To find a good home, you need the help of a good real estate agent. But how to find one? In part two of his home-buying series, Rico Gagliano helps you pick out an agent who will really work for you.
If there's a foreclosure on your house, what can you do to start repairing your credit? Tess Vigeland talks to housing expert Gabriel Del Rio about helpful things to do if you've lost your home.
The foreclosure rate in the U.S. is at an alarming high. Tess Vigeland met up with Monique Parker, who lost her home in Long Beach, Calif., to talk about what she went through in the foreclosure process.
What if Americans were paid to be environmentally conscious? One company in Philadelphia is helping the city see a sustainability surge by offering rewards for recyclers.
Caterpillar is selling a whole mess of bulldozers and other heavy equipment, despite a slowdown in the U.S. market. Alisa Roth digs in to what's keeping the company pushing forward.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and biggest oil producer. So its presidential election this weekend will have an impact throughout the continent. Kai Ryssdal talks about it with Africa expert Michael Watts.
A lot of us are in our gardens putting in flowers and other plants, and we end up with lots of non-recyclable plastic pots. But some growers are experimenting with greener alternatives. Janet Babin reports.
New York City's Mayor Bloomberg is expected to announce a proposal to charge drivers entering busy parts of Manhattan as much as $8 for the privilege. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The front-runner in France's presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy, has taken his campaign to what he calls France's seventh-largest city — London. Stephen Beard reports.
With the nebulous condition of the student loan industry, it's more important than ever to be mindful of what you borrow for college. Amy Scott explores how students are handling their loans.
The last thing a student wants when they're applying for a loan is to have their information sold. But thanks to this week's buzzword, some lenders have found a new way to abuse power.
Money for equipment and training. Money for recruitment and retention. Faced with a serious budget shortfall, National Guard and Reserve leaders are on the Hill today asking for the funding they'll need for the year ahead.
Britain's biggest pharmacy chain has agreed to $20 billion takeover bid by an American private equity firm. It would be the biggest such buyout in European history, but it may spark a bidding war before shareholders get a chance to approve it.
Studios are seeing big dollar signs at the global box office. So much so that in some cases, they're opening domestic films in foreign markets first to generate big buzz and big bucks. And it could begin to influence the films themselves.
Drug companies are expected to pump out a record 132 million doses of flu vaccine for next winter — even though there were 20 million doses left over this year.
It's been blamed for killing the electric EV1 back in the '90s, but now GM has turned out a prototype for the Volt — an electric car that runs on such advanced clean technology, it won't hit production until the end of the decade.
Results of a poll out today show that an overwhelming majority of Americans think the government should do something about global warming. But when asked to dip into their own pockets to pay for a solution, ahhh not so much.
It's NHL playoff time and fans are attending games — but no one's watching on TV. Diana Nyad says maybe it's time for the league to come through on that promise of a dedicated 24-hour NHL Network.
A whole lot of money. Its Q1 profit jumped a jaw-dropping 69 percent. Online advertising continues to produce pretty much all the profits, and the search giant is positioning itself to keep 'em coming.
There are some great bargains on the table if you're an airline in the market for new planes. Rivals Boeing and Airbus are offering huge discounts on their midsized and jumbo jets in the ongoing battle for customers.
Bill Gates says Microsoft will practically give away its software in developing nations that provide computers to kids. He wasn't wearing his foundation hat — it's all about business. Lisa Napoli reports.
Attendance at its games remains strong, but the National Hockey League's TV audience is a fraction of what it once was. Sports-business analyst Ed Derse discusses the NHL's challenges with host Bob Moon.
Parisians can spend hours over a croissant and a cafe au lait. Now McDonald's wants a piece of the action. It's taking its McCafe coffee outlets there. Eleanor Beardsley reports.
The nation's biggest shopping mall in Minnesota, with more than 500 stores and an amusement park, wants to get bigger. And it wants the government to pay for some of the expansion. Annie Baxter reports.
The dollar continues to fall on world markets, especially against the British pound. It now takes two dollars for every pound — a 26-year high. Good for Britain? Not necessarily. Stephen Beard reports.
The Shanghai Index fell 4.5% today on news of China's exploding economy and rising inflation. But Wall Street didn't react. Host Bob Moon gets some insight into what's happening from Eurasia Group director Jason Kindopp.
Commentator Krishna Guha says World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz may be under pressure to resign, but the U.S. wields too much power for him to be fired. It's time, Guha says, for a bank chief from a developing nation.
In Venezuela, the government of President Hugo Chavez is going to provide workers with four hours of free classes each week — in Marxism. Dan Grech reports.
Consumers could continue to see sky-high prices and shortages in fruit bins this year. First a January freeze devastated citrus crops in California. Now rain and unseasonably cold weather have wiped out entire apple and peach crops in the Southeast.
Argentina and Uruguay are locked in a bitter dispute over a $1.2 billion paper plant on their shared border, so they've asked… the King of Spain to step in? Yes, it seems King Juan Carlos is something of a peacemaker in the region.
If technology has made identity theft easier, it may also be the best tool to fight the crime. Some companies are starting to use BioPassword to secure their logins. The software uses biometric science to measure your keystrokes and confirm your identity.
AOL founder Steve Case has put up $100 million of his own money on the belief that American health consumers are ready for a change. He's launching a website today that aims to give us "better choices, more convenience and more control."
Some economists are concerned that conditions are ripe for stagflation and they're drawing parallels to the stagflation economy of the '70s. But Chris Farrell says put your disco shoes away, it's not gonna happen.
A new IHS report claims Iraq is sitting on massive oil reserves — 100 billion barrels more than expected. But skeptics say there's no way the group can be certain of its findings, especially given the ongoing violence there.
The House is set to approve a bill by the end of the week that would give shareholders greater say in CEO pay, but the bill's prospects of becoming law are bleak. It's opposed by the White House and many business groups.
Colleges across the nation have sought out better emergency notification systems in the days following Monday's deadly shootings at Virginia Tech. That's led hundreds of them to a company called Omnilert.
A top deputy at the World Bank has asked Paul Wolfowitz to step down, but he may not be going anywhere just yet. President Bush is standing behind the bank president, so it'll be a game of high-stakes politics if the board wants to force him out.
Key Democratic congressional leaders are demanding that the Department of Education make immediate changes to the federal student loan program. Steve Henn reports.
When a seriously depressed person requires an antidepressant, he needs a doctor's permission. If a person wants to buy a gun, he needs only two forms of ID. Commentator Robert Reich has some thoughts about that.
At the last minute, two private equity firms have upped their offer for Clear Channel Communications. Will the higher amount satisfy the media giant's shareholders? Lisa Napoli reports.
A bill to allow Medicare to negotiate cheaper drug prices failed in the Senate today, as Democrats couldn't muster enough votes to break a Republican filibuster. Helen Palmer reports.
Tax filers using Turbo Tax and other software flooded computer servers Tuesday night, causing some customers to miss the midnight deadline. Our John Dimsdale shares the details with host Tess Vigeland.
Vermont has long relied on winter tourism to bolster its economy. But with less snow and warmer weather this past season, businesses are considering other options. Jane Lindholm reports.
Monsoons provide critical moisture for India's farms. But they've become less and less reliable. And that's driving some farmers to take desperate measures. Miranda Kennedy reports.
Rivals in the ultra-competitive tech industry don't work together often, but today they're making an exception and meeting in Denver to try to help save the environment — and money of course.
The rich are rich enough, says commentator Ben Stein. He argues that America's wealthiest can afford to pay higher taxes so that America can afford to do more for the men and women serving in our military.
The vaccine is less than 50 percent effective and only has a shelf life of 18 months, but the FDA says it's still worth approving and stockpiling — because in the event of a pandemic, saving some lives will be better than none.
The Department of Education shut down its National Student Loan Database late last night, denying thousands of lenders access following reports of unlawful data mining for information about U.S. college students and their families.
Lawmakers are squaring off with the White House over Iraq funding. Congress is expected to set deadlines for U.S. troops to come home when it delivers its supplemental war spending package. Bush has promised a veto.
The EPA has proposed new rules designed to help reduce summertime smog. It says adding catalytic converters to small engines on boats and lawnmowers could bring levels down as much as 10%, but manufacturers say it could be dangerous.
GM is streamlining production of its popular Astra model in Europe, and the 1,400 jobs cut are all coming out of Belgium. And if plants there don't bring costs down, GM indicated it may shift that production work to Asia.
The high-tech world of video gaming is providing a whole new stage for aspiring actors. And it's win-win: The actors get experience and a paying gig. And it's faster and cheaper for the game makers than creating forms from scratch.
A major new competitor looms on the horizon for U.S. convenience stores and markets. British super-retailer Tesco is about to open stores here and analysts say it could pose a legitimate threat.
The leading market for solar power isn't a sun-drenched locale. It's Germany, where despite lots of clouds and rain, the solar-panel industry has brought a ray of hope to its economically depressed regions. Kyle James reports.
Ohio has the highest foreclosure rate in the nation. Cleveland and its suburbs are spending millions to maintain homes that nobody wants. And come billing time, lenders are making themselves scarce. Mhari Saito reports.
The Coast Guard booted Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman today for, among other things, building eight cutters that had issues with seaworthiness. Alisa Roth reports.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac say they'll unveil new programs this summer to let many subprime borrowers refinance their home loans. But some in Congress say such assistance needs federal oversight. Steve Tripoli reports.
AARP announced health plans for people between 50 and 64 and for those already on Medicare. Economist Glenn Melnick talked with host Tess Vigeland about what the organization for retirees is doing.
The nation's banks got some good news from the U.S. Supreme Court today. It ruled states can't make their own rules for bank subsidiaries. But the decision has consumer groups worried. John Dimsdale reports.
Fewer and fewer taxpayers are checking that little box to contribute $3 to the presidential election fund. But voters aren't the only ones saying no. Candidates are declining to use the fund. So is it worth keeping around?
Fortune magazine has posted its annual list of America's largest companies, and this year was their most profitable ever. Some argue that's good news for everyone, but critics point out the profits are made on the backs of low-wage workers.
Creditors have agreed to take a 20 to 30 percent hit and approve a reorganization plan that puts Delta on course to emerge from bankruptcy by month's end. It's great news for Delta — and maybe the U.S. airline industry.
Private health insurance is getting to be a big business for America's largest senior lobby. AARP today announced an expanded deal with UnitedHealth. The goal: Double insurance sales to the 50+ crowd.
There's been a steady rise in the number of women alleging unfair treatment in the workplace because of pregnancy, so today the government is looking into the matter.
American automakers have struggled to make headway in India's large and fast-growing market, but GM is making a renewed push for sales with the Chevrolet Spark.
The British pound is at a 14-year high against the U.S. dollar: It now takes $2 to equal one pound. The strength of Britain's currency is boosting some industries there, but it could also be a sign of trouble to come.
Right now the fifth space tourist is orbiting the earth. Price tag: $20 million. So space tourism isn't exactly taking off at light speed, but some think there's a lot of money to be made a lot faster in space-based research.
Today's the day. Pay up or file for an extension. Joan is a reformed tax-evader and she almost learned the hard way that the old saying is true, you really can't avoid death or taxes.
As pressure mounts for World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to resign, a growing chorus of nations is beginning to ask whether the U.S. should always get to choose who heads the international organization.
With more than 200,000 people slaughtered and 2.5 million displaced in Darfur, Sudan has been subject to U.S. economic sanctions. Still, there's no shortage of investors in its economy. Gretchen Wilson reports.
The IRS already has the information it needs to fill out millions of taxpayers' forms automatically. Commentator Ian Ayres says requiring everyone to do it themselves is wasting time and money.
Google's purchase of Internet advertising company DoubleClick has ratcheted up the competition for the online ad market. And the antitrust accusations are flying. Lisa Napoli reports.
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed her Biloxi, Miss., house, Ethel Curry waited a long time for help rebuilding it. That help finally came this winter — from an unlikely source. Stephen Smith reports.
Nearly 80% of cut flowers are grown outside the U.S., and a lot can affect the blooms you buy. Host Tess Vigeland looks at the $40 billion cut flower industry with Amy Stewart, author of "Flower Confidential."
As the subprime lending market continues to struggle, mortgage bankers are pointing the finger of blame back at the news media, saying the intense coverage is making things worse.
Small businesses have been pleading for patent reform, and Congress is expected this week to unwrap legislation to change the system. But some fear it might unintentionally dry up the flow of venture capital.
That's right, go ahead and kill 'em with kindness. FBI agents in Seattle are training bank employees in the robbery-plagued city to identify and approach suspicious customers, and the program seems to be working.
Popular consensus says we can expect to see slowing profit growth when earnings come out this week, but Allan Sloan says the fact that everyone expects it probably means the slowdown has already been factored into the market.
Student loan giant Sallie Mae has agreed to a $25 billion buyout. Shareholders still have to approve the deal, but there's already resistance in Washington where lawmakers are concerned about the industry becoming even less transparent.
Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani have taken the early lead in polls for the presidential election. If the two New Yorkers end up going head-to-head in 2008, Wall Street might have to hedge its bets.
Election Day is still 18 months away but already the 18 declared candidates are on a record-setting pace for both raising and spending money — and Democrats are leading the first leg of the campaign finance race.
After nearly a month of negotiating, London's Barclays suddenly finds itself competing for the attentions of Dutch bank ABN Amro. A consortium made up of three other European banks may be prepared to pay more.
