Return of some mortgage products - what does it mean to have a no-closing-cost mortgage?, read about when it pays and when it doesn't pay to have one; California has a housing crisis, higher home costs and 130 housing measures passed by the Legislature; California is one of three states with highest home purchases by foreign nationals; What part of California has highest home price?

Which home renovations give the highest return at resale? Clue: not swimming pools or kitchen remodels; mortgage loans are increasingly built on automated platforms, and are still a lot of work to obtain; 84 percent of Americans believe that buying a home is a good thing to do, read more at link

Private mortgage insurance can be dumped! Not refinancing might mean leaving money on the table; Southern California home prices aren’t about to drop. In fact, they believe prices will keep rising for two more years, at least, and possibly longer; San Francisco market is slowing somewhat, read more at the link . . .

Property Assessed Clean Energy loan programs (PACE) should be understood completely before getting one, click here to find out the pitfalls; consumers are keeping their borrowing lower; McMansions are challenged by the desire for an urban, walkable environment for a lot of buyers; Fannie Mae to loosen some loan requirements; read more at the link . . .

Renters may want to calculate what their extra monthly costs would be as a homeowner and then set aside that amount, minus rent and utilities; California among top markets for foreign commercial buyers; Read about California's legit "granny flats" as a second unit;

Government required transfer taxes are most often overlooked expense by sellers; parents are source of help for many 1st time homebuyers; FICO (credit) scores hit record high this year, the average credit score nationwide reached 700; average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($424,100 or less) remained unchanged at 4.17 percent, read more at the link

Down payment programs are back, some companies are contributing up to 50% (to be paid back later); record low housing inventory, read more at the link; what do you think your home insurance covers? Read more at the link; drop in mortgage rates is bringing on the refinances -- click on the link for more . . . .

10 cities with the biggest housing recoveries; should new homes be in urban areas with vacant land, or higher density project in the metro areas? The over 55 age group is not in the buying market as much as the younger millennial generation, 30% vs. over 49%

California pending home sales down 3rd month in a row; homes selling above asking price rose 34%; mortgage interest deductible may change, exactly how much not known yet; loan closing times improving; first time homebuyers make good money, higher than median income; read what homebuyers said they would do differently if they could do it over; read more at the link . . .

The share of homes selling over asking price rises; mortgage interest deduction may be affected but not eliminated, but probably not in the near future; 1st time home buyers are more affluent; what is your buyer remorse after closing escrow?

Why are renters staying put in larger numbers? Immigration has helped fuel recovery of certain housing markets, including San Francisco; Where can teachers, police and other public employees find a home to buy? Renters think down payment is holding them back, but look at a 3.5% down loan opportunity!

Homeownership gaps among demographic groups little changed since 1970; PACE loans (solar energy loans) require full disclosure, many are a problem in California; should you find a new home before selling your old one?

Consumer confidence at 16 year high; California panel believes regulations are harming the housing market; will private mortgage insurance (PMI) be deductible in the future?

Questions to Ask Yourself Whether to Rent or Buy; Renters are 50% of Some Larger U.S. Cities Now; Home prices continue to rise, per capita income a little behind; interest rates actually went down last week

Why weakest February in three years? See budget preparations for buyers in order to buy; bidding wars on a scarce U.S. home inventory; watch out for utility fraud by bogus "companies"; Have you considered: Borrowers are now turning to shorter-term, adjustable-rate loans, which offer lower interest rates. Read more at link . . .

California home prices increase from one year ago; Measure S defeated in Los Angeles, but California home inventory needs to increase; mortgage delinquencies at 1 million at end of 2016, far less than 2010; see more at link....

More adult children living at home; millennials and boomer generations make up approx. 60 percent of buyers; Trump wants $6 billion cut to HUD funding to increase military spending; Wells Fargo wants to boost Afro-American home ownership.

Southern California market outshines other regions; 20 percent of buyers wished they had save more money before purchase, plus other top regrets; non-banks are six of the 10 largest home mortgage lenders; Black homeownership has dropped, why?

California median price of house fell lowest since March 2016; more renters in the U.S., more landlords; a smart home may lead straight back to retail purposes; Sacramento, on of the most ethnically diverse in the U.S. ...

Pets are considered in new home renovations; Los Angeles has country's most expensive listing; mortgage rates are breaking away from Treasuries, for first time in 46 years; are Calif affordable housing rules really being enforced? ; see more at the link

Housing Supply at record lows, prices pushed up; See market forecast and interest rate for 2017; middle class feeling squeeze of Calif housing shortage; remodel or replace, see Cost vs Value report; More at link . . .

President Trump issued an order suspending FHA fee cut; investors are buying at foreclosure auctions; San Diego leads in home price escalation; Twelve hot home design trends . . .read more here

Decorating trends for 2017 - going away from plainness; Future issue here now - housing needs for 65+ population - can they afford the change? 2016 home sales the best since 2006; Expect California to have progressive stance - but we still need more housing ; In Los Angeles County, the median price last month climbed 4 percent from a year earlier to $520,000.... see more at link

Difference between 7% vs. 3.3%?

See a chart for both.

What are the costs of buying, and which areas have the most monthly savings?