Personal Finance Advice and Commentary

This week, we’ll get reminders of the turbulent times in which we live. And that’s just the economy.

Some folks would have you think that it’s 2006 all over again, the way home prices have been rising in parts of the country.

This week reports are due on housing starts and existing home sales.

Today on Bankrate.com, find out what you need to know about private school loans, what to buy in September and more.

Wealthier buyers are unleashing pent-up demand for new homes.

Greg McBride, Bankrate’s senior financial analyst, appeared on KCBS Radio in San Francisco to discuss the state of the housing market.

The housing market is still shaky, but finding some solid ground.

Is President Barack Obama’s latest plan to allow millions more struggling homeowners to refinance their mortgages actually further stalling a housing market recovery? Critics of the proposal, announced last week, say the chief drawback is that it’s setting up a delay in foreclosures, which, in turn, prevents home prices from hitting bottom. Republicans, who believe

Finally someone is feeling optimistic about home sales. Builder sentiment rose for the third straight month, according to the December survey by National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo. It’s the first consecutive, three-month upswing since 2009 and is considered a “legitimate, though slowly emerging upward trend,” according to David Crowe, chief economist at National Association

The cure for the ailing housing market is time, and any signs of sustainable recovery won’t come until 2013, according to a group of economists polled by Reuters. Attempts to revive the market are being discussed, but the economists believe they’ll do little to increase home sales, stave off foreclosures or get more money flowing