Donate today and get a Marketplace mug -- perfect for all your liquid assets! Donate now

Renting vs. owning

May 23, 2012
An underappreciated factor behind the recent gains in the housing market is higher rents.

A 'natural rate' of homeownership

May 15, 2012
At 65.4 percent, we may be closing in on a "natural rate" of homeownership for the economy and society.

The risks of buying with no money down

May 1, 2012
I recently was accepted to grad school, and my wife and I will be moving from Michigan to New Mexico. We are having a debate as to whether we should buy a home. After I finish my degree, I would like the freedom to leave New Mexico, if necessary, without having to worry about selling a home. My wife doesn't like the idea of paying rent and getting nothing back from it. Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

To rent or buy?

Apr 27, 2012
Author Jane Hodges discusses who should be renting and who should be buying a home.
David McNew/Getty Images

Learning about reverse mortgages

Apr 12, 2012
It's worth learning about reverse mortgages. The homeowner gets access to their home equity without moving.

House lust

Apr 6, 2012
Tess interviews "Norumbega Park" author Anthony Giardina about the place that the house occupies in the American dream.
iStockphoto

Opportunity index hits record high

Feb 16, 2012
Regardless of positive spin, the housing picture in the U.S. is less than rosy.

For public good, not for profit.

Beyond our means

Jan 18, 2012
Sad to say, the 19th and early 20th century notion of the democratization of savings became the late 20th century idea of the democratization of credit. It's time to change the focus of public policy.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Renting, credit cards, and buzzwords

Dec 23, 2010
Today, Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics released a list of 55 U.S. organized according to how cost effective it is to rent a home, rather than buy....

MID-DAY UPDATE: Economic news bad. Stock prices good.

Jul 22, 2010
/**/ Sales of previously occupied homes fell in June; new unemployment benefit plans rose. Yet at this writing, Wall Street's jumping. What d...