Real estate round-up: November 3

Check in every business day for the latest edition of Real Estate Round-up, where we post a list of our favorite real estate news stories from DC and beyond.

Headlines from the DC Metro Area: 4 million homeowners eligible for foreclosure review Washington Post On Tuesday, servicers began mailing letters to the estimated 4 million borrowers whose loans were in the process of foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010, detailing how to request a review of an individual case. Resale of the Week: 6-bedroom Craftsman house in Arlington Washington Times Arlington's Lee Heights neighborhood offers some of the best aspects of suburban living, including quiet streets with cul-de-sacs to slow traffic and enable children to play safely. Walter Street: The friendliest block on the Hill DC Urban Turf Physically, the street lends itself to interaction. The modestly sized row houses squeeze next to each other and the front porches line up.� Sneak peak at the Foundry Lofts JD Land A first look inside the Foundry Lofts at the Yards, a 1918 industrial building on its way to becoming a 170-unit apartment building. First move-ins are expected at the end of November.

National real estate news stories: What will the House decide on federal mortgage caps? Wall Street Journal Back in February, the Obama administration called for a decline in the maximum size of government-backed home loans as a way to start drawing back federal support for the nation's mortgage market. They dropped on schedule on Oct. 1 but now a movement is afoot to revive the higher limits to support the ailing housing market.

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Real estate round-up: November 1

Check in every business day for the latest edition of Real Estate Round-up, where we post a list of our favorite real estate news stories from DC and beyond.

Headlines from the DC Metro Area: Creative refinancing doubly good Washington Times With interest rates remaining so low and the housing market still anemic, refinance customers abound. Most homeowners refinance to lower their interest rate, but there are many other objectives that can be accomplished through refinancing, depending upon the homeowner's particular situation. Lenders could take home's energy costs into consideration Washington Post A bill introduced Oct. 20 would force the big three mortgage agencies to take account of energy costs in every loan they insure, guarantee or buy. It would also require them to instruct appraisers to adjust their property valuations upward when accurate data on energy efficiency savings are available.

National real estate news stories: Making sense of home price data Smart Money Because real estate is so local and home prices can change every few miles, homeowners and potential buyers should focus on trends in their specific neighborhoods. That means consulting a realtor who can pull up prices of similar homes that sold over the past few months. Handling high closing costs The New York Times Those who are cash-poor can ask relatives for help. But some lenders advertise another option: If borrowers agree to accept a mortgage interest rate from a quarter to a full percentage point higher than they would ordinarily qualify for, they can receive credit toward their closing costs.

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