Homeownership Falls to Ten-Year Low, That's Good - Mark Perry - ... : Our political infatuation with homeownership turned thousands of good renters into bad homeowners and consequently turned the “American Dream” into an “American Nightmare” for many Americans. The fact that many homeowners are now returning to once again being good renters is a sign of progress ... -  Carpe Diem Blog

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good points - The Housing Market Has Gone Mad - by PAUL JACKSON - ... I tend to see reality in terms of a not-so-hidden overhang of distressed mortgages that must eventually be dealt with—7.9 million, at last count ... Is there anyone out there that really believes that an unavoidably increasing and likely substantial supply of homes will somehow drive home prices upward further this year? Perhaps only those that live in Wonderland. ... – HousingWire

New FHA-Lender Restrictions Will Wreak Havoc: K&L Gates - by JON PRIOR - has list - HousingWire

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Feb. HPI Shows First Annual Increase In Three Years - National home prices, including distressed sales, increased by 0.3% in February 2010 compared to February 2009, according to First American CoreLogic and its LoanPerformance Home Price Index (HPI). This was an improvement over January's revised year-over-year price decline of 0.5%. - MortgageOrb
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good primer on home indices -  Understanding The Case-Shiller Housing Index - by Amy Fontinelle – Investopedia

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Court Rejects Rating Agencies' Argument that Credit Crisis Alone Caused Investor Losses  - by Kevin LaCroix - In a April 26, 2010 opinion (here) that could have significant implications for motions to dismiss in the many subprime-related securities actions pending against the rating agencies, ... should be dismissed because the investors’ losses were caused the global credit crisis rather than those firms’ investment ratings. - D&O Diary

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Reverse Mortgage Program Needed Now More Than Ever Says FHA Commissioner - ... In addition, HUD is requesting a $250 million appropriation to offset projected losses and lessen the principal limit reduction.  “Without the budget request, we would be forced to reduce the PLFs by an additional 21% in FY2011,” said Stevens. “This would significantly reduce the amount of funds that would be available to seniors (more than 30%), which is on average a $23,000 to $27,000 impact.” ... - Reverse Mortgage Daily