South Florida cities target bad-neighbor banks with desperate tactics
By Megan O’Matz and John Maines, Sun Sentinel, April 30, 2012
Citizens and cities across South Florida are fighting back, using increasingly desperate methods against the banks they blame for letting foreclosed houses run down their neighborhoods.
Protesters: Lobbying influences progress of 'Homeowner's Bills of Rights'
Capitol Television News Service, News10, April 30, 2012
SACRAMENTO, CA -"Follow the money trail," that was the chant from unhappy foreclosure victims as they marched on the state capitol Monday.
U.S. homeownership rate at 15-year low
By Tiffany Hsu and Alejandro Lazo, Los Angeles, Times, May 1, 2012
High foreclosure rates and a strong rental market pushed the homeownership rate in the U.S. to a 15-year low, even as projections for the housing market grew brighter.
Arizona could be sued over $50M raid of mortgage, foreclosure assistance fund
By Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal, April 30, 2012
A housing group could sue the state of Arizona to stop a $50 million budget raid of a state fund aimed to help reduce foreclosures and stop mortgage fraud.
REO Prices Increase, Fair Market Prices Drop, Home Values Stabilizing
By Esther Cho, DSNews, April 30, 2012
According to data from Clear Capital, over the last year, REO prices have increased 5.5 percent, while fair market prices dropped 2.9 percent. The real estate data provider explained that demand for REOs is most likely causing the increase in prices and named Carrington Holding Company, Amherst Securities Group, and Waypoint Financial as examples of investors purchasing single-family REOs with the purpose of converting them into rental properties.
US construction spending edged up slight 0.1 percent in March after 2 months of declines
By Associated Press, The Washington Post, May 1, 2012
WASHINGTON — U.S. builders barely increased their spending on construction projects in March after two straight months of declines. A pickup in single-family home construction and commercial projects offset a steep drop in state and local government building.