Sales of new single-family houses in May 2015 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 546,000, which is up 2.2% from April, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. — From Housing Wire

3 ways to tame student loan debt and afford a mortgage

It’s no secret that student loans can make buying a home a challenge. But what exactly is the problem, and how can buyers overcome it? The problem is that student loans can be included in the buyer’s debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. — From Bankrate

Warren Buffett stars in animated series aimed at teaching kids to be billionaires

Forget Sesame Street. Welcome to Warren’s World. As in Warren Buffett, the investment guru who chairs Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A, -0.36% and sits atop a $70 billion fortune. Already known as one of the most famous investors in the world, the Oracle of Omaha has become celebrated of late among the grade-school set for his work with the Secret Millionaires Club, an animated program that teaches kids about finance. — From Market Watch

70 million Americans teetering on edge of financial ruin

In the past few years, the job market has vastly improved and home prices have rebounded — yet Americans are becoming even more irresponsible when it comes to saving for emergencies. According to a survey of 1,000 adults released by Bankrate.com on Tuesday, nearly one in three (29%) American adults (that’s roughly 70 million) have no emergency savings at all — the highest percentage since Bankrate began doing this survey five years ago. What’s more, only 22% of Americans have at least six months of emergency savings (that’s what advisers recommend) — the lowest level since Bankrate began doing the survey. — From Market Watch

5 Things You Should Learn About a Neighborhood When Investing

Where real estate investment is involved, the options are virtually endless. After all, there are markets all over the country (and the world) in which to strategically build up passive income. Some investors favor big, glamorous markets while others are content with single-family homes in less lauded areas.

Home Sales Are Way Up (Again), and First-Time Buyers Are Driving the Market

In what the National Association of Realtors® called “an encouraging sign” for the housing market, first-time home buyers helped push home sales in May to their highest level since May 2009.

5 Ways to Use Real Estate Investing to Teach Your Kids About Finance

It’s never too early to start imparting wise money ways to the next generation. Teaching children about money can be a challenge. Ask me how I know this! I have five children, and several already have a firm grasp on the concept of spending money. I am having a little more difficulty helping them grasp the saving, investing and growing concepts…

4 Buyer Beliefs that are Hard to Break

The vast amount of online home buying “education” can have its drawbacks. Yes, the Internet is chock-full of all sorts of information that can help homebuyers learn about the process. The down side is the online search experience can cause many homebuyers to develop all sorts of dangerous pre-conceived notions about the home buying process.