The Wall Street Journal: Real Estate

It's Hardly a Ball for 11 Times Square

The risks of speculative office building are obvious at the 11 Times Square skyscraper. More than a year after it opened, the 1.1 million square-foot building is about 60% empty and unleased.

Foreclosure Deal Is Closer

Federal and state officials aim to wrap up this week a multibillion-dollar agreement with five major banks to settle probes of alleged foreclosure abuses.

Less Building Now, Higher Office Rents Later

Office-building construction is in the midst of a severe drought. This means higher rents may be on the horizon in some cities, if history is any guide.

A Modest Home for Palm Beach

This 2,286-square-foot house, built around 1925, has no garage but does boast original details like pecky cypress ceilings, handblown stained-glass panes in the powder-room door and Cuban tile floors.

The House a Storm Built

When violent winds knocked down trees and damaged their home, a Minnesota couple seized the opportunity to start over.

Orange County Register - O.C. Real Estate News

Homebuilder reports 'return to profitability'

Irvine-based homebuilding company Standard Pacific Homes reported this week its first profitable quarter in more than a year at the end of 2011, spurred by improved sales and higher home prices. Coupled with positive results for January, company...

Housing report: Ladera is hot, CdM is not!

Ladera Ranch is hot. Corona Del Mar is not. That is one conclusion you can draw from the neighborhood slice of the latest O.C. home inventory report from Steve Thomas and his ReportsOnHousing.com. His math shows: as of Feb. 2 … The Orange County...

See luxury beach rentals in Laguna

A newly opened short-term rental retreat just off the beach in the Laguna Village offers an alternative to staying in a hotel when visiting the city. Located at 729 Gaviota Drive, The Retreat in Laguna owned by local Lloyd Charton offers 8 luxury...

Beach home in Laguna sells for $4.15M

  A Cape Cod style home just about oceanfront in the Laguna Beach Village sold recently for $4.15 million, according to the MLS. Located on Victoria Drive, the home – built in 2006 – was last listed for $4.75 million before it went into escrow....

O.C. foreclosures for sale at 20-month low

Distressed properties were 34% of Orange County homes listed for sale and 48% of the residences recently put into escrow. Steve Thomas of ReportsOnHousing.com publishes every two weeks a report on the supply of local homes for sale and the share of...

L.A. Times - Real Estate News

California not among states that OK bank settlement

More than 40 states signed onto a proposed $25-billion deal with major mortgage servicers over faulty foreclosure practices. New York, Nevada and Delaware joined California in holding out for better terms.

More than 40 states signed onto a proposed $25-billion settlement with major mortgage servicers over faulty foreclosure procedures, but California, New York and other key states were still not among them.

California may join multi-state mortgage settlement

California has until Monday to share in a multi-state deal with banks to obtain mortgage relief and reforms. Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, who walked away from talks last year, says the door remains open.

With a Monday deadline at hand, California officials have resumed direct talks with the Obama administration about joining a multibillion-dollar, multi-state mortgage settlement with the nation's largest banks, a source said Sunday.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie sell Malibu house to Ellen De Generes

The talk show host pays $12 million for the 4,088-square-foot house with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The ocean-view home sits on 1.26 bluff-top acres with beach access.

In one of the more talked-about transactions in town, actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have sold their Malibu beach house to daytime host and comedian Ellen De Generes for $12 million.

Home of the Week: Spanish Colonial Revival-style in Pasadena

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house built in 1920 for industrialist James Wigmore lists for $2,875,000.

A decorative cast stone entrance opens to this restored Spanish Colonial Revival-style house in Pasadena's South Orange Grove area. Built in 1920 for industrialist James Wigmore, the house retains such original details as coffered wood ceilings and arched doorways.

Many homeowners decide remodeling is wiser than moving

They don't believe they can sell their property for what it's worth, so they're spending money on making their homes more comfortable.

Do you fit any of these descriptions?

Inman News Headlines

Is owner's title insurance worth the cost?

Forgo coverage only if you can stomach 'random' risks

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Roller shades get a bad rap

Who must replace windows after cracks are discovered?

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Socializing for real estate success

Be a better online resource for consumers

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2 MLSs stop using Zillow-owned IDX product

Brokers complain about other agents claiming listings

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Home upgrades that match your lifestyle

Book Review: 'Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want'

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