Federal refi program for underwater homeowners hits its stride

Nearly 1.1 million homeowners with little or no equity refinanced last year under the Home Affordable Refinance Program, which helps borrowers who do not miss their payments.

By E. Scott Reckard, Los Angeles Times

April 26, 2013, 5:16 p.m.

Downtown L.A. landlord Brookfield is bullish on office market

The head of Brookfield Office Properties, which is buying some of downtown L.A.'s biggest skyscrapers, is bullish about the area's long-stagnant office market.

A wary return to risky lending

Lenders are reemerging to offer the classic subprime trade-off: high-priced loans for high-risk customers. This time, though, the standards are more stringent.

By E. Scott Reckard, Los Angeles Times
April 27, 2013, 5:00 a.m.

IPU Interviews Caleb Hutchins, EcoPlusRecycling

IPU Interviews Caleb Hutchins of EcoPlusRecycling. He can haul your electronics or metals at no cost to you. Feel free to e-mail him at ecoplusrecycling@gmail.com

New York firm soon to be downtown L.A.'s biggest landlord

Brookfield Office Properties agrees to pay about $430 million for four prominent buildings, including Gas Company Tower and Wells Fargo Tower.

By Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times 
April 26, 2013

Improvements in store for rival downtown Glendale malls

The changes include Nordstrom moving from the Glendale Galleria to the Americana at Brand and Bloomingdale's opening just down the street in the Galleria.

Number of homes entering foreclosure plunges in California

In the first quarter, new foreclosure actions in the Golden State dropped 51% from the previous quarter, thanks to a stronger economy and housing market and new state rules affecting lenders.

Mortgage Rates at or Near All-Time Record Low

By Chad Wandler

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 25, 2013) - Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the fourth consecutive week continuing to support the ongoing housing recovery. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a new all-time record low at 2.61 percent for the week, as did the 5-year ARM at 2.58 percent. The previous record low for the 15-year fixed was 2.63 percent set the week of November 21, 2012.

After a long fall, Antelope Valley is back on upswing

Antelope Valley subdivisions, abandoned during the housing meltdown, are being revived, attracting buyers priced out of the L.A. market.
By Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times

April 20, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
In the brutal cycles of California real estate, the Antelope Valley has been among the last to boom, the first to bust and the slowest to recover.

New signs of life arise in Las Vegas

Unemployment is down, construction projects are resuming, and tourism is back up after years of recession. Experts stop short of proclaiming a comeback, but there's guarded hope in the air.

By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times

April 21, 2013, 5:00 a.m.
LAS VEGAS — For nearly five years, the steel-and-concrete skeleton of the abandoned resort project has taunted this city, a glaring reminder that casino operators here can't win every economic wager they place.