Newsdesk | Volume 3 | Issue 238 | August 4, 2009

Top NewsNowhere to go but up? Housing begins slow rebound - USA Today - - A staggering $4 trillion in home equity was wiped out, and millions of Americans lost their homes through forecl osure. Now take a deep breath and exhale. The worst is over. By every measure, except foreclosures, the housing market has stabilized and manyFederal authorities create mortgage fraud team - CNBC - - NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Federal authorities are creating a mortgage fraud task force in Connecticut to investigate schemes that contributed to the economic crisis and emerging crime trends associated with the growing tide of foreclosures.Big cities: Big changes in foreclosure rates - CNN Money - - Foreclosure rate: One for every 22 housing units Change from 2008: Up 51.7% Phoenix grew very quickly over the past 10 years, setting the stage for a hard fall when the market turned sour.HUD Chief Admits Gaps In Loan Modification Program - NPR - - federal government's Making Home Affordable program provides incentives for banks to adjust loans to help people facing foreclosure. Shaun Donovan, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, offers his insight. Podcast and RSS FeedsHow mortgage shopping could change - MSN Money - - on the mountains of paperwork, 'transparency is the name of the game.' [Related content: homes, home financing, mortgage, mortgage rates, housing] Few borrowers read every line of the avalanche of paperwork that comes with a mortgage, and even the mostUS regulators close five banks, total now 69 - CNN Money - - * Banks fail in Illinois, Ohio, Okla, Fla, New Jersey * Combined cost to FDIC insurance fund could be $911.7 mln (Updates with information about fifth bank) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bank regulators closed five banks Friday, bringing the number of failuresMarket NewsReal Estate Weekly: Home buyers, sellers less happy with agents - MarketWatch - - Appraisal rules draw fire Mortgage rates edge higher Title options for spouses The housing bust has pushed home prices down substantially, taking a heavy toll on real estate commissions in the process, and is also devaluing the role of the real estateIllinois Sues Wells Fargo - Wall Street Journal Online - - By AMY MERRICK Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit Friday against Wells Fargo, alleging that one of the nation's top mortgage lenders illegally discriminated against minority borrowers.Ohio Sues Mortgage Servicer Over Loan Modifications - Morningstar.com - - DOW JONES NEWSWIRES The state of Ohio has filed a lawsuit alleging Carrington Mortgage Services LLC breached its agreement to offer 'reasonable' loan modifications to eligible borrowers.RI man accused of $10M mortgage fraud scheme - CNBC - - PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Authorities have charged a North Providence man and indicted three others in an alleged series of mortgage fraud schemes that totaled $10 million. State police arrested 75-year-old Pierre Chabot Jr. on Thursday.Technology NewsSifting through the mounting problem of e-waste - CNN - - problem is arriving in shipping containers from Western countries. Nigeria is one of the principal global destinations for 'e-waste' -- the catch-all term for discarded consumer electronics. Some of this may have been legitimately handed in to beJetBlue, United try Twitter to sell airline seats fast - USA Today - - quick, cheap getaway? A bargain may be just a tweet away. JetBlue and United airlines are offering their Twitter followers first dibs on some discounted fares, using the uber-trendy form of messaging to quickly connect with customers and fill seats on