NAR - "Gain Seen In Pending Home Sales, Housing Affordability Sets New Record" (4-1-09)

"Pending home sales have edged up, hinting at a possible pickup of sales activity in coming months, according to the National Association of Realtors^®. The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 2.1 percent to 82.1 from a reading of 80.4 in January, but is 1.4 percent below February 2008 when it was 83.3."

Mortgage Bankers Association - "Strong Refinance Activity Continues Unabated in Latest MBA Weekly Survey" (4-1-09)

"The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 27, 2009. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, was 1194.4, an increase of 3.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from 1159.4 one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 2.9 percent compared with the previous week and 68.8 percent compared with the same week one year earlier. "

The San Diego Union Tribune - "Signs suggest county housing market recovering" (4-1-09)

"For eight consecutive months, overall sales have increased from year-earlier levels, with seven of the eight months recording double-digit increases. Even beleaguered home builders are seeing reason for hope, with some adding $1,000 to $5,000 to base prices of newly released homes. Meanwhile, record-low interest rates have induced buyers to jump into the lower end of the market, which some view as relatively safe from further price deterioration"

Los Angeles Times - "U.S. employers slash 742,000 jobs in March" (4-1-09)

"U.S. companies shed 742,000 jobs in March, payroll services company ADP said Wednesday, far more than forecasters had been expecting. While there have been signs lately that the deterioration in the economy might be slowing, the ADP report was the latest reminder that the nation remains mired in a deep and stubborn recession. The company reported more job losses for March than it had for any other month since it began tracking them in 2001."

CNN - "Real Estate 2009" (4-1-09)

"Latest forecasts and projections for the nation's 100 largest metro areas."

Bloomberg - "Thornburg Mortgage to File for Bankruptcy, Liquidate" (4-1-09)

"Thornburg Mortgage Inc., the 'jumbo' home lender racked by the collapse of U.S. mortgage markets, said it plans to file for bankruptcy protection and shut down."

Bloomberg - "FDIC’s Bair Says Toxic Asset Purchase Plan to Shore Up Industry" (4-1-09)

"Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair said banks will resume making money and start lending as the U.S. helps struggling financial institutions by leveraging purchases of their toxic assets."

Bloomberg - "Home Prices in U.S. to Decline Through 2010, PMI Says" (4-1-09)

"Home prices will fall in more than half of the largest U.S. cities through 2010 as the recession slashes jobs and reduces buying power, according to PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. PMI, the second largest U.S. mortgage insurer, said 21 of the 50 biggest U.S. metropolitan areas have more than a 75 percent chance of lower home prices in two years. Six others have more than a 50 percent chance, the Walnut Creek, California-based insurer said in a report today."

Bloomberg - "Triad Ordered to Defer Claims Payments by Regulator" (4-1-09)

"Triad Guaranty Inc., the mortgage insurer that stopped selling policies when capital ran short, was ordered by a state regulator to defer 40 percent of claims payments because of 'uncertainty' over whether it will meet its obligations to banks that purchased coverage."

Orange County Register - "House sellers offer unemployment insurance" (4-1-09)

"A new program has surfaced to lure customers into buying a home — even if their future employment prospects are shaky. Lennar Corp. is offering to make house payments of up to $2,500 a month for six months to customers who buy one of their homes in Orange County."