Some 33% of sales of existing homes (as opposed to brand-new homes) are now cash-only deals, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors. The number of sales in which the buyer doesn’t take out a mortgage began to increase a few years ago during the recession, because well-heeled investors were purchasing large numbers of distressed properties with the goal of rehabbing and flipping them. But according to the survey, in the last few

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the quasi-government entities that insure or repurchase a high percentage of mortgages in the U.S., will continue to back mortgages as large as $417,000 – and as large as $625,500 in some high-value areas. That’s the word from the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees the two mortgage giants. This is good news for buyers who want to take out larger mortgages. Mortgages of more than Fannie

One of the simplest ways for a first-time homebuyer to obtain a mortgage is with a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA doesn’t make loans, but it insures them for lenders. This makes lenders much more willing to offer a mortgage, because if the borrower defaults, the FHA will be on the hook. FHA loans often require a down payment of as little as 3.5 percent, and can be obtained in many cases

Sales of vacation homes have been rising sharply lately. Across the country, the number of vacation homes sold last year was up 30% from the year before, according to the National Association of Realtors. Vacation homes now account for 13% of all home sales. The median price last year was $168,700. Interestingly, most vacation home buyers are under age 45. Many people have long dreamed of owning a second home, but buying one can seem like

The average monthly apartment rent in the U.S. hit $1,099 in the second quarter of 2014, up 3.4% from a year ago. This was the 18th consecutive quarter in which rents increased, according to research firm Reis, Inc. Over the past year, rents rose 4% or more in many cities across the country, including San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Houston, Nashville, and Denver.

An “easement” is a legal right of someone who doesn’t own a piece of property to use the property for a particular reason. Many properties have easements on them, so it’s important to know about them if you’re considering buying real estate. An easement permits a third party (such as a neighbor) to use part or all of a property for a specific purpose. For instance, someone may have a right to walk or drive over