Tom Kelly

Jon Maddux, LoanSafe.org co-founder, said almost 80 percent of poll respondents who lost homes during the crisis showed interest in buying again.

Homeowners and apartment dwellers in New Jersey and New York have listed their private residences as short-term rentals on websites such as HomeAway, Craigslist, Airbnb, and others to hook Super Bowl fans. Some homeowners are charging anywhere from $750 a night for a small studio apartment to $10,000 a night for a mansion.

Low-end home prices hit bottom in March 2011, nearly a full year earlier than high-end properties and for prices overall.

Rates continued to be a critical component in helping consumers see that property could again be a viable, reliable alternative to the conventional financial markets.

The Fed is now unlikely to start tapering its program until next year, The New York Times reported.

While Zillow economists predicted that mortgage rates will rise to 5 percent next year, they also said loans would be easier to obtain.

Many Seattle neighborhoods are still experiencing high demand for listings.

In an analysis of 22 markets, the Redfin study evaluated the sales success of homes shot professionally with a digital single-lens reflex camera versus homes shot with amateur, point-and-shoot cameras.

There are stipulations in most county codes for accessory housing, but the one most discussed is the number of people who can occupy the accessory unit.

Supporters of energy efficiency want lenders to take the net savings from energy improvements into consideration when they underwrite and impose mortgage fees, and they also want appraisers to take into account the value of new upgrades and retrofits.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 establishes the maximum conforming loan limit that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are permitted to set for mortgage acquisitions, in addition to requiring annual adjustments to the limits to reflect changes in the national average home price.

Seattle homes, up 13.8 percent in the past year, have hovered at an average value of $306,000 since the end of August while the average monthly rent ticked up to $1,705, according to Zillow.

A new ordinance is believed to be the most stringent in the nation against smoking in homes.

Interest rates are expected to climb gradually throughout 2014, possibly reaching 5 percent by year's end. Most areas are expected to remain affordable, though, helping to sustain the national market.

Home remodeling projects surged 14 percent in September over year-ago levels, according to BuildFax, which tracks building permits.

Despite the challenges, builder confidence held steady in November, with slightly more builders viewing market conditions as "good" rather than "poor," according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.

The study measured customer satisfaction in four key areas: application/approval process, loan representative, closing, and contact.

The buyer will have to pay the full asking price, however, to get the car.

Freddie, a government-controlled entity, announced this week that it purchased an insurance policy from a reinsurance unit of Arch Capital Group Ltd. The policy will cover up to $77.4 million in credit losses on a pool of loans that Freddie acquired in the third quarter of 2012.