Real estate dollars flow online

SAN FRANCISCO – Real estate marketing dollars are increasingly flowing online, and even some major players in print media are working to drum up more Internet-based revenue while urging real estate agents and brokers to take a balanced approach to ad spending.  more...

Consumer confidence shines

The overall level of consumer confidence edged upward in July despite higher gasoline prices and the terrorist bombings in London, according to the latest Survey of Consumers by the University of Michigan.  more...

House passes small-business health plan bill

The National Association of Realtors praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Small Business Health Fairness Act, H.R. 525, late Tuesday.

The legislation, which is one of NAR's top priorities, will allow small businesses and self-employed workers to band together through a trade or professional association to negotiate lower health insurance costs for participants.  more...

Illinois real estate sales cool

Sales of single-family homes in Illinois held steady in June, posting the second-highest month on record, the Illinois Association of Realtors reported. Total home sales, which include single-family homes and condominiums, were just shy from last year's record with 20,373 sales in June 2005, down 1.1 percent from 20,595 sales in June 2004.

Year-to-date, total home sales are up 2.3 percent, from 85,421 homes sold in the first six months of 2004 to 87,371 sales for the same period in 2005.  more...

Growing demand for three-car garages

Back in the 1950s, the one-car garage was standard in the 41 percent of homes that had any garage at all.  more...

Housing starts hit 16-year high in California

California home builders, making up for production delays earlier this year, began construction on nearly 11 percent more single-family homes in June of this year than they did in June 2004, pushing total housing starts during the first six months of the year ahead of last year's near-record pace, the California Building Industry Association reported Thursday.

In fact, June's 16,032 single-family housing starts, as measured by building permits issued, was the highest June total sin  more...

Mixed movement for overnight real estate rates

Long-term mortgage interest rates were varied Thursday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield fell to 4.19 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average dipped to 5.32 percent, and the 15-year fixed-rate edged up to 4.92 percent. The 1-year adjustable was down at 3.74 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield dropped to 4.4 percent.

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