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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pending sales of existing U.S. homes unexpectedly jumped in August to the highest level in over a year, data from a real estate trade group showed on Wednesday.  http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/081008/business_us_usa_economy_housing.html

Now that they can afford adjusted home prices, first time home buyers are stepping up to the plate.... http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9831139&ch=4226713&src=news

Mortgage rates drop after Fannie, Freddie bailout.

After the government took control of the troubled mortgage giants, the 30-year fixed rate dipped to 5.93%.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/11/real_estate/mortgage_rates/index.htm?section=money_latest

The mortgage meltdown isn't messing with Texas -- much -- or with parts of Manhattan. Here are 3 categories of real estate that have gone mostly unscathed amid the pain.... http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StockInvestingTrading/BrightSpotsInTheHousingNightmare.aspx

The number of homes sold in the US fell 15.5% in June compared with the same month last year, as the US housing market continued its slump.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7523966.stm

CNBC

Tuesday July 22, 11:41 am ET  

Attached is the aggregated results, including Credit Suisse's analysis of the latest trends in the largest real estate markets, thoughts on where we see markets heading in the near term, and our favorite and least favorite homebuilding stock ideas. We hope that you and your clients find this information useful.

Foreclosure filings continue to rise as US housing crisis drags on

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of homeowners stung by the rout in the U.S. housing market jumped last month as foreclosure filings grew by more than 50 percent compared with June a year ago, according to data released Thursday.

Nationwide, 252,363 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice in June, up 53 percent from the same month last year, but down 3 percent from May, RealtyTrac Inc. said. One in every 501 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing last month.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080710/foreclosure_rates.html?.&.pf=loans

Back in 2004, foreclosures accounted for a mere 2 percent of real estate transactions nationwide... http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/blogs/investorcentric/2008/06/foreclosures-account-for-30-percent-of.html

Mortgage rescue proposal clears Senate hurdle

FHA would back $300 billion in new loans; details being argued, Bush threatens veto

Associated Press

June 25, 2008

WASHINGTON - A large foreclosure rescue bill cleared a key Senate test yesterday by an overwhelming margin, with Democrats and Republicans both eager to claim election-year credit for helping hard-pressed homeowners.

The mortgage aid plan would let the Federal Housing Administration back $300 billion in new, cheaper home loans for an estimated 400,000 distressed borrowers who otherwise would be considered too financially risky to qualify for government-insured, fixed-rate loans.

An 83-9 vote put the plan on track for Senate passage as early as today, but President Bush is threatening a veto, and Democrats are fighting one another over key details. Those challenges will probably delay any final deal until mid-July.

The bill advanced as separate reports underscored rising economic anxiety: Consumer confidence slid to its lowest level in more than 16 years, and closely watched indices showed a continuing decline in home values.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/bal-bz.housing25jun25,0,4310819.story

Smart Ways To Profit From Foreclosures
Matt Woolsey, 06.18.08, 11:00 AM ET

With 700,000 bank-owned homes on the market, and another one million in some state of foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., provider of foreclosure listings, you might be tempted to add a distressed property to your portfolio.

Beware. Buying a home in foreclosure is not for the meek. Those with an appetite for risk, however, will find the tumultuous market stocked with plenty of investment opportunities.

These may include the sale of brand new luxury homes in an upscale Nashville community for half their marked value or a bank giving away a foreclosed property in a poor Detroit neighborhood for back maintenance.

http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/06/17/smart-foreclosures-profit-forbeslife-cx_mw_0617foreclosures.html

Overdue home loans up 70% in Md.

Trend has worsened fast despite strong incomes

By Jamie Smith Hopkins | Sun reporter

June 6, 2008

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.foreclosure06jun06,0,6179071.story

MarketWatch
Thursday May 1, 1:28 pm ET
By Chris Pummer

Market anomalies painting skewed picture, index producers acknowledge - http://biz.yahoo.com/cbsm/080501/b242ec7a7a0849e48cb7f0808f8ef52d.html?.v=1&.pf=real-estate

AP

Friday April 4, 6:30 am ET
By Tom Raum, Associated Press Writer

Analysis: Some Blame Fed, With Help From Bush and Congress, for Mortgage and Credit Crunch... http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080404/housing_blame_game.html

MSN Money

As houses become harder to sell, some agents are charging more than the standard 6% to deliver better results. Should you consider a higher commission?  

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomebuyingGuide/PayMoreToSellAHomeFaster.aspx

By Jay MacDonald • Bankrate.com

When single mother Connie Baschke's severe health problems prevented her from working outside the home, she did what countless people in difficult situations have done for centuries:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/pf/20080324_boardinghouse_home_a1.asp