Home equity

Rising values have given homeowners a lot more equity, which they can tap for cash. They gained $1 trillion in the second quarter.

Housing wealth and other protections advantage owners over renters.

A growing number of homeowners have been refinancing and pocketing the increase in their homes' values.

Spending on home improvement has increased by 50 percent since the recession.

So far, homeowners are resisting cashing out.

But only for home improvements.

Remember the housing crisis? Well, for many American homeowners, it’s now squarely in the rear-view mirror. A report from RealtyTrac finds that the percentage of homeowners who are underwater — meaning they owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth — has fallen to about 10 percent. It was 28 percent at its […]