Headline News Archive

2009

December

19

• A consumer watchdog with a full set of teeth. Had there been a federal watchdog consumer protection agency during the early years of this decade, could it have prevented the housing boom and bust

17

• Citi suspends foreclosures for 30 days. Citigroup will suspend foreclosures and evictions for 30 days in a temporary break for about 4,000 borrowers during the holiday season. The New York-based bank said Thursday

• Advice on 2009's most pressing money issues. I'm often asked about saving vs. aggressively paying off debt. Such was the case with the following reader, who wrote: "My husband thinks he may

• Bank of America defends efforts to modify mortgages. Bank of America, the country's largest mortgage lender, on Wednesday defended its performance in the federal foreclosure relief program, saying that far fewer of its

15

• Winterize your home with energy audit. It's that time of year -- not just for shopping, baking or partying, but for winterizing your home. OK, so this last idea isn't as

14

• States push e-filing taxes to save money, paper. A growing number of states are cutting back on distributing printed income tax forms in an effort to save money and encourage electronic filing. Verenda

13

• 8 popular myths about your credit score. By now, you're probably aware of the wide use of credit scores, and how this three-digit number can determine whether you get credit and under

• Tip tips: Be generous, but don't be bullied. Just about anyone who serves you during the year should get a token of appreciation. The norm for your nanny and house cleaner is a

12

• Short sale help on the way. If you're in trouble on your mortgage and can't get a loan modification, check out the Obama administration's new standardized short-sale plan that's scheduled to

10

• Mortgage agency's growth fuels risky lenders. The trouble signs surrounding Lend America had been building for years. A top executive was convicted of mortgage fraud but still helped run the company.

08

• IRS says both must qualify for homebuyer credit. The first-time homebuyer credit was expanded more than a month ago so that even some longtime homeowners could claim up to $6,500 if they bought a

• TARP funds for mortgage aid?. House Democrats are seeking to tap the government's massive bailout fund to help homeowners who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make their

06

• New rules for reverse mortgage counselors. Older homeowners who are considering a reverse mortgage can now get more help with the process. The Federal Housing Administration, which insures reverse mortgages, last

05

• Enter the maze of tax credit rules. If you're thinking about applying for the new $6,500 federal tax credit for repeat home buyers or the extended $8,000 version for first-time buyers, here's some news:

03

• Hope Now reports mortgage modification gains. Nearly 2.7 million homeowners this year have received mortgage modifications or repayment plans, independent of those helped by a government program to get borrowers into modified

01

• Treasury steps up pressure on lenders to modify mortgages. The Obama administration on Monday promised tougher scrutiny of lenders participating in its marquee foreclosure-prevention effort and threatened to penalize companies that don't do enough

November

30

• LED bulbs save substantial energy, study finds. Does the latest generation of energy-saving light bulbs save energy? A comprehensive study conducted by Osram, the German lighting company, provides evidence that they do.

29

• Obama to push lenders on foreclosure prevention. The Obama administration plans to announce on Monday efforts to step up pressure on lenders participating in its massive foreclosure prevention program in a push

28

• The moral dimensions of ditching a mortgage. Go ahead. Break the chains. Stop paying on your mortgage if you owe more than the house is worth. And most important: Don't feel guilty

26

• Consumer Action wishes you a great Thanksgiving. No news headlines will be posted today and Friday, Nov. 27. The staff and board of Consumer Action hope you enjoy your holiday.

24

• One in four borrowers is underwater. The proportion of U.S. homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than the properties are worth has swelled to about 23%, threatening prospects for a

• Chinese drywall linked to corrosion in homes. Federal investigators reported on Monday that a “strong association” exists between chemicals in Chinese drywall installed in thousands of homes during the housing boom and

23

• Renters become latest victims of foreclosures. A new wave of foreclosures stands to hurt people who may have never taken out a mortgage: renters. In cities such as New York, Chicago

• Las nuevas víctimas de la crisis hipotecaria. Una nueva ola de ejecuciones hipotecarias afectará a personas que tal vez nunca hayan tenido una hipoteca: los inquilinos. En ciudades como Nueva York, Chicago

22

• Financial advice from the divorce trenches. Nobody can relate to the raw, visceral experience of ending a marriage better than someone who has gone through it. So it only seemed right