US home sales rise 9.4 percent in September

WASHINGTON -- U.S. home resales rose far more than expected last month to the highest level in more than two years as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.

Source:Associated Press
US home sales rise 9.4 percent in SeptemberBy ALAN ZIBEL , 10.23.09, 10:05 AM EDT

FDIC’s Bair: Bank Failures Will Continue at a ‘Good Clip’ This Year

Banks have stabilized since the collapse of Lehman, but “failures will continue at a good clip” this year and next, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair told CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo Tuesday.

source; http://wallstreetpit.com/10389-fdics-bair-bank-failures-will-continue-at-a-good-clip-this-year; editor

Listed: Meticulous Arts And Crafts Replica

Newly constructed homes that imitate historical styles often miss their mark, capturing the essence of a period from the outside, but leaving the interior devoid of character.
That’s not the case for this recently built, $2.8 million, six-bedroom home in Bedford, N.Y., constructed in the arts and crafts style. The indoor details were attended to as carefully as the stone and shingle exterior: wainscoting, arched doorways and molding galore adorn the place.

Source; http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/09/bedford-luxury-zip-lifestyle-real-estate-house-of-week.html; franseca levy

Where Home Prices Are Likely To Rise

Though home prices in many areas still have room to drop, economists say some of the country's real estate markets are showing early signs of repair. A two-year slide in values has eased its stomach-turning pace, and some analysts expect the national market to bottom out by mid 2010.

source: www.forbes.com ; Francesca Levy

http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/14/cities-home-prices-lifestyle-real-estate-homes-cities.html

Europe's Most Idyllic Places To Live

Last year, the rising dollar meant European property was becoming more affordable. But even now that the globe is fully in recession, Europe's most idyllic locations have yet to lose any of their charm.

source; http://www.forbes.com/, Parmy Olson, 09.03.09, 06:00 PM

http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/03/europe-most-idyllic-places-lifestyle-real-estate.html

Unemployment rate jumps to 9.7 percent

WASHINGTON - The unemployment rate jumped almost half a point to 9.7 percent in August, the highest since 1983, reflecting a poor job market that will make it hard for the economy to begin a sustained recovery.

sources; associated presshttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32689068/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

How Much Debt Is Too Much?

Shouldn't borrow what you can't pay back--that's how we got into this whole economic mess in the first place. But figuring out how much debt you can take on--or, put another way, how much a lender is willing to extend (for they may not be the same thing)--is a bit tricky.

Source: Dileep Rao, Ph.D., 08.28.09, 04:56 PM EDT, forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/28/interest-coverage-ratios-entrepreneurs-finance-dileep.html

‘Troubled’ banks jumped to 416 from 305

WASHINGTON - With bank failures rising, the government’s deposit insurance fund fell 20 percent to $10.4 billion in the second quarter as U.S. banks lost $3.7 billion.

Source: Associated Press

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32580851/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

Home sales, durable orders buoy recovery hopes

By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. home sales hit their highest level in 10 months in July and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, fresh evidence a modest economic recovery was taking shape.http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2625932720090826

Number of Homeowners Late in Paying or in Foreclosure Soars

The number of Americans who are in serious delinquency on their mortgage rose to a record 9.24% last quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as the increasing job losses and still-struggling economy forced more people out of their homes.
Meanwhile, the number of people who were in the foreclosure process rose to 4.3% from 3.85% from the previous quarter.

Source: Ken Sweet FOXBusiness

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/economy/update----homeowners-late-paying-foreclosure/

Consumer confidence rises above forecast in August

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence climbed more than expected in August on an improved outlook on the job market and the overall economy, according to a private report released on Tuesday.
The Conference Board, an industry group, said its index of consumer attitudes rose to 54.1 in August from an upwardly revised 47.4 percent in July. The July figure was originally reported at 46.6.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE57O3L120090825

Source: www.reuters.com