Archives

Archive for February, 2007

Freddie Mac Tightens Home-Lending Rules

Freddie Mac, one of the biggest investors in U.S. mortgages, plans to toughen its standards and stop buying certain types of risky loans that have been linked to a high number of delinquencies and defaults. Read More…

Run-Up in Home Values Runs Down in Fairfax

A six-year run of double-digit percentage increases in Fairfax County home assessments came to an abrupt end yesterday, as notices mailed to taxpayers showed that their properties have lost value for the first time since 1998. Read More…

A Test of the Faithful

Finding affordable housing is a daily challenge for the Rev. Mary Sulerud, a recruiting officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Read More…

Building Toward Less

The “Supersize Me” era of home building may be coming to an end after a three-decade run. Read More…

Neighborhood With a Twist and Many Turns

The four-bedroom brick Colonial was nice, but if her real estate agent hadn’t accidentally locked the keys inside six years ago, Sarah Mayhew might have missed the property’s extra selling point out back. Read More…

Homebuilding Industry Gets a High-Tech Push

ORLANDO — The homebuilding industry has made great strides overall toward so-called smart homes, but progress is measured in many small steps. Read More…

Social Security Number As Mortgage Prerequisite

New legislation on Capitol Hill seeks to curb an increasingly popular mortgage practice: providing home loans to applicants using their Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN), in lieu of Social Security numbers. Read More…

When There’s Too Much Room for a Family

A hundred years ago, most Americans shared small living quarters with only a few rooms, and family members were constantly interacting with one another. Read More…

The Good Enough House

Jeff Wynne looked at more than 30 houses before he finally purchased his Colonial in Chevy Chase. Read More…

Piney Orchard, A Natural Choice

When Ted Jones moved to Piney Orchard in 1992, the things he liked the most were one-level living and the view just outside the first-floor condominium where he lives with his wife, Diane. Read More…