Crisis In The Housing Market : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130729880 Perhaps no other sector was hit harder in the financial crisis and the Great Recession than the U.S. housing market. As values plummeted millions of homeowners ended up "underwater," with their homes worth less than what they owe. Revelations that banks used questionable documents in foreclosure proceedings clouded the picture further. en Copyright 2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:29:00 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Crisis In The Housing Market https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130729880 You Be The Judge: Is The Housing Market Really Improving? Optimists have had no trouble finding fresh evidence to suggest that the real estate market is recovering. Home sales are at the highest levels in years, borrowing rates are at historical lows, and builders are hiring again. But not everyone is convinced that the sector's momentum has staying power. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:29:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/174873797/you-be-the-judge-is-the-housing-market-really-improving https://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/174873797/you-be-the-judge-is-the-housing-market-really-improving

Optimists have had no trouble finding fresh evidence to suggest that the real estate market is recovering. Home sales are at the highest levels in years, borrowing rates are at historical lows, and builders are hiring again. But not everyone is convinced that the sector's momentum has staying power.

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]]> Marilyn Geewax Former FDIC Chair: Don't Call It A Housing Recovery Yet Sheila Bair says it's too soon to celebrate over a housing recovery. Bair says a glut of houses could hit the market once prices perk up. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:22:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/03/13/174251967/former-fdic-chair-don-t-call-it-a-housing-recovery-yet https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/03/13/174251967/former-fdic-chair-don-t-call-it-a-housing-recovery-yet Sheila Bair says it's too soon to celebrate over a housing recovery. Bair says a glut of houses could hit the market once prices perk up.

]]> Marilyn Geewax In One Key Way, The Housing Crisis Is Still Going Strong The U.S. housing market is still a ward of the state. Almost all new mortgages — $1.6 trillion last year alone — are guaranteed by taxpayer dollars. Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:13:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/03/11/173631168/in-one-key-way-the-housing-crisis-is-still-going-strong https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/03/11/173631168/in-one-key-way-the-housing-crisis-is-still-going-strong

The U.S. housing market is still a ward of the state. Almost all new mortgages — $1.6 trillion last year alone — are guaranteed by taxpayer dollars.

(Image credit: Lam Thuy Vo / NPR)

]]> Jacob Goldstein In Miami, A New Condo Boom Revives Hopes Of Housing Recovery At the height of the housing boom, condominium towers popped up on the Miami skyline faster than you'd believe. Once the market crashed, those towers sat vacant. Now, led by foreign buyers, condos are selling again as developers try new, more stringent financing rules. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:24:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172602696/in-miami-a-new-condo-boom-revives-hopes-of-housing-recovery https://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172602696/in-miami-a-new-condo-boom-revives-hopes-of-housing-recovery

At the height of the housing boom, condominium towers popped up on the Miami skyline faster than you'd believe. Once the market crashed, those towers sat vacant. Now, led by foreign buyers, condos are selling again as developers try new, more stringent financing rules.

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]]> Greg Allen Existing Home Sales Rise Again; 'Seller's Market Is Developing,' Realtors Say Sales were up more than 9 percent from a year ago. Realtors report that across much of the nation, would-be buyers are beginning to outpace the supply of homes. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:40:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/21/172587756/existing-home-sales-rise-again-sellers-market-is-developing-realtors-say https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/21/172587756/existing-home-sales-rise-again-sellers-market-is-developing-realtors-say

Sales were up more than 9 percent from a year ago. Realtors report that across much of the nation, would-be buyers are beginning to outpace the supply of homes.

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]]> Mark Memmott Foreclosure Process Hammers Florida's Housing Market As much of the country enjoys the start of a housing recovery, Florida is still being swamped by foreclosures. Experts blame the state's legal process, and they say it will be awhile before the housing market is fully rebuilt in the Sunshine State. Mon, 04 Feb 2013 03:36:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/170752042/foreclosure-process-hammers-floridas-housing-market https://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/170752042/foreclosure-process-hammers-floridas-housing-market

As much of the country enjoys the start of a housing recovery, Florida is still being swamped by foreclosures. Experts blame the state's legal process, and they say it will be awhile before the housing market is fully rebuilt in the Sunshine State.

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]]> Robin Sussingham Home Prices Continue To Rise; Housing Is Now Economic 'Bright Spot' In nearly all major cities across the nation, prices rose at a faster pace in November than they had in October, the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report shows. It's another sign that the housing sector has recovered from its bust. Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:26:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/29/170543378/home-prices-continue-to-rise-housing-is-now-economic-bright-spot https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/29/170543378/home-prices-continue-to-rise-housing-is-now-economic-bright-spot

In nearly all major cities across the nation, prices rose at a faster pace in November than they had in October, the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report shows. It's another sign that the housing sector has recovered from its bust.

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]]> Mark Memmott Homebuilding Is Booming, But Skilled Workers Are Scarce More than 2 million construction jobs disappeared during the economic downturn. But now that there are indications the sector is rebounding, the industry is actually experiencing a labor shortage in many parts of the country. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:53:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2013/01/17/169611619/homebuilding-is-booming-but-skilled-workers-are-scarce https://www.npr.org/2013/01/17/169611619/homebuilding-is-booming-but-skilled-workers-are-scarce

More than 2 million construction jobs disappeared during the economic downturn. But now that there are indications the sector is rebounding, the industry is actually experiencing a labor shortage in many parts of the country.

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]]> Yuki Noguchi New Mortgage Rules Would Limit Risky Lending The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new rules that are scheduled to be released Thursday come at a time when regulators and banks are trying to find a middle ground between overly lax and overly tight lending standards. The rules will go into effect next January. Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:24:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2013/01/10/168979256/new-mortgage-rules-would-limit-risky-lending https://www.npr.org/2013/01/10/168979256/new-mortgage-rules-would-limit-risky-lending The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new rules that are scheduled to be released Thursday come at a time when regulators and banks are trying to find a middle ground between overly lax and overly tight lending standards. The rules will go into effect next January.

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]]> Yuki Noguchi Big Banks Agree To Pay $8.5 Billion To Settle Foreclosure-Abuse Claims Some borrowers who were mistreated during foreclosures will receive compensation. The payments will range from hundreds of dollars to $125,000. The agreement ends a case-by-case review of the banks' actions. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:35:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/07/168790359/big-banks-agree-to-pay-8-5-billion-to-settle-foreclosure-abuse-claims https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/07/168790359/big-banks-agree-to-pay-8-5-billion-to-settle-foreclosure-abuse-claims

Some borrowers who were mistreated during foreclosures will receive compensation. The payments will range from hundreds of dollars to $125,000. The agreement ends a case-by-case review of the banks' actions.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

]]> Mark Memmott Bank Of America To Pay Fannie Mae $3.6B, Buy Back $6.75B In Mortgages The agreement resolves claims against the bank about mortgage-backed securities it sold before the housing bust. Many weren't worth what was promised. Also today, BofA and other banks are expectd to settle claims related to alleged foreclosure abuses. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/07/168776572/bank-of-america-to-pay-fannie-mae-3-6b-buy-back-6-75b-in-mortgages https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/07/168776572/bank-of-america-to-pay-fannie-mae-3-6b-buy-back-6-75b-in-mortgages

The agreement resolves claims against the bank about mortgage-backed securities it sold before the housing bust. Many weren't worth what was promised. Also today, BofA and other banks are expectd to settle claims related to alleged foreclosure abuses.

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]]> Mark Memmott Sales Of Existing Homes Hit Three-Year High The housing sector continues to recover. Sales rose 5.9 percent last month. It's the second new piece of positive news about the economy. Earlier, gross domestic product growth for the third quarter was revised upward. Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:39:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/12/20/167700407/sales-of-existing-homes-hit-three-year-high https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/12/20/167700407/sales-of-existing-homes-hit-three-year-high

The housing sector continues to recover. Sales rose 5.9 percent last month. It's the second new piece of positive news about the economy. Earlier, gross domestic product growth for the third quarter was revised upward.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

]]> Mark Memmott Good Signs: Home Sales Are Up; Builders' Confidence Is Also Higher Sales of existing homes rose again in October. Meanwhile, home builders are the most confident they've been in more than six years. Taken together, the reports are the latest signs that the housing sector is on the mend. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:23:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/11/19/165471199/good-signs-home-sales-are-up-builders-confidence-is-also-higher https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/11/19/165471199/good-signs-home-sales-are-up-builders-confidence-is-also-higher

Sales of existing homes rose again in October. Meanwhile, home builders are the most confident they've been in more than six years. Taken together, the reports are the latest signs that the housing sector is on the mend.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

]]> Mark Memmott FHA Announces Moves Designed To Avoid Taxpayer Bailout An audit found that the agency is on pace to run out of money by September. The Obama administration, however, announced a series of steps to increase revenue. Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:17:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/11/16/165285239/fha-announces-moves-designed-to-avoid-taxpayer-bailout https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/11/16/165285239/fha-announces-moves-designed-to-avoid-taxpayer-bailout

An audit found that the agency is on pace to run out of money by September. The Obama administration, however, announced a series of steps to increase revenue.

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]]> Eyder Peralta Hidden Housing Subsidy May Soon Come Out Of Hiding A program that backed lots of mortgages during the housing bust may soon need taxpayer money to make good on its promises. Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:52:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/11/16/165207561/hidden-housing-subsidy-may-soon-come-out-of-hiding https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/11/16/165207561/hidden-housing-subsidy-may-soon-come-out-of-hiding

A program that backed lots of mortgages during the housing bust may soon need taxpayer money to make good on its promises.

(Image credit: Lam Thuy Vo/NPR)

]]> Jacob Goldstein