The company behind the popular FICO scoring model has published a “What If?” series for common, specific credit missteps.

According to the Commerce Department, the number of single-family Housing Starts increased to 452,000 units in September, a 19,000 improvement over August.

According to the NAHB, October’s HMI reading of 16 is its highest value in 5 months. The uptick hints that the market for newly-built homes may rebound more quickly that this summer’s weak new homes sales figures would otherwise suggest.

For some people, visualizing changes to a home’s exterior is easy. For others, though, there’s the Better Homes and Gardens Color-a-Home tool.

Despite tougher mortgage guidelines and better loan disclosures for consumers, mortgage fraud is on the rise.

The number of foreclosure filings rose 3 percent in September, according to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac.

The Federal Reserve released its September 21, 2010 meeting minutes Tuesday afternoon. Mortgage rates are slightly higher today.

Gutters are designed to funnel rainwater away from a home. Properly working gutters help keep a home’s basement from filling with water, and protect a home’s foundation from long-term, structural damage, and keep a roof in tip-top shape.

According to the government, 95,000 jobs were lost in September. Economists expected a net loss of 5,000. Mortgage rates should improve on the data today.

Starting Monday, December 13, 2010, Fannie Mae is changing its mortgage lending guidelines.