News / Features
The high-density ordinance, which was Houston’s attempt to stop tall buildings from being constructed near residential neighborhoods, is apparently back on the table, though it’s returning under a different name, according to the Houston Chronicle‘s Nancy
Housing starts increased in October by 16.5 percent, year-over-year, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 628,000, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban
Fannie Mae released its third quarter balance sheets a couple weeks ago, and the $5.1 billion loss – accompanied by a plea for $7.8 billion in additional government financing – chaffed more than a few observers, leading to further
The National Association of Realtors has released its 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a survey of 5,708 home buyers and sellers that studies the demographics and features of both the individuals involved and the properties they were
Housing in Houston just experienced its fifth straight month of positive sales, a development that has inspired the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) to give thanks (great timing!). According to HAR’s most recent monthly data, single-family home sales rose
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), which gauges home builder confidence for single-family home construction, rose for the second straight month, increasing by three points in November to a total of 20. With October’s
The auction of more than 170 leftover Scattered Sites properties this week raised $8 million for the Houston Housing Authority. The organization plans to invest the funds in local multifamily affordable housing projects. The properties—171 homes and three home
Houston will have a property auction for bank-owned properties on December 10. Properties to be auctioned includes single-family homes, condominiums, commercial buildings and land
The Modern Outdoor Design Tour took place in Houston on November 12., which showcased a total of 13 homes that stand out from the rest for their architecture and design. For $30, attendees were able to view all 13
An Oct. 31 study by Moody’s recently pinpointed homeowners with jumbo loans as a greater default risk than any other type of borrowers, including even risky subprime mortgages. Basing its claims on an analysis of of the nation’s mortgage-backed bond portfolios,
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released its annual financial report to Congress earlier today, and surprisingly, it boldly contradicts recent claims from academics and news outlets regarding the government agency’s solvency. According to a recent Wall Street Journal piece that
Economists at the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) annual conference, currently underway in Anaheim, California, expect to see gradual improvements in the housing market throughout 2012. Existing-home sales this year have risen 4 to 5 percent, and new home
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as a part of what is commonly being referred to as “Operation Twist,” purchased $5.5 billion in mortgage-backed securities for the week of November
The robo-signing scandals of 2010 sent shockwaves through the lending industry, as national banks, burdened with the considerable weight of thousands upon thousands of foreclosures, short sales and other distressed properties, attempted to reconcile their balance sheets as quickly
After a brief sabbatical, the 30-year FRM is back in familiar territory, falling below 4 percent for the second time in as many months. Motivated by the Federal Reserve’s “Operation Twist,” which involves the Fed buying billions of dollars
Houston recently gained its first solar powered home, and now, the city can boast that 100 percent of energy it produces is renewable. The owner of the solar powered home, Barbara Byrd, attended the annual Sustainable Living Festival in