Foreclosures fell 26% in Dec., but 2010 filings set a record
USA Today
“The pace of foreclosures has slowed since revelations that thousands of foreclosure documents may have been improperly prepared, but for all 2010, almost 2.9 million U.S. properties received foreclosure filings, a record high, and up 2% from 2009.”

7 down payment assistance programs that make home buying easier
Custom Builder
“Mortgage rates are low and home prices aren’t showing signs of going up anytime soon. And now state and local governments are stepping in to help many buyers with their down payments.”

Unlawful Marketing & Sales Practices
Replacement Contractor
“Thirty companies in the state of Washington received a letter from the assistant attorney general with the above heading in the last year. Seven of the companies and one manufacturer signed consent decrees. Some are left with severe damage to their reputation and staggering legal bills.”

Bankrupt Projects Are Springing Back to Life
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
“Faced with record low demand, builders are trying to boost margins and revenue by pulling unfinished projects out of mothballs. They are buying lots at less than half their original price from lenders eager to move distressed construction loans off their books. They’re also benefiting from cheap land and falling construction and labor costs as they try to lure buyers with prices that, in some neighborhoods, are little more than the cost of a foreclosed home.”