NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Apr 25, 2012) - Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have continued to attract investors in 2012 as the U.S. housing market have begun to show signs of a long-awaited recovery. An improving economy and record-low mortgage rates have encouraged many potential buyers. U.S. single family home prices increased for the first time in nearly a year according to a recent survey Tuesday. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for diversified REITs and provides equity research on Hatteras Financial Corp. (NYSE: [ HTS ]) and American Capital Agency Corp. (NASDAQ: [ AGNC ]).

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The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.2 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, making it the first price increase since April 2011. According to economists surveyed by Bloomberg American new-home sales in March increased 1.6 percent compared with a 1 percent rise the month prior.

"Looking forward, we think homes sales will continue to trend upward, which ultimately will result in a slower rate of home value depreciation," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. "But any housing recovery will be dependent on job growth. Continued progress in this area is essential to keeping the housing recovery, such as it is, on track."

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Hatteras Financial is a real estate investment trust formed in 2007 to invest in single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed or issued by U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government-sponsored entities, such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., Hatteras is managed and advised by Atlantic Capital Advisors LLC.

American Capital Agency Corp. is a real estate investment trust that invests in agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity. The Company is externally managed and advised by American Capital AGNC Management, LLC, an affiliate of American Capital, Ltd.

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