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QUESTION: I heard in the State of the Union address that President Barack Obama has a new plan to fix the mortgage situation and help struggling Americans. I'm also having some problems with my mortgage, and my property is underwater. Is this plan going to finally save me?
WASHINGTON -- Activist or cautious regulator? Either way, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke appears to be willing to go much further than his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, in cracking down on shady home-lending practices.
The valley's housing woes have triggered an employment collapse in some industries closely tied to the market, resulting in a string of cutbacks at companies that flourished during the boom years.
While many real estate professionals bemoan slow sales, and many homeowners fret over foreclosure, there's another side to the real estate downturn: Some buyers are taking advantage of falling prices, and some sellers are cashing in.