Pending sales of existing U.S. homes fell more than expected in December, industry data showed on Wednesday, pointing to a moderation in home sales after recent hefty gains.

The romanticism and appeal of a bygone era is captured in this Maine home for sale, which is located on Maine's Penobscot Bay.

The deal may may help resolve some of the thornier legal issues surrounding the mortgage mess. It will do little to stop the ongoing wave of home foreclosures.

Falling home prices have sent many would-be buyers to the sidelines. If all goes well, record low interest rates and rising rents may soon prompt some of them to take a second look at buying.