Housing

HOUSING: ‘This is crazy’: Home ownership cheaper than renting – North County Times

HUD Secretary on Principal Reductions - CR

FHA delays controversial collections rule for mortgage coverage eligibility – HousingWire

The Federal Housing Administration rescinded and will delay a rule that as of April 1 prohibited borrowers with more than $1,000 in disputed collections accounts from getting a federally backed mortgage, according to a notice sent late Friday.

FHA postponed the rule until July, and will take public comment from lenders, builders and others in the industry until then to clarify guidance.

“There is clearly a bigger ripple effect here than the Department of Housing and Urban Development might have anticipated going into this revision,” said Lisa Jackson, senior vice president of research and business development with John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “Any measure that impacts even 10% of sales is meaningful and our analysis shows it would be far greater in some markets.”

What the foreclosure settlement means for you – CNN

I lost my home to foreclosure; how do I know if I qualify for payment? If you were foreclosed on in the calendar years 2008 through 2011, you may be be eligible for a payment of up to $2,000. People who think they may qualify should notify their bank.

Tenure In Home - NAR

Jonathan Miller: The Price of Height & Light – TBP

LPS: House Price Index declined 0.9% in January - CR

Misc.

Facebook to Buy Instagram For $1 Billion – WSJ

Instagram Is Now Worth $77 Million Per Employee – Atlantic

Chinese Teen Sells Kidney For An iPad – SFist

“Where’d you get the money for that?” his mother asked, noticing one of his shiny new Apple products. “Oh, I sold a kidney,” the kid apparently told her.

POSTSCRIPT: MIKE WALLACE, 1918-2012 – The New Yorker

Supreme Court to Rule on Monsanto Ruling – Artful Opinions

10 Unbelievably Sh**ty Things America Does to Homeless People – Alternet