Lean times call for budgetary triage. But while you should clearly opt for orthodontics before Disneyland, the choice is tougher when it comes to home maintenance.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/FqV5loV5SHU" height="1" width="1"/

The Obama administration on Wednesday detailed its latest plan to help millions of homeowners refinance their mortgages to today's historically-low rates.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/sBTaat11HoA" height="1" width="1"/

Investors are racing into REITs that promise higher yields than equity REITs. But be forewarned, the higher yields of these other types of real estate vehicles come with very real risks.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/VUmqI-Axwkg" height="1" width="1"/

You'd think that investors would be leery of companies that own and manage commercial real estate. Vacancy rates remain elevated in office buildings and shopping centers. Except for apartment buildings, rents really haven't grown at all in four years. And given the possibility that the global economy may retrench yet again, things could still get worse before they get better.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/P0sxlWbYbOM" height="1" width="1"/

Between slumping prices and low mortgage rates, it's a good time to look for real estate bargains. But thanks to tightened lending standards, legions of young would-be homebuyers aren't exactly in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. That's where their parents come in: One in three first-time buyers received either a gift or a loan from their families to help buy a home in 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/ocfIUtd0ibo" height="1" width="1"/

FORTUNE -- Over the past few months, a spate of good news about the U.S. housing market has led some to think a recovery is finally on the horizon.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/mYn08DRpcic" height="1" width="1"/

President Obama's latest probe into the mortgage meltdown will have more power than past efforts, and federal officials say it won't derail a possible $20 billion settlement for underwater and foreclosed homeowners.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/xr6-BydUz3A" height="1" width="1"/

Sales of homes in foreclosure comprised 20% of all U.S. residential sales during the third quarter, according to RealtyTrac.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/fyeZPQIR_sQ" height="1" width="1"/

Out of all of the presidential candidates, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney owns the most real estate -- even after unloading a couple of sizable properties.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/y4xQVaFgsns" height="1" width="1"/

A new special task force to investigate and prosecute those responsible for bad mortgages during the housing boom will be part of President Obama's 2012 agenda.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~4/xl3yAZEn7Co" height="1" width="1"/