- Two out of every five adult Americans (41%) feel they cannot afford to buy a home, according to a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Of that number, just over half (51%) cite lack of money as the primary reason.

Fixed mortgage rates moved higher across the board this week. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.25 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the 30-year fixed rate mortgages had an average of 0.27 discount and origination points.

The number of Canadians considering combination mortgages - those with both fixed and variable rate segments - is on the rise, according to RBC's 14th Annual Homebuyers Survey. Over one third (38 per cent) of Canadians who are likely to purchase a home within the next two years plan to take out a combination mortgage, compared to 30 per cent in 2006.