Housing agency loosens foreclosure aid rules (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will loosen terms of its foreclosure-prevention effort so that the program, meant to backstop $300 billion in home loans, can be more effective, the agency said on Wednesday.

Homebuilder, REIT shares tumble as recession spreads (Reuters)

Reuters - The shares of big U.S. homebuilders and real estate companies alike slumped on Wednesday as housing starts fell to a record low and concerns spread the commercial real estate market is going the way of residential.

Oil prices fall with global stock markets (AP)

AP - Oil slipped below $54 a barrel Wednesday as stock markets across the globe fell and yet another U.S. government report showed how badly the housing market has been hit.

Mortgage application volume falls 6.2 pct (AP)

AP - Mortgage application volume fell 6.2 percent during the week ended Nov. 14, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly application survey.

House Dems Blast Paulson, Back FDIC Foreclosure Plan (Investor's Busines...

Investor's Business Daily - House Democrats on Tuesday embraced a $24 billion Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. plan to curb foreclosures and gave Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson an earful for seeming to resist a broader effort to help ailing homeowners.

Lawmakers, Treasury lock horns on foreclosures (Reuters)

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and members of Congress clashed on Tuesday over the best use for the $700-billion financial bailout fund, with lawmakers demanding money to stem a national wave of mortgage foreclosures.