The Flip Board® – Real Estate Blog

A firm that acted as a middle man in a popular real-estate-investment strategy has closed its doors, leaving investors scrambling to recover millions and pointing to flaws in the largely unregulated industry.

The drought parching the Southeast has spawned a new solution among the wealthy who want to keep their lawns lush: Digging their own private wells that are discreetly hidden by shrubbery. The practice has enraged water conservationists and other less-well-heeled homeowners.

The housing bill signed by Bush will provide public funds to nonprofit groups that assist distressed homeowners. One of the biggest beneficiaries, despite Republican objections: Acorn, a housing advocacy group that also helps lead ambitious voter-registration efforts benefiting Democrats.

We occasionally must call a 24-hour locksmith service to help us break back into our own homes, but it's hard to tell whether one is reputable. We put Pop-A-Lock, USA Locksmith, Seattle Locksmith and Abel's Locksmith to the test.

Bush signed a housing-rescue bill into law, creating a new regulator with increased power over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and allowing the FHA to insure as much as $300 billion in new, refinanced mortgages.

Home prices fell a record 16% from a year earlier in 20 major metropolitan areas, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index. Meanwhile, consumer confidence edged up slightly in July.

Although a bill aimed at reviving home sales and curtailing foreclosures is about to become law, some of its provisions are proving a drag for the nation's large home builders.

America's shopping venues are getting an international makeover as moderately priced apparel retailers from Europe, Asia and Canada increasingly set up shop in the U.S.

IStar's earnings report will not only provide fresh clues about the company's prospects but could also provide a broad overview of the financial health of the commercial real-estate sector nationwide.

The number of homes on the market is finally falling in much of the U.S., but tight credit and a flood of foreclosures are still pushing home prices down. Economists also don't expect the recently-passed housing bill to provide a major boost.