Sacramento Bee - "Homefront: Capital market near bottom, housing bear says" (8-29-08)

"Here's one of the more reassuring comments we've heard in a while. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com and a longtime housing market bear, says Sacramento should be back on its feet within a year."

The San Diego Union Tribune - "S.D. economy in recession, expert says" (8-29-08)

"The University of San Diego's monthly report on leading economic indicators fell again in July, led by plunging consumer confidence, a jump in job losses and worries about the national economy. The USD index has fallen for 27 of the last 28 months."

Realty Times - "Investor Report: Rare Tax Law and Opportunity for Profit" (8-29-08)

"The opportunity flows from tax provisions in the recently-signed Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. One change is the $7,500 tax credit for purchasers who haven't owned a home as a principal residence for the past three years. The second change is for investors who HAVE OWNED a principal residence -- but who've also used the property as a rental investment. After next January 1st, investors will be limited in their ability to pull tax-free money out of sales proceeds on units they use for mixed purposes -- rentals and principal residence."

Realty Times - "Succeeding in Today's Market" (8-29-08)

"No matter what is reported in the media, I know one thing and it is that you are the only one who can decide if the market is good or bad. Let's take that approach to our business and set it into high gear for the months ahead. Whether you are happy with the results you achieved so far this year or not, the good news is it's not too late to make the changes needed. Take control decide it is time to do something different. No matter how bad it is for you, it is never too late. Here is my 15 step approach to improving your business"

Realty Times - "Legislation Aims to Protect Tenants in Foreclosed Properties" (8-29-08)

"Like many states, California has a variety of tenant-protection laws that govern landlord-tenant situations. Unfortunately, though, California laws do not always make clear that the same rules apply when a new owner, a "successor in interest," acquires a tenant-occupied property through foreclosure. Moreover, these are not isolated instances. The Western Center on Law & Poverty indicates that 20 - 25 percent of residential foreclosures in California involve rental units. In 2007 that translated to approximately 20,000 renters who were affected."

Orange County Register - "O.C. builders shy from new stores, cut plans 61%" (8-29-08)

"Future retail construction — as indicated by the value of building permits issued so far this year — fell 61% from the huge upswing that occurred in the first seven months of 2007, according to the board, which tracks California building permit data."

Orange County Register - "O.C. mortgage rates fall" (8-29-08)

"The average rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans up to the old conforming limit of $417,000 slid to 6.139 percent with a one-point fee, the second weekly drop from a peak of 6.205 percent earlier this month – that was the highest average of the year."