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Renters No More: Newbies Lured To Homeownership
October 16, 2012 With mortgage rates near rock bottom and housing prices stable, many fence-sitters are jumping into the home market and leaving the world of renting behind. But first, they have to get approved for a loan.
Planet Money
Remember The 14-Year-Old Who Bought A House? She Just Bought Another One
October 12, 2012 Willow Tufano's life over the past few months was sort of surreal. She got caught up in two dramas: America's housing market and America's media circus. Now she's trying to get her own reality show.
The Two-Way
U.S. Foreclosures Drop Dramatically, But The Picture Remains Very Mixed
October 11, 2012 RealtyTrac, a foreclosure tracking firm, says the foreclosure filings dropped significantly in September. But the report shows they have gone up in states that hadn't had problems until now.
The Two-Way
U.S. Government Sues Wells Fargo In Mortgage Case
October 9, 2012 The government alleges the bank knew some loans it issued did not meet federal requirements.
Solve This
Candidates Say Little On Difficult Issue Of Housing
October 2, 2012 Despite millions of troubled mortgages around the country, housing hasn't been a major issue in the presidential race so far. Based on what they have said, President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have more in common than their rhetoric suggests, an analyst says.
The Two-Way
Update: Existing Home Sales And Housing Starts Both Rose In August
September 19, 2012 Each month this year, builders have been starting work on many more homes than were being built after the housing bubble burst in 2008. Meanwhile, sales and prices of previously owned homes continue to rise.
Democratic Convention Draws Troubled Homeowners
September 5, 2012 As Democrats gather for their national convention in Charlotte, N.C., troubled homeowners have also converged on the city. They have come to voice their dissatisfaction with how the Obama administration and the nation's big banks have handled the foreclosure crisis.
The Two-Way
Fannie, Freddie Regulator Holds Firm Against Mortgage Write-Downs
July 31, 2012 A federal regulator is blocking the government-owned mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from reducing the principal that homeowners owe on their mortgages in order to avoid foreclosures.
Is Housing Recovery Real? Not Everyone Is Convinced
July 31, 2012 Homebuilding is at its highest level in nearly four years. More homes are selling, and at higher prices. But skeptics say factors, including the struggling economy and a lurking inventory of foreclosed and delinquent homes, will push prices down further.
County Considers Eminent Domain As Foreclosure Fix
July 13, 2012 California's San Bernardino County says seizing troubled properties would allow those homeowners to refinance their loans. Critics say the plan, if implemented, will be bad for business and could dissuade banks from making future loans in the county.
The Two-Way
Contracts For Home Sales Rose Sharply In May
June 27, 2012 The 5.9 percent increase in pending home sales was well above expectations and matched their strongest pace in two years.
Morale Takes A Hit At Beleaguered Fannie, Freddie
June 27, 2012 Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been vilified for their role in the housing collapse. Key employees have left as morale has plummeted. But the two organizations are key to the functioning of the U.S. housing market, leaving some observers concerned about the ongoing brain drain.
Sinking Under A $10,000 Monthly Mortgage Payment
June 26, 2012 A growing number of those seeking help from mortgage counselors are high-income owners of million-dollar homes in wealthy communities like Laguna Beach, Calif., and Westchester County, N.Y. But large home loans can be more difficult to modify than more modest ones.
The Two-Way
Home Prices Tick Up, Housing Market Recovery May Be Strengthening
June 26, 2012 The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed gains in nearly all major cities during April. While prices are still down from their boom-time highs, a recovery may be building.
