Existing home sales got a bump in December, along with a small gain in median prices.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed getting ready for moving day? How do you get organized, where do you start? Read the top 5 ways to get and stay organized before and after your move!

I recently spoke with Maria Acevez, a certified interior redesigner & Real Estate Home Stager of Transforming Interior Designs. She suggests the most inexpensive way to update or decorate your home is to repurpose your furnishings and accessories. Here are her recommendations whether you are looking to prepare to sell your home, or just give your home an inspired and updated look...

That’s pretty good news to start the beginning of 2012 in the right direction. The ISM Manufacturing Index hit 53.9% and November construction spending is up 1.2% - which beat expectations month over month. So, what about exports and jobs? We’ll have to see if this trend continues as well as see if unemployment rebounds or experiences further drops.

Surprisingly, 2011 wraps up with housing starts exceeding expectation.

Foreclosure-prevention actions by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased in the third quarter of 2011, according to a report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Since entering conservatorship in 2008, the GSEs have taken nearly 2 million foreclosure-prevention actions and completed 1 million loan modifications. According to the FHFA report, the increase in completed foreclosure prevention activity in the third quarter was driven primarily by loan modifications and repayment plans. Two-thirds of all borrowers who received loan modifications in the third quarter had their monthly payments reduced by more than 20 percent. Additionally, the GSEs' cumulative refinancings through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) increased 11 percent during the third quarter to nearly 928,600 loans.

The Obama administration has released broad guidelines of the revised HARP program.

Mortgages will be more accessible and affordable thanks to a pro-homebuyer bill passed by Congress last week.

How will the adjusted Home Affordable Refinance Program affect home loan rates and mortgage fees? Learn how homebuyers will benefit from HARP’s new changes.

Why the increase in home sale closing times? And what about short sales and foreclosures?

Tips for you (or a handyman) to tackle before winter sets in.

How will the new amendment passed by the Senate affect loan limits?

This month saw new changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program. So what does the future have in store?

Find out what the Mortgage Bankers Association says 2012 will hold for home sales and mortgages.