Kankakee, Ill., Amarillo, Texas, and Sumter, S.C., are among the 23 housing markets to make the latest NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index, which tracks markets that have shown improvement for at least six months in housing permits, employment, a

American businesses stepped up investment spending in August despite the upheaval caused by bitter political fighting in Washington, and some economists raised their forecast for economic growth for this quarter.

Lending for acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) purposes in home building remains restrictive.

Forbes’ 2011 list of best mid-sized cities for jobs showed a much brighter outlook than 2010.

The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that pending home sales in August slipped but remained higher than a year ago, with a mixed regional performance. The Pending Home Sales Index, which is based on contract signings, declined 1.2 perce

CoreLogic reported Tuesday that the current residential shadow inventory as of July 2011 declined slightly to 1.6 million units, representing a supply of 5 months.

The S&P’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices data through July 2011, released Tuesday, showed a fourth consecutive month of increases for the 10- and 20-City Composites, with both up 0.9 percent in July over June.

The Census Bureau reported that new home sales in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 295,000.

A federal program to provide temporary loans to homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages will probably fall short of its goal.