The average apartment vacancy rate is 6.6% nationwide, down from 8.0% last year, and the number of occupied apartments rose by more during Q4 2010 than during any comparable period of the last 10 years. It’s a major reason why rents are up 2.3%.

Existing Home Sales fell 10 percent last month, according to a report from the National Association of REALTORS®.

Last week marked the 5th straight week through which mortgage rates improved. It’s the longest such streak since August 2010 and, this week, rates may run lower again. You may not want to gamble on it, though.

According to the monthly Housing Market Index as published by the National Association of Homebuilders, after 4 straight months of reading 16, March homebuilder confidence ticked 1 point higher to 17. It’s the highest confidence reading in 10 months.

Today, for the second straight meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The vote was 10-0.

The Federal Open Market Committee meets today in Washington D.C. The FOMC is a special group within the Federal Reserve, led by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, and consisting of 12 members.

Wall Street continued its flight-to-quality last week. Mortgage-backed bonds are now at their best levels since early-February. Mortgage rates have improved 4 straight weeks.

FHA Streamline Refinance guidelines are changing. For the better. A lot more homeowners are suddenly eligible to refinance.

Beginning April 1, 2011, Fannie Mae is increasing its loan-level pricing adjustments. Conforming mortgage applicants should plan for higher loan costs in the months ahead.

This year, federal income taxes aren’t due April 15.