News

Governor's deal with builders irks senators (The Arizona Republic)
Some Republican state lawmakers on Monday blasted a ''backroom deal'' between Gov. Janet Napolitano and a Valley home-builders group that would exempt residential developers from sharing a portion of the costs of a major transportation initiative in exchange for a $100,000 contribution to boost the signature-gathering campaign.

Five Things You Need to Know: Themes Converge Into Possible Housing Solution (Minyanville via Yahoo! Finance)
There are several themes at play in today's Five Things that we believe could potentially converge into a singular, overarching housing solution.

Mortgage cos. reveal damage from housing crisis (AP via Yahoo! News)
Broad damage in the mortgage industry was in full view Monday as a number of companies posted dismal first-quarter earnings, but there were also some hope that the worst of the housing crisis is over.

Housing inventory rises again in April (CNN Money)
The number of homes for sale was on the rise again in April, according to figures from Zip Realty, a California-based real estate broker.

Del Sur Takes National Honors for Green Construction (San Diego Business Journal)
Del Sur was named Mixed Use Development of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders during its annual Green Building Awards ceremony May 11 in New Orleans.

Sales fall 30 percent at home builder (Asbury Park Press)
Investors scouring for hints of a housing upturn won't find much evidence in the second-quarter preliminary sales results of luxury-home builder Toll Brothers Inc.

Senate panel set for housing vote Thursday: source (Washington Post)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee is due on Thursday to vote on legislation that would greatly expand a federal housing program and create a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a committee source said on Monday.

Home builders back off opposition to trust land reform (The Arizona Republic)
Arizona home builders, who have repeatedly given the death blow to conservation efforts, have agreed to let a state trust land reform initiative move forward without a fight.

Toll Brothers preliminary 2Q sales fall 30 percent (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
Investors scouring for hints of a housing revival won't find much in the second-quarter preliminary sales results of luxury-home builder Toll Brothers Inc.

UK's Brown to reveal plans to help housing market (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters By Adrian Croft LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown will set out plans on Wednesday to shore up Britain's creaking housing market as part of a drive to reverse a slide in support ...