Builder Confidence Climbs To Highest Level in Five Years

Building on recent momentum, builder confidence for newly built, single-family homes gained two points from last month’s tally, reaching a total of 37, according to the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.

The new number comes on the heels of July’s six-point climb — the largest gain in more than a decade — and brings the index to its highest level since February 2007.

Housing Market — Home Depot Recovery

Home Depot, reported impressive second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The nation’s biggest home-improvement chain notched $1.5 billion in net earnings on $20.6 billion in sales—better than last year’s figures, and better than Wall Street’s expectations. By day’s end, its shares had risen 3.58 percent.

How to Play the Real Estate Recovery

For investors, the real estate roller coaster ride continues. They made billions -- probably trillions if you add it all up -- flipping houses, leasing offices and constructing condo towers. Then the real estate market collapsed, throwing the U.S. into the 2007-2009 recession.

Now the prognosis for real estate investments is looking much better, though it's anything but simple. Some commercial real estate has rebounded, with investors craving income that real estate provides, while residential real estate -- particularly single-family homes -- may be at once-in-a-lifetime bargain prices.

Three top experts give their take on the the opportunities and potential pitfalls facing real estate investors in the coming years.