Tom Kelly

Single-family housing starts held mostly flat during April.

"Builders are waiting for consumers to feel more secure about their financial situation," said David Crowe, NAHB chief economist.

Mortgage lenders could expand home purchase possibilities for a large pool of consumers by lowering their credit score requirements.

The National Association of Home Builders provides a seasonal checklist.

And if the seller elects to cancel, is the broker entitled to a commission?

Builder Magazine released its list of homebuilding firms ranked by closings for 2013.

"Weak job and salary growth remain big challenges for housing and the economy."

According to Affordable Living for the Aging, cohabiters aged 50 or older with no familial or romantic relationship make up some 130,000 households across the country.

"Those stories you hear about people in their 20s or early 30s living with mom and dad, those aren't just stories."

Bathroom remodeling was cited as the most common job during 2013 by 72 percent of remodelers, followed by kitchen remodeling at 70 percent.

While nine out of 10 buyers surveyed say they felt prepared at the time they bought their home, 56 percent say that in hindsight, they should have known more about financing.

Morgan Stanley noted that nearly 20 percent of homeowners remain underwater on their mortgage, which is also preventing many from moving.

The survey also found that 74 percent of potential buyers who need a mortgage say they have not taken the steps to qualify or investigated the mortgage process yet.

The company will be launching a new brand, called Express Homes, which will offer properties priced between $120,000 and $150,000 - much lower than the national median new-home price of $290,000.

Persons who purchased a home within the past year scored an average of five points lower than those who had bought a home more than two years ago.

When we bought that first home, agents in our state were not required to obtain a license before listing and selling residential property.

"With housing prices improving across the country, Americans are regaining faith that real estate is the best choice for long-term investments," according to Gallup.

Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.41 percent.

Working on a tip from an ex-Jesuit, a person I still consider very close to the Big Agent in the Sky, we buried palm leaves in the four corners of our lot to help speed its sale. It worked.

To avoid interest and penalties, at least half of the annual property tax must be paid by April 30 (if the tax is less than $50 it must be paid in full by April 30) and the balance by October 31.

The new database, the U.S. City Open Data Census, aims to simplify the search for neighborhood information.

If your principal residence has been rented in the past, you may not get to exclude all of the gain.

"The housing recovery continues to proceed in fits and starts," said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's chief economist.