Real Estate News – April 17, 2012

Five years after the U.S. housing bust sent sales and prices plunging, the spring home-buying season is pointing to a long-awaited recovery (via WashingtonPost.com): http://wapo.st/HKH170

Private equity groups going after foreclosures as rentals market (via seattletimes.nwsource.com): http://bit.ly/Iq3bV9

U.S. private equity firm Blum Capital Partners is seeking to raise capital for a fund that would invest in distressed debt backed by real estate primarily in Europe (via Reuters.com): http://reut.rs/HHbzCP

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering a host of new rules that would force the nation’s mortgage servicers to provide greater accountability and transparency in their dealings with borrowers (via seacoastonline.com): http://bit.ly/IRSVGk

In a small community in Mineola, Texas, two homeowners, Bill and Candi Fry have spent the last year at odds with their homeowners association over what’s called a play set (via ketknbc.com): http://bit.ly/HQrJxd

The number of U.S. home short sales surpassed foreclosure deals for the first time as banks became more agreeable to selling houses for less than the amount owed on their mortgages (via Bloomberg.com): http://bloom.bg/ISt9Hy

Permits for new-home building — a gauge of future demand — reached its highest level last month since September 2008, the Commerce Department reported (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/I0uxFK

In response to guidance from four federal agencies, Citigroup reclassified $840 million in home equity loans as “nonaccruing” in the first quarter because the first mortgages are more than 90 days delinquent (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/HV1ykV

Couple Gets Spooked From House, Sues Landlord (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/ILFVGB