The value of real estate goes through cycles, which can be affected by many factors, including the basic rules of supply and demand. Below is a quick reference guide to some of the influencing factors and advice on how to spot a turning point in the market, brought to you by the Appraisal Institute , an industry association of real estate appraisers headquartered in Chicago.

Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and the first-time buyer tax credit, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors.

Colonial Savings F.A., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, says government initiatives to lower interest rates and provide incentives to first-time buyers have led to a lending boom for the bank’s mortgage divisions.

Government stimulus funding totaling $5 trillion has unintentionally introduced new opportunities for fraud and corruption worldwide, according to the latest edition of the Kroll Global Fraud Report. Kroll is a risk consulting firm, headquartered in New York City, with more than 65 offices throughout the United States and around the globe.

The Sacramento, California-based real estate tracking and research company ForeclosureS.com says its market data shows that many areas of the country are now experiencing rebounds, with declining foreclosures, increasing home sales, and even increased average sale prices.

Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS), a Jacksonville, Florida-based provider of technology and services to the mortgage industry, announced Tuesday the launch of its proprietary Home Price Index (HPI).

National Home Auction Corporation (NHA), a now-defunct real estate company specializing in the marketing and auction-style sale of lender foreclosed properties, filed a lawsuit against Real Estate Disposition Corporation (REDC) in an Orange County Superior Court on Friday.

Rainbow City, Alabama’s RealtyBid.com and Clearwater, Florida’s ValCom, Inc., have teamed up to give away a house in a different state every month through a new promotional campaign called The House Game.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced Monday that it has lowered its forecast of mortgage originations in 2009 to $2.03 trillion, a drop of over $700 billion from its March forecast. The association explained that $84 billion of the drop is due to lower purchase originations and the other $616 billion-plus is due to fewer rate and term refinancings and very low volumes within the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).

JVI Appraisal Division LLC, a national real estate valuation company based in Lake Mary, Florida, announced on Monday that it has been selected to participate in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Jacksonville, Florida.