San Francisco-area homes sales rise nearly 39 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - Home sales in the San Francisco Bay area rose nearly 39 percent in October from a year earlier and the median home price posted a record fall as bargain hunters bought properties in markets hit hard by foreclosures, a report on Thursday said.

FDIC chief calls again for foreclosure relief (AP)

AP - FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said Thursday she is "still hopeful" of using federal bailout money to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.

UK mortgage lending down 44 pct from a year ago (AP)

AP - Mortgage lending in Britain was down 44 percent in October compared to a year ago, further evidence the economic downturn is hurting an already weak property market, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said Thursday.

China shares fall but property, metals limit loss (AP)

AP - Chinese shares joined the global sell-off Thursday but gains in property developers and gold miners provided a floor for the market, partly offsetting losses in banks and insurers.

The Bank Terrorist (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - Housing: For years, a self-described "bank terrorist" blackmailed banks into making bad home loans in our inner cities. Now those loans are defaulting by the millions, and he's blaming banks.

IBD's Top 10 - Wednesday (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - 1 The Nasdaq plunged 6.5%, the S&P 500 6.1% and the NYSE composite 6.1%, all to fresh 51/2-year lows. The Dow slid 5.1% to its first sub-8,000 close since March '03. Volume rose. Over 100 S&P 500 components suffered double-digit declines. Every industry group fell, led by transports, home builders, steel and financials. The 10-year T-yield dived 20 ticks to 3.34%.