EXISTING HOME SALES

U.S. average 30-year fixed-rate mortgages hit another record low of 3.91 percent in the week ending Dec. 22, according to Freddie Mac.

U.S. sales of existing homes were up 4 percent in November to an annual rate of 4.42 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), suggesting that a housing recovery is beginning.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.38 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.62 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.61 percent at 0910 GMT.

After years of economic turmoil, U.S. homebuilders should see modest gains and a stable outlook in 2012, according to a report from Fitch Ratings.

Wells Fargo Securities said the California housing market continues to struggle and is not yet ready to bolster California's economic rebound.

New single-family home sales totaled 307,000 in October, an increase over the previous month, but fell below analysts' expectations.

U.S. stocks dropped more than 2 percent on Monday, as mounting concern about heavy debt loads both domestically and abroad increased uncertainty in an already troubled and volatile market.

Sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. rose in October while the number of homes on the market continued to decline, according to the National Association of Realtors. Although falling property values and near record-low borrowing costs are starting to appeal to homebuyers, a growing trend of last minute cancellation suggests that even those who are looking to buy are worried about the housing market.

U.S. stocks dropped about 2 percent on Monday, putting the S&P on track for its fourth straight day of losses as concerns about heavy debt loads both domestically and abroad added uncertainty to a troubled market.

Rising sovereign yields in Europe added to negative pressure for global equities during the week

Wall Street is in for a volatile week as escalating problems in Europe's debt crisis continue to keep investors on their toes. With light trading volume expected due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, intraday swings are likely to be wide and frequent.

Sales of existing homes in Canada rose in October to the highest level since January, boosting forecasts for national resale activity for 2011 and confirming Canada's housing market remains robust.

Median home prices fell in 111 of 150 metro areas in the third quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors.

September home sales showed mixed trends, but year-over-year foreclosures starts were down, suggesting some market recovery, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Treasury's October Housing Scorecard.

In a bid to kick-start the moribund U.S. housing market, two senior American lawmakers want to make it easier for wealthy foreigners to purchase U.S. homes.

U.S. stock futures point to a higher opening on Thursday, ahead of economic data, including key weekly U.S. jobs data from the government.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street Thursday after a guidelines document said the European rescue fund will be able to buy bonds on the secondary market.

THE ISSUE: The S&P Indices/Case Shiller recorded a fourth consecutive month of increases. Existing home sales jumped in the latest report. Low-rate mortgages have boosted affordability measures. Is it time for investors to start looking for real estate?

Resale home prices rose to a record high in July, their eighth consecutive monthly gain, according to report on Wednesday that an analyst said signaled a gradual slowdown in a strong market.

Due to the lingering government debt crisis in Europe and a 9.1 percent U.S. unemployment rate, key economic statistics are pointing to slow-growth conditions in the U.S. for the next two quarters, and a double-dip recession is possible. Is there anything Congress can do to create jobs and get the U.S. economy moving again?

Without qualification or conditions, amid a tepid U.S. economic recovery, the U.S. housing market remains a buyer's market. That said, are there ways home sellers can better-position their home for a sale amid such intense competition? Indeed there are, and here are five.