Durin g the housing boom of 2001 through 2006, the prices of single-family homes and condominiums shot up to amazing levels. I remember wondering, once the median sales prices of existing homes raced past the $200,000 mark, how were most people in the United States going to afford a home?

The combination of a sluggish economy and higher heating costs is causing problems for a growing number of homeowners.

Forbes Magazine, one publication that truly loves its lists, recently released another one guaranteed to get people talking. This one highlights the 10 most expensive cities for renters.

At least one group of homeowners is benefitting from today’s buyer-friendly real estate market: those opting to move from pricey urban areas to less expensive rural ones.

Last week, the magazine published a report on what it calls the country’s 15 “blue chip” neighborhoods. Housing values in these most desirable of neighborhoods not only held held steady during the housing downturn, they actually increased.