According to experts this spring is shaping up to be a highly competitive selling season as the economy improves, housing confidence rises, and a growing number of homes are expected to go on the market. Experts have compiled a list of valuable tips to take notice of when putting your house up for sale, such as pricing your home correctly, sharing your listing on online sites, making small improvements and repairs, and getting inspections and key reports in advance. Research suggests that once your house is listed, 80% of potential buyers will view your listing in the first four to six weeks. More here

Researchers at CoreLogic predict that the U.S. will see an average home price gain of 4.2% this year. The number of homes for sale is expected to increase, and construction starts are expected to rise. Experts say there is no way to accurately predict a national average for the housing market as some areas will experience higher interest rates than others. More here

According to CoreLogic’s most recent report, home prices have increased in many States. In February, prices increased 12.2% when compared to February 2013, marking the 24th consecutive month that home prices have shown growth in the United States. Fourteen States have experienced double-digit price growth year-over-year. A few of the states with the most gains shown are California, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, Texas and Florida. Additionally, home sales increased nationally by 10.7% from February of last year. More here

Consumer confidence in the United States jumped to a six-year high last month while home prices also showed measurable gains at the beginning of the year. Many experts suggest that the slump experienced in February was due to extreme winter weather conditions. Ryan Sweet, the senior economist at Moody’s Analytics said, “the economy is showing signs of shaking off the weather effect. We are going to get a big lift to second-quarter growth from the weather.” More here

According to Trulia’s Housing Barometer, the housing market is recovering and has made a significant improvement over the last 12 months. The report shows that four out of the five housing indicators have improved from last year. The Housing Barometer is made up of five key factors: new construction starts, existing home sales, delinquency and foreclosure rate, employment rate for individuals age 25-34, and home price levels. More here

According to Freddie Mac, average fixed mortgage rates increased from the previous week. Mortgage rates are still considered historically low, but are expected to increase over time. Freddie Mac chief economist, Frank Nothaft said, “mortgage rates rose following the uptick on the 10-year Treasury note after comments by the Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen indicated a possible increase in interest rates as soon as early 2015,  also, the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite house price index rose 13.2% over the 12-months ending in January 2014.” The 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged nationally at 4.4%, and the 15-year fixed rate mortgage averaged nationally at 3.42%. More here

Many lenders are now beginning to offer subprime mortgages to those with credit scores under 640. After the housing bubble burst, many borrowers with poor credit scores were eliminated from the mortgage market, but according to recent data, many of these borrowers are now beginning to qualify for loans. Experts say it may be more difficult to get subprime loans than in the past as interest rates on these types of loans have increased and down-payment percentages have grown. More here

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index increased by 4.4 points, averaging 81.7, the highest level seen since early 2008. This new data suggests that now is a great time for buying a home. The Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board, Lynn Franco said, “while consumers were moderately more upbeat about future job prospects and the overall economy, they were less optimistic about income growth,” Franco said. “The Present Situation index, which had been on an upward trend for the past four months, was relatively unchanged in March. Overall, consumers expect the economy to continue improving and believe it may even pick up a little steam in the months ahead.” More here

According to 2014 spring housing market data, this year will be prime time to sell. Mortgage rates are still historically low, and many sellers have been putting off selling their homes until the brutal winter has come to an end. Experts say there are a few things to keep in mind when selling your house this season, such as keeping the price right by researching homes that have sold in your area during the last 60 days, staying on top of your competition, and making your housing photo and description “pop” on mobile devices. More here

Many baby boomers are turning to reverse mortgages for extra income, according to recent data. Loan percentages are expected to increase over the next several years as 77 million baby boomers make their way into retirement, and new reverse mortgage rules have been put in place to preserve the safety of the borrower. The new rules have made the reverse mortgage a more attractive option. Spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Melanie Roussell said, “as with any mortgage product, there is risk to financing a loan, but we have made, and continue to make, significant efforts to mitigate that risk.” More here