The Wall Street Journal: Real Estate

Learning to Embrace the Change Order: Nancy Keates discovers that the human desire to re-think decisions inevitably leads to changes in homebuilding plans. Those changes often mean big cost overruns – but sometimes, they can also translate to big savings.
FHA Raises Premiums for Home Loans: The Federal Housing Administration raised the premiums it charges for insuring that mortgages will be repaid to 1.75% of the loan amount.
Jefferson Davis's Refuge in South Rises Again: Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis's final refuge from 1877 to 1889, was almost destroyed three years ago, when Hurricane Katrina hit. But the amazing story is how much was saved and restored.
Pension Funds Watch Fannie, Freddie: Public pension funds that hold millions of shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are watching closely as Treasury Department officials consider whether to step in to help the mortgage-lending giants.
Housing Market Still Under Pressure: Home prices are improving in some parts of the country but still falling sharply in hard-hit places like Phoenix, as the weak housing market and shaky consumer confidence continue to weigh on the battered U.S. economy.

Orange County Register - O.C. Real Estate News

Is renter's insurance worth the price?: 2 out of 3 tenants in California lack coverage for belongings.
O.C. homebuying slump ends after 33 months: Sales are up 17% compared to a year ago, DataQuick reports.
Commuters' home bargains out of fuel: Columnist Jon Lansner ponders the true value of commuting from Riverside's cheaper, bigger homes.
Half of O.C. homes selling for less: Survey of recent 'paired home' sales shows that almost 1 out of every 2 homes sell for less than their previous sale price.
Mortgage Insider: The mortgage market: <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.ocregister.com/bloghed.php?BLOGDOMAIN=mortgage&SHOWTITLE=off"></script><noscript>Reporter Mathew Padilla covers the lending industry in the Mortgage Insider blog.</noscript>

L.A. Times - Real Estate News

Book review: "Houseonomics: Why Owning a Home Is Still a Great Investment," by Gary N. Smith and Margaret H. Smith: Owning instead of renting, even in the current climate, pays a financial dividend, the authors explain.

With home prices continuing to fall -- and expected by many experts to decline further before finding a bottom -- it's very easy to play that "woulda, shoulda, coulda" game and envision how life might have been different had you sold that home back in 2005 and run off with the profit to Tahiti.
Tankless water heaters don't always reduce energy bills: Improper installation or product sizing can get in the way of any instant energy savings. Before installing, consider all the specifications.

STEVE BROWNELL has a dim view of his tankless water heater, and he's in denial about his utility bills.
Condo buyers are in the driver's seat: But with few projects on the horizon, good deals that are available now may not last.

Saving up for a brand-new condo that's move-in ready? Just want to turn the key and unpack your boxes? Condominiums are a popular alternative to single-family homes because of their relative affordability and low upkeep. But with little construction on the horizon, there will be fewer newly built units to pick from down the road.
Taking steps to make sure your builder won't go bust: With more firms in financial trouble, buyers could be left holding the bag.

It's always wise for would-be home buyers to make sure that the builders they choose are on solid footing. But at a time when many companies are teetering on the brink of financial ruin, it's necessary to be as picky about the builder as the floor plans and options he offers.
Homeowners get tax breaks in housing bill: The Housing and Economic Recovery Act doesn't only stave off foreclosures and help troubled lenders. First-time buyers, older homeowners and others also benefit.

Tax breaks for owning real estate are undergoing another shift, thanks to the Housing and Economic Recovery Act recently signed into law by President Bush.