Real Estate and Housing

It looks a lot like Christmas past at White House

In the spirit of a tough economy, holiday decorations from Christmases past are adorning the White House this Christmas.

Government recommends Kansas for biodefense lab

The federal government has recommended a site in Kansas for a new $450 million laboratory to study biological threats like anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease, officials said Wednesday.

President, first lady to move to Dallas

First lady Laura Bush says she and President George W. Bush will have a house in Dallas after leaving the White House.

Russia plans fresh economic boost, Medvedev upbeat

Russia said Wednesday it was preparing fresh measures to boost its economy as President Dmitry Medvedev urged the government to try to take advantage of an anticipated fall in prices.

Spain: Businessman is shot, killed in ETA attack

A suspected Basque separatist gunman firing at close range killed a businessman Wednesday, two weeks after the arrest of the militant group ETA's leader, officials said.

Obama calls automakers' plan "more serious"

President-elect Barack Obama said on Wednesday struggling automakers have put forward a "more serious" restructuring proposal to Congress but withheld judgment on the plans until hearings are held.

Homebuilders shrink American dream, spark wrath

Builders desperate to put up smaller, cheaper homes are incurring extra expense and customers' wrath by redesigning communities, even when people are already living in them.

Home Foreclosures Continue, Despite Bank's 'Freeze'

Private jobs and services slump show recession toll

Private employers slashed an unexpectedly high 250,000 jobs in November, the biggest cut in seven years, while the service sector, which powers most of the economy, posted its worst slump on record.

Brown's brief agenda stokes 2009 election talk

Vowing to shield Britons from the economic downturn, Prime Minister Gordon Brown laid out a populist — but brief — agenda on Wednesday that stoked expectations he would call a national election next year.

U.S. MBA’s Mortgage Applications More Than Doubled Last Week

Dec. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Mortgage applications in the U.S. surged by a record last week as lending rates plunged after the Federal Reserve pledged to buy mortgage-backed debt.

A clean set of wheels

For a century the petrol engine has remained largely unchallenged, seeing off all pretenders to its crown. But with dangerous climate change on the horizon and a host of contenders looming large in the rear view mirror, is the petrol engine about to be overtaken by a new fleet of cleaner, leaner rivals?

What Fed, Treasury May Do Next to Ease Credit Crisis

The heads of the Fed and Treasury are signaling that they plan to take more steps to ease credit and jump-start the economy.

Obama: Financial bailout must help homeowners, too

President-elect Barack Obama signaled a clear desire Wednesday to use a significant portion of $700 billion in financial bailout funds to stanch foreclosures by helping struggling homeowners with their mortgages.