Here’s a look at what’s new in real-estate markets across the U.S. from around the Web. (Some links may require registration or subscriptions.)

Saying it right to sell

Got a home to sell? Use the right words, and you may find a buyer quicker and for more money, according to a Los Angeles Times article, which summarizes the findings of three separate research studies. One finding is that homes with ads noting “curb appeal” are more effective than those pitching value or price, the paper says. “Beautiful” homes sold 15% faster and for 5% more than properties described as being a “good value,” which on average, sold for 5% less, the paper says. The worst word to use in your real-estate listing? “Motivated,” according to the Times. Some of the best descriptions to include? “Move-in condition,” “landscaping” and “gourmet,” the article says.

Colorado officials are apparently investigating whether advertisements in Denver-based newspapers offering low interest rates on mortgage loans were a bait-and-switch tactic.

The Colorado attorney general’s office subpoenaed the Denver Newspaper Agency, publisher of the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post, for records on Dec. 15, the News reported today.

Although state Attorney General John Suthers said last year he would investigate mortgage lenders offering low rates in newspapers, officials offered little information about their reasons for seeking records from the newspapers, the News said.

Overall mortgage application volume fell significantly last week on a seasonally adjusted basis from the week before, as interest rates continued to climb, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported today.

The market composite index, which measures total home loan volume, dropped to 647.6 last week, down 10.2 percent from 721.2 a week earlier. The seasonally adjusted refinance index decreased by 14.6 percent to 1,968.8 from 2,304.4 the previous week, and the purchase index decreased by 5.9 percent to 436.5 from 463.8 one week earlier.