7 economists and real estate pros on what to expect in the housing market this spring

Heading into March and the official start of spring, experts think it’s likely that prices will stabilize. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 2022 saw higher home prices and higher mortgage rates that sidelined ...

As interest rates rise, Biden administration will reduce the cost of some mortgages by $800 per year

The federal government said Wednesday that it’s lowering the cost of certain federal mortgages by an average of $800 per year, lowering housing costs for an estimated 850,000 homebuyers and homeowners...

I will leave my daughter my house, but she doesn’t want to take over my $250,000 mortgage. Should she rent the house, or just sell it?

Dear MarketWatch, My daughter has a similar issue that this lady is facing, whose mother left her the family home. I will be leaving my daughter my house in my will. But she has a physical disability ...

6 leading real estate economists and pros on what to expect from the housing market this winter

Getty Images Some aspiring homebuyers are in for some much-needed relief. “Right now might appear more appealing to some buyers because, recently, the housing market has been cooling. Prices are dropp...

I’m 64, make $1,500 a month driving Uber and get almost $5,000 a month in pensions and Social Security – should I pay off my mortgage before I retire?

Hi, I’m 64 and getting ready to retire in one year. I owe approximately $165,000 on my house with no other debt. I have close to $850,000 in retirement savings, $2,200 a month from a pension, approxim...

Want to be a homeowner in 2023 — or continue to rent and save for a down payment? Read this first.

If you’re a renter dreaming of homeownership in 2023, here’s the hard truth: It may be cheaper to remain a tenant, at least for now. Across the 50 largest metropolitan markets in the U.S., renters, wh...

Redfin and Zillow Stock Slide Shows Possible Shift in Home Listings Landscape

Text size Redfin’s stock fell 8.5% on Wednesday. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images for Redfin Shares of real estate companies Redfin and Zillow Group fell on Wednesday after news of a potential shakeup in...

Opinion: Elon Musk shows in ‘funding secured’ trial that he does not live in the real world

San Francisco has been home in recent days to an upside-down world of contrasts where one of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk, enters a federal courtroom with four security staff in tow to portray h...

Scammers are out to get your mortgage money and even your home. Here’s how to fight them off.

We’ve all seen the email scams: “This is a genuie request.” “Your lendar has detected an unpaid sum.” “I’m a prince and I need your help.” Digital fraud has become highly sophisticated and, according ...

I ruined my family’s finances by withdrawing from my 401(k) to buy a house – I regret it

I recently made a panic decision to withdraw all my money from one retirement account and I am now closing on a house in February (about $200,000). I am 36 years old, married and have a 1-year-old. Ha...

Inflation Records Biggest Drop In Almost 3 Years

(Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Key Takeaways Inflation fell in December, with the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) falling 0.1% for the month. It’s th...

‘It feels like I’m holding two full-time jobs:’ I’m 65, retired and have a $2K pension. I own rental properties, but they’re stressful to maintain. Should I keep them or sell?

Dear MarketWatch, I’m a 65-year-old married man in Southern California. I retired about 5 years ago, and have very little in pension payments of about $2,000 from my old job, without any medical benef...

6 value stock picks for 2023 from successful money managers

Following a down year for the stock market, there is no shortage of recession predictions for 2023, especially as the Federal Reserve has signaled it will continue to raise interest rates to fight inf...

My husband and I rent our second home to our son and his wife. Now we want him to own this house, but keep our 2.5% mortgage rate. How can we do that?

My husband and I bought a second home two years ago, for $160,000, with a 30-year mortgage at 2.5%. We bought it with the sole purpose of renting it out to our son and his new wife.  They were recent ...

My wife and I live ‘an average life’ in the Bay Area making $320K. Last year, we bought a house for $200K over asking — now we don’t want to live in it. Should we get professional help?

Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I was a victim of FOMO during the housing market craziness and bought a house for $200,000 over the asking price. Now house prices are coming back to reality, and I ...

Will 2023 finally be a good year to buy a home? Read this before making a decision.

The housing market is nothing if not unpredictable. Mortgage rates have skyrocketed, and the market has taken a beating. But don’t expect 2023 to turn into a buyer’s market just yet, housing experts s...

Mortgage rates fall for sixth week in a row, providing some relief for buyers

The numbers: Mortgage rates continued to inch downwards, providing some relief to prospective homeowners. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.27% as of December 22, according to data released b...

Homebuyers are turning to all-cash offers to get around high mortgage rates

Frustrated by mortgage rates above 6%, a growing share of first-time homebuyers are opting to pay for their homes in cash to avoid high borrowing costs. In October this year, 32% of homes sold in the ...

For Landlords, Rising Housing Costs Make It Harder to Earn Passive Income

Listen to article (1 minute) Many Americans dream the path to building wealth is like a trip around the Monopoly board, buying up properties that generate rental income. That can be true, but financia...

I sold my late mother’s home for $250,000. I make $80,000 and have $220,000 in student debt. I want to buy a house. Should I use all my inheritance for a down payment?

My mom passed away, and left me her house, which I just sold and will net $250,000. I’m 41 years old with no real retirement savings. I make $80,000 a year, and I am maxing out contributions to my emp...

Is the Housing Market Headed for a Big Crash? What’s Ahead for Real Estate.

Todd Clark and his wife, Jocelynn Wilde-Clark, have lived through the ups and downs of the housing market in the time of pandemic. In the summer of 2021, as Covid produced frenzied home buying, the co...

Dear Tax Guy: ‘I’ve accumulated a lot of junk.’ I plan to make $6,000 selling stuff on eBay. Can I put it into an IRA instead of paying income tax?

I am retired with Social Security and a state pension. Over the last 30 years I’ve accumulated a lot of “junk” from eBay EBAY, +0.17%. Now, I’m also trying to clean out my house, and sell it at cost o...

Home Buyers Could Soon Get $1 Million Mortgage With 3% Down Payment

To qualify for a $1 million mortgage, Americans typically have to make a down payment of at least 20% of the home’s price. Starting next year, some buyers could put as little as 3% down. The cap for h...

In mid-November, mortgage rates saw their biggest decline since 1981. Here’s what 6 pros say will what happen next

The latest mortgage rates Getty Images/iStockphoto For most of 2022, the trend of mortgage rates was generally up and then up some more. But in mid-November something big happened: Thanks to better-th...

‘Most economists are predicting a recession in 2023’: I own a rental property. Is it a good time to take out a bank loan and renovate — or should I wait?

Dear MarketWatch, Along with a sibling, I own a rental property of more than 40 rooms in the Caribbean, where we do weekly rentals.  It’s near downtown but in need of repairs and renovation.  Is this ...

Dear Tax Guy: ‘What happens if I sell my existing house to pay off the loan on my new home? How much tax will I owe?’

Greeting, readers. I’m Andrew Keshner and I’m the tax reporter for MarketWatch. I write about the controversies, open questions and best strategies about taxes. For the purposes of this new column, th...

Pfizer Stock’s Post-Covid Future Looks Healthy

These reports, excerpted and edited by Barron’s, were issued recently by investment and research firms. The reports are a sampling of analysts’ thinking; they should not be considered the views or rec...

Here’s exactly where ‘whiplash-inducing’ mortgage rates are headed this year, according to 6 economists and real estate pros

Where are mortgage rates headed? Getty Images Rates are trending upwards, pros say. Indeed, many pros say estimate that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in November and December. And for ...

‘When we dated for 5 years, he implied he was financially secure’: My husband was always hesitant about his finances. Now I know why.

Dear Quentin, My husband and I make about the same salary, and live modestly. Six months after we married, I found out my husband’s net worth is virtually zero. He owes more money than he has assets (...

My boyfriend has a nicer house, and says I should live with him. My mortgage is paid off. He believes I should pay half of his monthly costs. Is that fair?

Dear Quentin, My boyfriend owns a house with a 30-year mortgage balance of $150,000 on a 4% interest rate. He has $275,000 in cash and retirement accounts. He is retired. My house is paid off. I have ...

Why the housing market should brace for double-digit mortgage rates in 2023

Even if Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and his cohorts stopped hiking policy rates soon, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate still would climb to 10%, according to Christopher Whalen, chairman of ...