Visions of a statewide multiple listing service in California are a step closer to reality today, with the California Regional Multiple Listing Service Inc. (CRMLS) announcing a merger that will double its size and make it the nation's largest, with 68,000 participants and subscribers. CRMLS will merge with Anaheim-based SoCalMLS, itself one of the nation's largest with more than 33,000 members. The merger has been approved by the boards of directors of both MLSs, a spokeswoman for the...

Mortgage rates in the U.S. continued their decline over the past week, hitting new lows amid concerns about the economic outlook in the U.S. and fallout from Europe's sovereign-debt problems.