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Instead of playing the trade-up game, more homeowners are staying in their homes, upgrading kitchens and baths and building additions to accommodate their needs instead of moving into a bigger house, but there are also some early signs of an improving real-estate market, according to a new survey of architecture firms.

U.S. consumers are starting to look like a frugal, debt-fearing lot as they pay down billions of dollars in credit-card obligations. But an alarming trend is emerging: A small but growing number of people are skipping mortgage payments in favor of paying their credit-card bills.

Low mortgage rates over the past year have inspired many Americans to refinance their home loans, but some eligible borrowers haven’t made the leap. Often, that's because they have an adjustable-rate loan with an even lower rate than is currently available for a fixed-rate mortgage.

If lenders deny loan-modification applications for homeowners with negative cash flow, how is it possible for anyone to get approved? Lew Sichelman details the five criteria lenders use in deciding on a loan modification.

The volume of mortgage applications filed last week dropped a seasonally adjusted 2.1%, compared with the previous week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Wednesday.

The volume of mortgage applications filed last week fell a seasonally adjusted 1.2%, compared with the week before, due to a drop in applications for mortgages to purchase a home, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Wednesday.

One in five housing markets entered a second leg of home price declines in late 2009, after showing price increases for nearly half of last year, according to a report released Wednesday by Zillow.com, a real-estate Web site.

MarketWatch's Lew Sichelman usually responds to reader questions, but this week, we print a letter from one homeowner, J.N., detailing his attempt to get a loan modification from his mortgage lender. J.N. describes it as "loan-modification hell."

The Federal Housing Administration says it would raise down-payment requirements, boost its mortgage-insurance premiums and tighten its loan underwriting practices in the face of rising foreclosures and delinquencies.

Fourth straight week of increases.

Devaluing an already devalued market by including short sales and foreclosures when appraising property has not helped the already volatile real-estate market, a reader writes. Is it possible appraisal standards will change in the near future?

On his road to homeownership, Scott Leibfried has learned one thing: Expect the unexpected.

CHICAGO -- Mortgage rates rose for a third straight week as the 30-year loan climbed back above the 5% level for the first time since Oct. 29, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

The world of credit ratings is getting more transparent, thanks in part to a number of Web sites offering free credit scores and credit-management tools. But that doesn’t mean understanding your credit ranking is any easier.

The Treasury Department is kicking off a new effort to help homeowners struggling to meet mortgage payments.

Sales of new homes rise 6.2% in October on strong results in the South, Commerce Department data show.

If a homeowner is expecting one sales price but the real-estate agent thinks the house is worth less, trouble will ensue.

House shopping usually slows down in the winter, as people put their home searches on hold to trim the tree, buy presents to put under it and avoid the chilly weather. But this winter might be different, thanks to the extended and expanded first-time home-buyer tax credit.

Home sales are expected to rise about 15% next year, as buyers take advantage of a home-buyer tax credit and housing prices stabilize, the National Association of Realtors’ says.

Qualifying homeowners facing foreclosure will be able to stay in their homes -- as renters -- under a new program announced by Fannie Mae on Thursday.