that is the lowest rate since july, 20-12 economist danielle hale remains optimistic about a challenging market. " i focus more on the fact that it's a very small decline instead of the fact that it is a decline. we're still at a lower level than a year ago, pretty notably, but given the affordability challenges that we have as an increase in prices, performance is pretty much in line with what we expected." home sales have fallen for seven of the past eight months. a new study tallies up how much low interest rates cost consumers in the aftermath of the financial crisis. moneyrates dot com says the fed's ultra low rates meant to help boost the economy, cost consumers billions. it says had deposit yields on certain savings accounts kept pace with inflation-- consumers would have racked up 757 billion dollars over the past four years. however, the study does note the super low interest rates have helped homeowners, investors and businesses save money. america's middle-class has lost a coveted distinction. long the world's most prosperous, according to the new york times, canada's middle c

that was danielle hale of the national association of realtors who says the organization expects a rise in sales for the next several months. while the data is better...it's still down 7.9% compared to a year ago. hale says that is due to a flurry of factors including price increases, rising mortgage rates, and lower inventory. overall the industry is expecting a 4.9 million homes sold this year versus 5.1 million last year. as part of its $45 billion bid to acquire time warner cable, comcast promises to divest more than a million of its pay tv subscribers. charter communications says it will buy 1.4 million of those customers for 7.3 billion dollars. it's a move to appease regulators, and part of a three-prong deal that ensures comcast's market share will stay below 30%.the deal will also see the much- smaller charter create a spin- off company in the midwest. pro football player vernon davis is in play in the ipo market. after gettting off to a rocky start, fantex "finally" launched shares of the san francisco 49's tight end monday.all 421-thousand shares sold, raising $4.2 million at