With retirees living longer, it's harder to make ends meet with savings and Social Security. Marketplace's Jeremy Hobson explains how reverse mortgages let retirees use the value of their home to help pay the bills.
Many potential buyers feel they don't have the credit or cash to get into the real estate market. But as Marketplace's senior business correspondent Bob Moon reports, an old lending program could give them the help they need.
In an effort to slow evictions resulting from the housing crisis, Freddie Mac is starting a new program to let homeowners and tenants stay in foreclosed homes. Will private lenders follow suit? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
A real estate developer in Philadelphia is building an eco-friendly house for $100,000 to prove green design isn't just a luxury item. But the hard part may be selling the house when it's done. Joel Rose reports.
Home sales continue to plunge, which must be pretty frustrating for real estate agents who depend on commissions from home sales. Mitchell Hartman spends time with one of them in Portland, Ore.
As many bank-owned homes in Miami stand vacant, activists are encouraging homeless people to move in as squatters. And no one's complaining. Dan Grech reports.
A bill set before the House Judiciary Committee would allow judges to restructure mortgages of people in bankruptcy and make banks accept the terms. But some think the bill could hurt more than help. Tamara Keith reports.
Sales of existing homes rose 6.5% in December. But the new numbers might not be much to celebrate since a lot of those sales are skewed by foreclosures. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Host Tess Vigeland and economics editor Chris Farrell answer listener questions about pulling out of the market, retirement plans, investing overseas, credit unions vs. banks, the best use for savings, selling a home and unemployment.
