Key states move closer to foreclosure-abuse deal
By Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2012

WASHINGTON — California and New York, the key holdouts in a long-awaited settlement over foreclosure abuses, moved closer Monday to backing a deal that would force the five largest mortgage lenders to reduce loans for about 1 million households. More than 40 U.S. states have agreed to a nationwide settlement.

Company Faces Forgery Charges in Mo. Foreclosures
By Gretchen Morgenson, The New York Times, February 6, 2012

One of the largest companies that provided home foreclosure services to lenders across the nation, DocX, has been indicted on forgery charges by a Missouri grand jury — one of the few criminal actions to follow reports of widespread improprieties against homeowners.

2 Senate bills would regulate foreclosures
By Saul Hubbard, The Register-Guard, February 7, 2012

SALEM — Efforts to place tighter state regulations on lenders during the fore¬closure process endured a day of mixed success Monday in the Capitol.

Attempt to subpoena foreclosure mills stalls
By Kimberly Miller, The Sun Sentinel, February 6, 2012

Florida's once-heralded foreclosure mill investigations have fizzled as the attorney general's office has failed to find the right strategy to continue its pursuit and three law firms call for the cases to be dismissed.

Number of 'Improving' Housing Markets Expands to Nearly 100
By Carrie Bay, DSNews, February 6, 2012

The number of housing markets showing measurable improvement expanded by 29 metros in February to include a total of 98 markets listed on the Improving Markets Index published monthly by First American and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Thirty-six states are now represented by at least one market on the list.

What Obama’s Housing Plan Means for You
By Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post, Feb 1, 2012

Many people are wondering about President Obama’s refinance plan, announced Wednesday, and a new program that would try to make thousands of vacant homes available for rent. Is this your chance to refinance and take advantage of the historically low interest rates? Will this really help the housing market — and the economy? Let’s walk through it.

U.S. Regulator Launches Foreclosure Sales Plan
By Margaret Chadbourn, Reuters, Feb 1, 2012

The regulator for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said on Wednesday investors could now sign up to pre-qualify to bid on foreclosed properties held by the government-controlled firms.

Homeownership Rates Fall to 66%
By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY, Feb 1, 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday that the nation's homeownership rate fell to 66 percent in the fourth quarter, continuing a seven-year drop from a fourth-quarter peak of 69.2 percent in 2004. Falling homeownership — and prices — reflect the worst housing downturn since the Great Depression. And while there are signs that the housing industry's downturn may at least be nearing a bottom, the impact of the collapse will be evident for years to come, economists say.

No Bottoming Out for Real Estate Market as Home Values Keep Falling
By Alison Rogers, TIME, Jan 31, 2012

If you’re watching the real estate markets, the good news is that the Federal Reserve has pledged to keep interest rates low through 2014. The bad news is that the market is going to need it. The November Case-Shiller housing numbers, released this morning, indicate that prices tumbled 3.7% from the year before. That’s below expectations of a 3.2% drop.

Bernanke: Fed Will Protect U.S. Economy from Europe
By Annalyn Censky, CNNMoney.com, Feb 2, 2012

The recovery remains "frustrating slow" in the United States, and now Europe's debt crisis is posing additional challenges, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Thursday. "Risks remain that developments in Europe or elsewhere may unfold unfavorably and could worsen economic prospects here at home," Bernanke told the House Budget Committee.

Hedge Funds Brace for Euro Zone Break-Up
By Laurence Fletcher, New York Times via Reuters, Feb 1, 2012

Nervous hedge funds managers are stress-testing their portfolios and searching for ways of protecting themselves against their worst nightmare — a potential break-up of the euro zone. With talks on restructuring Greece's debt mountain still deadlocked, and the exit of one of more countries from the euro seen as a small but definite possibility, funds are modeling scenarios ranging from a 50 percent slump in European stocks or a 45 percent fall in the oil price to a 30 percent rise in gold.