Sherman Oaks Real Estate, San Fernando Valley Real Estate

Today's Real Estate News

Elusive Senate housing bill inches forward
5/16/2008 6:54 AM
Key lawmakers Thursday evening were hammering out a deal on a bill that would allow the government to insure up to $300 billion of home loans and overhaul oversight of key players in the mortgage industry. ......

Builders get hammered again
5/17/2008 7:42 AM
Demand for new homes collapsed last year. Next up could be a similar drop in the rest of the construction market -- and that could be the latest drag on an already sputtering U.S. economy ......

Fannie lowers down payments
5/16/2008 11:39 AM
Read full story for latest details. ......

Why more homeowners aren't getting help
5/17/2008 7:49 AM
Drowning in a mortgage you can't afford? Whether or not you get a new one will be decided by someone you've probably never met at a company whose role is barely visible: the mortgage servicer. ......

Builders: No signs of housing recovery
5/15/2008 1:23 PM
Home builders' confidence fell once again in May and their view of the state of the battered market hit a record low. ......

Housing rescue stokes partisan split
5/15/2008 3:39 AM
The momentum behind congressional efforts to let the government offer more aid to struggling homeowners has hit stiff resistance. ......

Foreclosure filings hit record in April
5/14/2008 7:08 AM
U.S. foreclosure filings reached a record high in April, rising almost 65% over the previous year and putting municipalities at risk by cutting into the value of taxed property, according to a study released Wednesday. ......

How mortgage plan would work
5/13/2008 11:37 AM
Politicians in Washington are busy arguing about the financial and moral hazards of coming to the aid of troubled homeowners. ......

The incredible shrinking house
5/14/2008 3:22 AM
Out on the range is the last place you would expect America's long-running obsession with big houses to be laid to rest. ......

Mortgage application volume up slightly
5/14/2008 6:53 AM
Read full story for latest details. ......

Today's Real Estate News

The Eco-Kitchen Challenge
5/16/2008 9:49 PM
Renovating to be green takes more time, research and intestinal fortitude than doing it the regular way. Is a 16-month journey to a new kitchen worth it? Journal reporter Gwendolyn Bounds details her remodeling process......

Can Houses Be Sold Like Art?
5/16/2008 11:00 PM
A restored modernist home in Palm Springs, Calif., fetched $15 million this week at Christie's prestigious evening sales -- a record for a home sold at an art-house auction. But some devotees of midcentury architecture were dismayed. Photo......

Fannie, Freddie Called Weak in Capital Base
5/16/2008 7:50 PM
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's meager capital could pose a significant risk to taxpayers and financial institutions, their regulator said......

Consumers Are Downbeat on Economy
5/16/2008 10:29 PM
Consumer sentiment about the economy hit a 28-year low, while housing starts jumped 8.2% in April on gains in the multifamily category......

Pushing the Envelope on Vegetables
5/16/2008 10:03 PM
Garden centers, catalogs and seed companies are promoting strange, colorful vegetables to intrigue veteran gardeners and inspire a new generation who -- until recently -- hadn't shown much interest in getting their hands in the dirt......

American Girl Founder Puts Houses on Sale
5/15/2008 6:05 PM
Pleasant Rowland, the founder of doll company American Girl, has put both of her houses in Aurora, N.Y., on the market. Former Bear Stearns executive Alvin H. Einbender has listed his apartment…plus more. Photo......

Congress Faults Bush on Housing Bill
5/15/2008 10:13 PM
The Bush administration is a surprising wild card in the debate about a housing rescue. Lawmakers say the White House has sent mixed signals about what kind of housing bill it would approve......

Fannie to Scrap Policy Over Down Payments
5/15/2008 8:52 PM
Fannie Mae is expected to announce that it is scrapping a policy requiring higher down payments on home mortgages in areas where house prices are falling......

Will Upgrading Your Home Help You Sell It?
5/15/2008 9:22 AM
The resale value of home improvements in general is sliding, according to experts. In a departure from recent trends, homeowners are getting the best payback from relatively mundane improvements, such as sprucing up the exterior of their house......

Sewer to Spigot: Recycled Water
5/14/2008 10:14 PM
A growing number of cities and counties grappling with water shortages are turning to a solution that may be tough for some homeowners to stomach: purifying wastewater so that residents can drink it......