Local and nationwide daily real estate related news from official sources and blogs of real estate professionals.

Chase Donates Inventory Homes to Wounded Vets

JPMorgan Chase announced it will donate at least 100 homes it owns to wounded military veterans as part of a program known as Operation Homefront.

30-Year Rates Continue to Hold at Record Lows

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular choice among home buyers, has remained at an all-time low of 3.87 percent for the past three weeks, Freddie Mac reports.

Bernanke: Low Rates Will Help Banks

"The purpose of the Federal Reserve's policy of low interest rates is to speed the economic recovery, which will increase loan demand and opportunities for profitable lending," Bernanke said at a community banking conference this week.

FSBO Site Founder Reaches Out to Real Estate Pros

"I want to have warm relations with agents," says the founder of ForSaleByOwner.com, who just launched a new online venture.

Housing Affordability Reaches New Records

It's a good time to buy. In fact, according to a nationwide housing index, a home buyer's purchasing power has never been better.

Housing Starts Post Highest Level in 3 Years

Housing starts rose 1.5 percent in January, led by a surge in apartment construction.

Top 10 States for Foreclosures in January

These states are still seeing a high number of foreclosures, which is dragging down housing prices.

A New Breed of Investors Steps Forward

"Mom and pop investors" are trying to capitalize on a depressed real estate market in the hopes of one day being able to cash in.

3 Ways to Spice Up an Open House

Want to increase buyer traffic at your next open house? Try these ideas.

Banks to Pay Military Members for Foreclosure Errors

Four banks say they will reimburse any military members found to have been wrongfully foreclosed upon during the last five years.

6 'Turnaround Towns' in Real Estate

Watch for these housing markets to soon take off, according to a new report by Realtor.com.

Clarification Sought for Discrimination Protections

A measure before the NAR Diversity Committee seeks to clarify Article 10 of the Code of Ethics to align with HUD's new policy prohibiting discriminating on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Income, Job Gap Between Young and Old Widens

Young Americans have it rough. In fact, nearly 70 percent of the public says it's more difficult for young adults today than their parents' generation in finding a job, buying a home, and saving for the future.

See Who 'Unfriended' You on Facebook

Find out which clients or colleagues may have "unfriended" you on Facebook. It may be a sign that maybe it's time to revisit your social networking strategy.

Squatters Busted With Surprising Finds in Miami Home

When a home falls into foreclosure and is left abandoned, you can never be too sure what you may come across. Authorities certainly weren't expecting this.

What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Settlement

A settlement announced this week among state and federal officials and the nation's five largest banks is the largest joint state-federal settlement in history against an industry. Here's what it means for home owners.

30-Year Mortgage Rates Hold at Record Lows

Most home buyers or refinancers have never been able to lock in rates this low.

4 Tips for Buying Smart With New Construction

Be sure to educate your buyers about some of the differences in buying "old" versus "new."

Agents Make Unexpected Finds in Foreclosures

Watch for skeletons in the closet ... literally.

'HARP 2.0' Could Help 6.7 M More Borrowers

Changes made to the Home Affordable Refinance Program could open the initiative up to almost twice the number of eligible borrowers.

For Renters, Market Likely to Get Pricier

Rising demand and a tightening supply is continuing to force both commercial and residential rents upward.

How to Play Defense Against Customer Objections

"Knowing how to effectively address your prospect's objections brings you closer to their final question, 'Where do I sign?'" says sales trainer John Boe.

List of Improving Housing Markets Grows

This month's index shows some markets that were particularly hard-hit during the housing downturn are starting to see signs of improvement.

More Deals Falling Through

A third of real estate professionals in a recent survey say their contracts were cancelled before making it to the closing table.

Obama's Housing Scorecard Shows Mixed Results

While inventories and foreclosures sales are down, the real estate market still faces a lot of challenges, according to the Obama administration's January Housing Scorecard.