NAR - "Solid Fundamentals Support Commercial Real Estate" (9-18-07)

"Most commercial real estate markets are enjoying relatively low vacancy rates and healthy rent growth from a fundamentally sound economy, according to the latest COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK of the National Association of Realtors®. NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun said, 'Commercial real estate responds to economic growth and job creation, which have been fairly strong over the past two years and have created the need for additional commercial space,' he said. 'These fundamentals will continue to support commercial real estate markets in 2008. There has not been much overbuilding in the commercial sectors, and investors are more diverse.'"

NAHB - "Federal Home Loan Bank Of Des Moines Boosts Housing Credit Liquidity" (9-18-07)

"The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today applauded the successful efforts of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to include single family construction loans as eligible collateral for member loans. The Des Moines Bank received approval from its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board, on September 10 to accept one-to-four family construction loans as part of a basket of other real estate collateral that may back the Bank’s secured lending (called advances) to member financial institutions in its district, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota."

NAHB - "Builder Confidence Continues Downward In September" (9-18-07)

"Concerns about the substantial inventory of new homes for sale and the effects that deepening mortgage market problems are having on buyer demand caused builder confidence to decline for a seventh consecutive month in September, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The HMI dropped two points to 20, tying its record low reached in January of 1991 (the series began in January 1985)."

Hartford Business - "In credit crunch, location matters" (9-18-07)

"You've heard about how the credit crunch has made it harder for many types of buyers to afford a home or qualify for a mortgage. First-time buyers. Those moving up to larger homes. Buyers with marred credit or little cash for down payments. Those in pricey areas who need "jumbo" loans exceeding $417,000."

Reuters - "Accredited Home posts big loss; survival in doubt" (9-18-07)

"Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co (LEND.O: Quote, Profile, Research), a struggling subprime mortgage lender, on Tuesday posted a $260.2 million quarterly loss and said it remained unsure it would survive the fallout from a slumping U.S. housing market. The loss was $10.29 per share for the quarter that ended March 31, according to a delayed first-quarter report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That compared with a profit of $35.8 million, or $1.61 per share, a year earlier."

Reuters - "Impac slashes mortgage lending, scraps dividend" (9-18-07)

"Impac Mortgage Holdings Inc (IMH.N: Quote, Profile, Research), a struggling mortgage lender, said on Tuesday it will quit substantially all of its mortgage lending operations and has fired 144 workers, citing market disruptions and illiquidity. The company said it will stop making 'Alt-A' home loans, long its main business. Such loans go to people who don't qualify for prime loans, often because they cannot fully document income or assets. Impac also said it is quitting warehouse lending and commercial lending. It plans to keep some facilities related to a recent acquisition."

CNN - "House eyes changes at housing agency" (9-18-07)

"House lawmakers are planning to vote Tuesday on an overhaul of a federal agency that insures mortgages against default in an effort to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The plan of leading House Democrats to expand the role of the Federal Housing Administration goes further than the Bush administration's plan to ease some of the mortgage market troubles that have rattled the economy."

Yahoo - "Fed Cuts Interest Rate by Half Point" (9-18-07)

"The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate for the first time in four years, starting with an aggressive half-point move to prevent a steep housing slump and turbulent financial markets from triggering a recession. The action triggered a huge rally on Wall Street. The Fed announced Tuesday that it was reducing its target for the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, from 5.25 percent to 4.75 percent."

Los Angeles Times - "Cal. foreclosures spike 48% from July" (9-18-07)

"RealtyTrac reports a big spike in foreclosure activity from July to August -- filings were up 36% from July nationally, and 48% in California. Those month-to-month gains are staggeringly high."

Real Estate Journal - "Family Makes Decision To Sell Rental Home" (9-18-07)

"In recent months my family's life has started to burst at the seams. My 10-year-old son has two 90-minute soccer practices a week, multiple soccer games on weekends, and a lot more homework now that he's in fifth grade. My 4-year-old daughter has started dance classes. My wife, Amy, is increasingly busy at work as an administrator for a new medical center that's growing quickly. I've taken on a book project, I'm rewriting another author's book, and Amy and I are now doing a weekly Love & Money video."