According to a recent report by CoreLogic, January 2013 saw the pending supply, or shadow inventory, of homes for sale down 28 percent from its all time high in January 2010. Shadow inventory is the combined number of homes that are seriously delinquent on a mortgage payment, in foreclosure proceedings or owned by the mortgage servicer (REO), but not currently listed on the market for sale. 

Mortgages are often thought of as a two-person operation, but that trend is starting to shift in the real estate market as individuals are increasingly seeking home loans on their own. Buyers who choose to go it alone enjoy some unique freedoms – like not being tied to another person's credit or employment history. However, they also may encounter some issues that might surprise them.

Springtime brings longer days, warmer afternoons and more people looking to buy homes. Sellers wanting to take advantage of the sudden annual upswing of consumers in the real estate market should avoid some common mistakes when showcasing their home.

Home sellers could encounter buyers from a wide variety of backgrounds. While property sellers are likely to want to move their houses to the highest bidders, setting the tone for a positive first impression is essential because it instantly improves your chances of finding a buyer. 

The recession of the late 2000s scared a large number of homebuyers out of the housing market, but recent improvements and increased stability have helped lure millions of Americans back in. In fact, the last three months of 2012 proved to be one of the strongest quarters in recent years, which led many experts to declare that the housing market finally turned that all-important corner and re-attained some of its stability from before the recession.

Winter is often considered to be a dead time for home sales, as the holidays often cause sellers to put their sales on pause, and the cold weather can lower attendance rates for showings. However, some experts are beginning to question this conventional wisdom, especially this year. 

Purchasing a house may seem like a daunting task, but homebuyers can conduct research to find affordable properties. In fact, there are several indicators that property buyers can look for to determine if a seller may be motivated to move quickly. 

Keeping things consistant throughout the closing process will help ensure you have a predictable and stress-free closing experience. Here are 5 tips from our closing experts.

Low mortgage rates and improving optimism across the country have helped entice first-time homebuyers into the market. Several recent studies have shown that in most areas, buying a home is a superior fiscal option than renting, and as a result, many lifelong renters have become homeowners. However, it's not only young people that have been tempted by the favorable market.

Although the nation's housing market is a long way from recovering fully from the recession of the late 2000s, several indicators suggest that significant progress was made during the third quarter of 2012. In addition to improving in basic measurements of health like property values, the housing market has also seen a large reduction in the number of foreclosures left over from the economic downturn.