House hunting: Is this the best time to buy?...

NEW YORK (Money) — My fiancé and I are saving up to buy a house in the not-too-distant future. We want to take advantage of the housing market, but he’s skeptical about whether this is the best time to buy. When do you think prices will go up? — S.R., Los Angeles I can understand your fiancé’s reluctance given that house prices continue to weaken. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price...

Home clearance sale coming from ‘desperate&#...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Home prices are already a third off their highs, but this summer could bring the real discounts. Buyers are still cautious, and anxious sellers will have to price aggressively to get them off the fence. That could result in a “summer clearance sale,” predicts Pete Flint, CEO of Trulia, the real estate web site. “We don’t imagine a stampede of buyers, like outside of...

Tornado Safety Tips...

There is no such thing as guaranteed safety inside a tornado. Freak accidents happen; and the most violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Extremely violent F5 tornadoes are very rare, though. Most tornadoes are actually much weaker and can be survived using these safety ideas… Prevention and practice before the storm: At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the...

Tycoon in the making...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Malynda Williams didn’t set out to be a real estate tycoon. But the 40-something has managed to acquire four properties over the past three years, and she’s looking for more. “I started out trying to get something going for after I retire,” Williams said. “I never thought it would be this, but I really love it.” Her first buy came in October 2008, a vacation...