Job growth insulates Springs from recession, economist says, an article from The Gazette, reports that according to local economist Fred Crowley, the nation has already slid into a recession, but the Pikes Peak region has been spared so far because it has continued to add jobs.  Crowley, a senior economist with the Southern Colorado Economic Forum at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, spoke to about 75 people during a Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs breakfast meeting.  It's possible the Springs has reached the bottom or near the bottom of its housing problems, Crowley said.  He added that one good indicator is local home sales are on the rise when compared with the total number of housing units available.  Future growth at Fort Carson, with about 10,000 soldiers expected to be added to the post in 2009, also bodes well for the local economy, he said.
http://www.gazette.com/articles/crowley_34134___article.html/recession_jobs.html

New foreclosure rescue plan offers 'Help Now', an article from CNNMoney.com, reports that a new plan, called "Help Now", was offered by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), a nonprofit community advocacy group.  The plan calls for the government to buy up at-risk loans, restructure the terms to make them affordable and sell the reworked loans back into the secondary market.  Economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com said, "I think the plan is commendable.  It doesn't let the home owner off the hook.  They still have to pay at least part of the debt."  According to NCRC CEO John Taylor, the Help Now approach will be more effective than Hope Now because it will make it easier for lenders to rework the terms of troubled mortgages.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/13/real_estate/helpnow_0313/index.htm?postversion=2008031309

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Stop Paying Your Mortgage and Walk Away?
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/3112008_Walk_Away_Mortgage.asp

The next shoe to drop in housing
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/13/news/economy/conformingloans/index.htm?postversion=2008031308

Feb. foreclosures up 60 percent over year before
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23601813/

Paulson: More mortgage lender rules needed
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23609247/

Playing the Housing Slump Time to Make Your Move?
http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/tactics/20080313-clements.html

Real Estate Outlook: Positive Trends
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080313_realestateoutlook.htm

Is 40 The New 30 In The Life Of A Mortgage?
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080313_lifemort.htm