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Growing up in the southwest suburbs, Sara Beardsley had a view of the Chicago skyline from her house. Today, she is transforming that skyline, but you won't find her work glorified on a $6 mug or gracing postcards.
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.