannie mae freddie mac housing market mortgage rates Real Estate united states