Home loan demand slumps despite lower rates

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage applications fell for a second consecutive week, reflecting a drop in demand for home purchase and refinancing loans even as interest rates sank, an industry group said on Wednesday.

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/149609496/idUSN2829165820070829

Fed Weighed Action Well Before Rate Cut

Fed officials considered taking policy action 10 days before cutting the discount rate, meeting minutes show. (Full text)

http://feeds.wsjonline.com/~r/wsj/xml/rss/3_7014/~3/149305908/SB118832349767011156.html

July new home sales and durables orders rise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of new single-family U.S. homes unexpectedly rose in July and new orders for durable goods posted strong gains that underlined the economy's strength just before a credit crisis socked financial markets.

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/147727970/idUSN2433591220070824

Countrywide CEO sees recession ahead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo said on Thursday the U.S. housing downturn is likely to lead the country into recession, but that the largest U.S. mortgage lender will survive.

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/147361423/idUSN2324489320070823

How FHA Could Help Borrowers

The White House is looking to the FHA to help homeowners who are at risk of falling behind on their mortgage payments.

http://feeds.wsjonline.com/~r/wsj/xml/rss/3_7014/~3/146821997/SB118774225399404746.html

Accredited Home selling $1 billion mortgage loans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Struggling subprime mortgage lender Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co on Tuesday said it agreed to sell $1 billion of home loans to an unnamed investor, a move it said would limit its exposure to margin calls.

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/146537457/idUSN2135313820070821

July foreclosures up 93 percent vs year ago: survey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Home foreclosures rose 9 percent in July from June and soared 93 percent from a year ago as states that once enjoyed a white-hot housing market are now seeing the greatest number of loan failures, a real estate survey reported on Tuesday.

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/146505223/idUSN2030024220070821