Housing

Existing Home Inventory declines 21% year-over-year in early March - CR

REO rental program to capture 20% of foreclosure pipeline – HousingWire

Foreclosure Sales Outpace Modifications for January – DS News

For the first time since October 2009, foreclosure sales, which reached 78,734, outpaced loan modifications.

A million-dollar mortgage goes unpaid for years while couple fights foreclosure – WaPo

The Ritters have kept the sheriff at bay by repeatedly filing for bankruptcy and by exploiting changes in Maryland’s laws designed to help delinquent homeowners avoid foreclosure.

HAMP for Investors - CR

Art world does makeover of American dream – LA Times

A new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York looks at five U.S. towns hit hard by foreclosures and asked a group of the nation’s best architects, urban planners, ecologists, engineers and landscape designers to come up with ideas for reimagining the way towns might look in the future and the way people might live in them.

Economy

States of Depression – Paul Krugman

Google 2.4% Rate Shows How $60 Billion Lost to Tax Loopholes – Bloomberg

Stockton bankruptcy could trigger fiscal emergencies in Contra Costa County – Halfway to Concord

Subprime to the Rescue – USA Watchdog

On U.S. Banks, Housing, Greece - Barry Ritholtz Interviewed

The Tragedy that is Spain – Credit Writedowns

Misc.

The Department of Homeland Security Searches Your Facebook and Twitter for “Marijuana,” Other Keywords - AlterNet

Bahrain to Amnesty International: No Weekend Visits Allowed – Sanjeev Berry (a friend of mine)