More Americans strain to meet housing costs

A growing number of Americans are struggling to pay for housing, despite a steep drop in home prices, according to an article in the USAToday. For the entire article go to http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-09-22-housing_N.htm.

Fed bails out AIG

AIG - responsible for insuring much of the sub-prime mortgage in the market - has been bailed out by the Fed in return for about 80% equity and completely new management. Markets the world over must be heaving a sigh of relief.

Merrill to be acquired by BoA

Who would have thought? $50 billion is no small change either. The impact of the mortgage market crises doesnt seem to go away that quickly or easily

Lehman Brothers goes under

For those wondering about the impact of this on the financial markets - you can keep dreaming. This is huge.

NAMB Conferences: Relevant these days?

Anyone with opinions on whether these conferences are providing value to the broker community? Please post your comments on this issue.

While events like these provide a great opportunity for lenders to showcase their new products and to generally give their future/current business prospects/associates a good time, a question that comes to mind, is that in these days of acute change happening in the industry, is this a "must attend" event?