A new survey says vacancies at shopping centers are approaching a ten-year high. Landlords fearful of losing more foot traffic are keen on keeping their tenants, which puts retailers in a good position to negotiate. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

Countrywide Financial is arguably the company at the heart of the mortgage financial crisis. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Countrywide's former Senior Vice President of Marketing Adam Michaelson about his experiences at the company.

Home values may be falling, but property taxes are up. As Jeremy Hobson reports, the rise in taxes has some angry homeowners calling for a cap.

Question: According to the Market Gauges in today's New York Times, the federal funds interest rate has dropped from 4.25% to 0.25% in the past…

Experts have varying opinions on where the housing market is going to go in 2009. We asked our Senior Business Correspondent Bob Moon to weigh in. He tells Scott Jagow how real estate might recover in the new year.

The latest housing statistics are out, and they're pretty dismal. The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller housing index dropped 18 percent in October from a year ago, a record fall. It's the 27th month in a row the housing index has posted losses. Sarah Gardner reports.

Mortgage applications are up across the country, but that's mostly benefiting people who own a home and have decent credit. People are taking advantage of the historically low rates to refinance, though. As Bob Moon reports, it may be a good time for homeowners to think about refinancing.

Applications for mortgages are at a five-year high, thanks to the recent interest rate cuts. But mortgage applications don't necessarily mean mortgage loans. Nancy Marshall Genzer explores the connection.