Report: Newspaper companies grow online revenue

Online real estate ads accounted for about 12 percent of newspaper companies' online revenue in 2006, and the share of revenue from all types of online ads is expected to grow from a current level of 5.5 percent to 6 percent to a 10 percent share by 2008-09, according to a report released this month by media research and consulting firm Borrell Associates.  more...

Losses at banking, securities firms widen as market continues decline

Morgan Stanley has joined the ranks of Merrill Lynch and Citigroup in reporting billions of dollars in losses on subprime mortgage-related assets, which have declined in value as a result of continued market deterioration since August 2007.

One of the highest-ranked securities firms by value, Morgan Stanley said late Wednesday that it lost $3.7 billion for the two months ended Oct. 31 on securities related to mortgages given to borrowers with spotty credit histories.  more...

Mortgage rates end week mixed

Long-term mortgage rates posted mixed movement this week in response to recent good and bad economic reports, Freddie Mac and Bankrate.com said today.

According to Freddie Mac Vice President and Chief Economist Frank Nothaft, "Reports of weaker consumer spending in September and a decline in manufacturing activity in October kept mortgage rates at bay this week. Rates for long-term mortgages were little changed, while rates for ARMs fell following the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cut."  more...

Trulia announces agent tools to enhance property visibility

Real estate search and marketing site Trulia.com today announced a new advertising service that allows real estate agents to boost the visibility of properties they are working to sell and to attach contact information to those properties.

The company has focused on securing property listings information supplied by brokers and brokerage companies, and directing traffic to brokerage Web sites, and the new service represents a way for individual agents to promote Web site traffic to property listings that they represent.  more...

ZipRealty announces $4.8 million net loss in Q3

Real estate brokerage company ZipRealty Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIPR) today reported a net loss of $4.8 million in the third quarter, which amounts to a loss of 21 cents per share.  more...

Anti-predatory-lending bill passes U.S. House committee

In a 45-19 vote, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services this week approved mortgage reform legislation that has drawn fire from some consumer groups and mortgage professionals alike.  more...

Real estate rates rise for third night

Long-term mortgage interest rates climbed further Wednesday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield dropped to 4.32 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average inched up to 5.98 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate gained to 5.59 percent. The 1-year adjustable, however, slipped to 5.62 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield fell to 4.65 percent.

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