6 real estate headlines: 8-23

A daily dose of headlines for real estate agents, mortgage lenders and consumers.

Washington looks tantalizing to New York restaurateurs Washington Post: The downturn has made the D.C. market appear even more appealing, as generally anything inside the Beltway was still doing pretty well, while New York took a big hit.	Nearly 50 percent leave Obama mortgage aid plan Bloomberg: Nearly half of the 1.3 million homeowners who enrolled in the Obama administrations flagship mortgage-relief program have fallen out.
Housing slide in U.S. may drag economy into recession BusinessWeek: Home sales collapsed after a federal tax credit for buyers expired in April. Since then, the manufacturing-led expansion, has been waning, with jobless claims rising.	Real estate fades as means to build wealth The New York Times: With mortgage rates hovering near 40-year lows and selling prices still depressed, many potential borrowers are wondering whether rates have further to fall.
Biggest threat to the economy is Wall Street itself Business Insider: After an enormous market rally there are now signs that the rally was largely due to government stimulus as opposed to sustained private sector health.	How a homeowner fetish hurt the American Dream Washington Post: Theres a ferocious debate as to whether recent losses stemmed from unrealistic housing affordability goals or lax lending in pursuit of higher profits.

http://twlv.net/bL3x8u