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Recovery in new home sales a boost for the economy
Eve Troeh Dec 27, 2012
Many of the new homes being sold now were planned years ago. Finally demand has returned, in part because first-time buyers are being outbid by investors for bargain foreclosure sales.
Chicago lags in U.S. housing recovery
Caroline O'Donovan Dec 26, 2012
The latest figures on the U.S. housing market show a turnaround is taking hold. But Chicago is a stubborn outlier on the road to recovery.
Homebuilding slows down in November
Jeff Horwich Dec 19, 2012
After a rush of homebuilding in October, November turned out to be a little muted. Much of that you can blame on Sandy -- the storm definitely seems to have slowed down construction in the Northeast.
Overnight delivery loses appeal, hurting FedEx
David Weinberg Dec 19, 2012
As companies and customers cut shipping costs by using slower, cheaper rail and truck, FedEx's expensive air-cargo fleet suffers.
Why the national budget is different than a household's
Jeremy Hobson Dec 14, 2012
Throughout the debate about the deficits and debt, you've probably heard a certain metaphor: One that compares the nation
to a household. Well, that metaphor bothers one of the nation's leading economists, Robert Shiller of Yale University.
High salaries at Freddie, Fannie draw attention
Nancy Marshall-Genzer Dec 10, 2012
A government watchdog released a report this morning that scrutinizes the pay of senior staffers at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The report is from the inspector general of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie.
Hedge funds crowd first-time buyers out of housing market
David Weinberg Dec 10, 2012
Hedge funds and private-equity funds are buying up hundreds of foreclosed homes at a time, turning them into rentals, crowding out first-time home buyers looking for bargains.
Fannie Mae, big banks halt holiday evictions
Dan Bobkoff Dec 7, 2012
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and some big banks will halt evictions from foreclosed homes during the holidays. Is this altruism or a publicity stunt?
After all those foreclusures, not so many houses for sale
David Weinberg Dec 27, 2012
Some cities with high foreclosure rates actually have housing shortages now, not a glut of foreclosed houses on the market. President Obama's mortgage-relief plan has helped, but another factor is hedge funds investing in houses to rent out.
What's helping the housing market bounce back?
Tony Cox Dec 7, 2012
Things are looking up in the housing market. People are starting to buy houses again. Mortgage rates are at an all-time low and there's lots of inventory. Or is there?
