U.S. housing starts jump 10%

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about 2.19 million, which is 2.4 percent above the revised August rate of about 2.14 million and is 7.4 percent above the September 2004 estimate of 2.04 million, the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today.

Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate of about 1,749,000; this is 4.4 percent above the August figure of 1,676,000.  more...

Real estate rates trend upward

Mortgage rates continued higher this week, marking the seventh consecutive weekly gain since mid-September, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey released today.

In Freddie Mac's survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.15 percent, with an average 0.5 point, for the week ended today, up from last week's average of 6.1 percent. The average for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 5.69 percent, with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.65 percent.  more...

Realty Alliance names interim chief

The Realty Alliance board members on Wednesday announced an interim executive officer while the group searches for a new leader to replace former CEO Charles McKee, who passed away this month.

Petey Parker will serve as interim executive officer, and will coordinate the operations of The Realty Alliance, which has 67 residential real estate companies as members.  more...

Freddie Mac offers mortgage relief to Hurricane Wilma victims

Mortgage servicers can suspend mortgage payments or provide other short-term relief to borrowers with Freddie Mac-owned mortgages following Hurricane Wilma, the mortgage giant said today.

The policy applies to borrowers affected by Hurricane Wilma in federally declared major disaster areas, Freddie Mac said. Servicers collect monthly mortgage payments on Freddie Mac's behalf.  more...

Countrywide boosts third-quarter earnings

Countrywide Financial today reported a third-quarter jump in profit of 27 percent, with increased mortgage servicing fees helping offset lower profit from lending as margins declined.

Countrywide, the top U.S. mortgage lender by total volume for 2004, also lowered the high end of its 2005 earnings forecast. Countrywide now expects 2005 profit of $3.85 to $4.40 per share, compared with its July forecast of $3.85 to $4.60.  more...

Real estate organizations crack down on data security

More of the nation's multiple listing services have become serious about data protection and have implemented security systems offered through Secure Computing and Clareity Security, the companies said today.  more...

Midwest scores record month in real estate

Home sales and prices throughout Ohio and Illinois continued to grow in September, according to the Realtor associations in both states.

Home sales activity across Ohio surged in September, keeping the market on pace to shatter the record-breaking year-end level of one year ago, reports the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Ohio home sales in September reached a record-breaking 13,194, a 5.5 percent increase from the 12,501 sales posted during the month last year, which previously served as the month's best ever.  more...

For-sale-by-owners on the rise

Three fourths of homeowners who try selling their homes themselves are successful, according to data released by Owners.com, an online service that helps owners sell without an agent.  more...

Help-wanted advertising soars in South

The Conference Board help-wanted advertising index, a key measure of job offerings in major newspapers across America, inched up one point in September. The index now stands at 39, up from 38 last month.

In the last three months, help-wanted advertising declined in six of the nine U.S. regions. The most dramatic increase, however, occurred in the East South Central region (56.6 percent), which includes Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. Increases also occurred in the Mountain (4.4 percent) and West South Central (2.1 percent) regions.  more...

Overnight real estate rates rise again

Long-term mortgage interest rates were up Wednesday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield increased to 4.59 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average rose to 5.71 percent, and the 15-year fixed-rate climbed to 5.3 percent. The 1-year adjustable was up at 4.2 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield increased to 4.79 percent.

Rates are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  more...