Real estate

The Rural Housing Service has quietly launched a new construction loan program designed to increase the availability of new homes in rural areas.

Low interest rates are keeping the housing market strong even as affordability keeps declining, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage application volume was down on lower refinance activity, even though rates declined from the previous week.

In some housing markets, the right combination of wages, home prices and rental market conditions makes owning a home a virtual no-brainer. Here's a look at the top markets with the largest affordability spread between owning and renting.

The jury is still out on whether new sports stadiums are economic engines for their communities. But when it comes to housing alone, new stadiums are a boon for local home sales, but don't always contribute to home price appreciation.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities continued to gain at a solid pace in July, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller data.

Income gains and lower mortgage rates contributed to an uptick in affordability in July across most major markets in the country, according to First American Financial Corp.

Home prices continued to increase nationwide, led by gains made in New York State, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Purchases of new homes dropped in August after surging a month earlier to the fastest pace since 2007, representing a pause in momentum within residential real estate.

Arch Capital Group has planned a secondary public offering to raise some of the cash for its $3.4 billion acquisition of United Guaranty Corp. from American International Group.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want to make it easier for owners of older apartment buildings to make energy efficient upgrades.

The average sales price of a new mobile home was $67,800 in April, compared with an average sales price of $380,000 for a site-built home.

The National Association of Realtors has partnered with VA Loan Captain to create a platform designed to help its members better serve the needs of military and veteran homebuyers and sellers.

Lennar Corp. agreed to buy WCI Communities Inc. in a deal that values the Florida real estate company at about $643 million.

Sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly declined to a six-month low in August, signaling buyers are getting discouraged by a lack of properties to choose from.

House flippers and property developers are increasingly crowdfunding — tapping the virtual wallets of anonymous internet backers.

Mortgage applications decreased 7.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier as refinance activity was at its lowest level since June.

House hunters frustrated by a shortage of listings should consider the Sunshine State.

Gains in employment and income are beginning to have a positive influence on home sales, according to First American Financial Corp.

Nationwide, the lack of single-family home construction has become dire, threatening to create a housing shortage that could undermine affordability and home sales. But this dearth of new housing starts is far worse in some of the country's most sought-after housing markets.Here's a look at the 10 markets in need of the most new construction.