Sales of new U.S. homes advanced in March as near record-low mortgage rates helped the industry complete the strongest quarter since 2008, putting the economy on firmer footing. more

How do you stack up as a potential mortgage candidate in this year’s increasingly tough underwriting environment? Do you have the right stuff – credit score, debt-to-income ratio, equity or down payment – to get you through the minefield? more

Born and raised along Bungay Lake in Mansfield, Scott Freerksen has a deep appreciation for and understanding of the green benefits and challenges and the emotional attachments that come with lakefront living. more

Kenneth J. Filarski is the new chairman of the Rhode Island Green Building Council, which aims to promote sustainable development. He’s worked as an architect and planner in the state for the past 37 years. His specialty is building design and construction. He discusses the organization’s financial health and the state of environmentally friendly development in Rhode Island. more

They’re back after barely a decade: Escalation clauses in real estate contracts, “naked” contingency-free offers and lowball-priced listings designed to pull in dozens of bidders and turn routine sales transactions into auctions. more

Many Rhode Island communities have fought the state’s Low and Moderate Income Housing Act for limiting their ability to stop development projects. more

Rhode Island Housing has received a $629,221 grant from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program to support Rhode Island foreclosure prevention counseling efforts, the nonprofit announced Friday. more

David Splaine, a real estate professional with RE/Max Professionals, East Greenwich, recently earned the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation, which recognizes Splaine’s experience, knowledge and expertise in the luxury home market. Splaine, who has worked in real estate since 2002, specializes in the Kent County and North Kingstown markets. In addition to being a certified luxury home marketing specialist, he is also a certified residential specialist, certified investor property specialist and accredited buyer representative. Splaine holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from Villanova University. more

Got a beef with your mortgage company or loan servicer? Lots of people do, and thousands of them have been turning to a federal complaint hotline for action – or at least a quick response from the lender. more

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has formed national fair-housing, collegiate-partnership campaigns with Roger Williams University and the University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth. more