Business - Real Estate

The percentage of Americans who might consider buying a foreclosed home fell to 43% in Nov. from 55% in May due to concerns about hidden costs, according to Harris Interactive. The extended and expanded homebuyer tax credit could reignite demand, said the survey, conducted for Trulia.com and RealtyTrac. But rising mortgage rates, double-digit unemployment and the end of gov't incentives next year could dent demand and push down prices. "We're in a false sense of stability," said Trulia CEO Pete Flint. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Weyerhaeuser Co. said Tuesday its board has approved a conversion of the forest products giant into a real estate investment trust, letting the company take advantage of major tax benefits. Full Story »

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal regulator is renegotiating the companies’ financing plan with the U.S. Treasury Department and may seek an increase to their $400 billion federal lifeline before the end of the year, according to people familiar with the talks. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. home buyers are less willing to buy foreclosed properties than they were six months ago, citing risks like hidden costs, but demand could grow because of the government's expanded tax credit, a survey showed on Tuesday. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Weyerhaeuser Co said it would convert into a real estate investment trust and pay a special dividend, bowing to pressure from shareholders who have been seeking the new financial structure for years. Full Story »

LOS ANGELES - Even a holiday gift from Uncle Sam couldn't brighten the homebuilders' outlook in December. Full Story »

PASADENA, Calif. - Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. on Tuesday said its board declared a quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share of common stock. Full Story »

ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS AG will not sue its former bosses after risky bets on subprime mortgages and a strategy of helping U.S. clients dodge taxes by hiding money in secret accounts brought the Swiss bank to its knees. Full Story »

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal regulator is renegotiating the companies’ financing plan with the U.S. Treasury Department and may seek an increase to their $400 billion federal lifeline before the end of the year, according to people familiar with the talks. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Hundreds of people have entered the JPMorgan Chase & Co. offices to protest what they say is the bank's insufficient efforts to help struggling homeowners save their homes. Full Story »

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Real estate investment trust Glimcher Realty Trust said Monday its board declared a regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share on its common shares and operating partnership units. Full Story »

BALTIMORE - A federal judge suggested Monday that he might restrict the scope of a first-of-its kind lawsuit filed by the city of Baltimore against mortgage giant Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Full Story »

NEW YORK - Real estate investment trust SL Green Realty Corp. on Monday declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 10 cents. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a win for the banking industry, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to reject a measure that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to change the terms of mortgages for distressed homeowners. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The House passed the most ambitious restructuring of federal financial regulations since the New Deal on Friday, aiming to head off any replay of last year's Wall Street failures that plunged the nation deep into recession. Full Story »

LAS VEGAS - The Nevada Supreme Court is swearing in 75 more mediators to the Nevada Foreclosure Mediation Program. Full Story »

TEMPE, Ariz. - An Arizona State University professor is predicting another wave of home foreclosures early next year in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Full Story »

Foreclosures fell almost 8% in Nov., the 4th straight drop from July's record high, RealtyTrac said. "Loan modifications and other foreclosure prevention efforts, along with the recently extended and expanded homebuyer tax credit, are keeping a lid on" foreclosures, said RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio. But default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and bank repossessions rose 18% vs. a year ago to 306,627. California, Florida, Illinois and Michigan accounted for 52% of filings. Full Story »