Lack of firm definitions creates confusion, VHA’s CEO saysThe terms low-income housing and affordable housing are often used interchangeably, causing confusion for many.So, what is the distinction? The answer is complicated.As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, affordable housing is any housing that costs an owner or renter no more than 30 percent of gross household income, including utilities.Low-income, on t
Accent the windows to bring extra design to a space. Find out what’s trending in window coverings.You’re looking at your room, and although furnished, it just feels bare. Your windows may be begging for some extra treatment. A room can be transformed with customized blinds, shades and drapery. But with growing options, how do you choose which one is right for your space?Design experts at Stoneside Blinds & Shades(link is external)&nb
Buyers would be smart to shop around: The large dispersion in rate offerings among lenders could amount to several hundreds of dollars, Freddie Mac says.Home buyers who waited to buy a home this month compared to last month may have some regrets. Home buying is 12% more expensive than just a month ago. Fast-rising mortgage rates—up one percentage point in September alone—have added an extra $250 more onto monthly mortgage payments over the pa
Pending home sales are posting annual losses in the double-digits as home buyers continue to back away from the market due to surging mortgage rates.House hunters are backing away from the housing market as mortgage rates continue to rise sharply. The National Association of REALTORS®’ newly released Pending Home Sales Index—a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings—fell 2% in August compared to July and is down
Yahoo Finance reporter Ines Ferre looks at the price action for lumber, which is down 64% year to date.Video Linkhttps://finance.yahoo.com/video/lumber-prices-drop-back-pre-192124858.htmlVideo TranscriptRACHELLE AKUFFO: Now lumber prices are rebounding today from a 2022 low. Ines Ferre has more on the price action of the essential building material. So for more, we turn to Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre. Ines, what are you seeing now?INES FERRE:
Amid higher interest rates and a softening housing market, home buyers are continuing to back out of purchase contracts at an elevated rate.About 64,000 home-purchase agreements were canceled in August, according to a new report from Redfin. That’s equal to 15.2% of home contracts initiated during the month and similar to the 15.5% canceled in July. A year ago, the share was 12.1%.If you’re considering joining the ranks of those who walk away
Moved in the last few years? Smart features and a few tried-and-true essentials provide the options you need to protect your new home.Your home is a major investment. If you are one of the many Americans who moved over the last several years or are planning to buy a new home soon, you might be wondering how you can protect your asset. Luckily, smart-home features offer many layers of protection for your home and your family.New LocksIt doesn’t
The monthly mortgage payment on a $400,000 loan is about $2,470 compared to $1,660 a year ago, according to NAR.After the Federal Reserve raised its key short-term benchmark rate by another three-quarters of a percentage point on Wednesday, the average for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to its highest level in 14 years, remaining above 6% and hitting more home buyers’ pocketbooks. It’s the fifth time this year the Fed has taken aggre
As interest rates shoot up, some buyers are turning to a different — and slightly more risky type — of mortgage.Adjustable-rate mortgages, known as ARMs, have seen an uptick in popularity recently as home shoppers, eager to avoid soaring interest rates amid a torrid housing market, are turning to these loans in order to nab a cheaper rate.“People are looking at ways to bring down their housing costs and their mortgage payments and with
