Every Sunday we try to bring you the Houston News Stories you might have missed during the week. This week we had the latest sales figures for real estate in the Houston Area, rise in minimum wage, the start of Cash for Clunkers, Yao’s surgery and more. Enjoy! Houston’s Median Home Price...

If you have done so much as casually browse for Houston Homes lately, you know the current market offers a bank owned property selection the likes of which we have not seen in the recent past. From the ultra affordable neglected, to “I can’t believe this is a foreclosure” recent constructions,...

If you are looking for a property to buy as your primary residence, buying at the auction is a bad idea, in most cases. Negatives of auction foreclosures: 1. Inability to finance (capital intensive) 2. No title insurance (possibility of liens) 3. Possibility of back taxes 4. No thorough inspection 5....

Last week the Houston Business Journal reported that unemployment is up to 6.5% in the Houston area: According to the report released Thursday, 183,000 people in the area were without jobs in January — an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent — compared with 155,700, or 5.6 percent, in December 2008. While...

As stimulus package was signed into law this past Wednesday, speculation about the housing provisions in it ceased. During the course of congressional negotiations we went from a $15,000 tax credit to nothing, and everywhere in between. The simple facts Under the $787B recovery package, first time homebuyers...

As part of an $8.4B settlement with 11 states, Countrywide Financial (now part of Bank of America) announced a restitution program totaling $10.3 million for qualifying Texas borrowers. The original settlement negotiated by Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott called for a total of $345 million, the majority...

In the midst of an atmosphere of job losses, layoffs and unemployment, Houston just closed the year as the top in the country for job growth adding 57,300 jobs in 2008. From the Houston Business Journal story: Houston had the best year of any market, picking up an additional 57,300 jobs, according to...

Happen to catch the news lately? It’s war out there, this economy. Carnage. Tailspin. Depression. Anchormen drooling as they report news on yet another plummeting housing statistic. Then this. On Tuesday, the National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index was up 6.3%...