Planning activity up, down, an article from the Colorado Springs Business Journal, reports that the City of Colorado Springs’ Planning Department’s March year-over-year applications report offers a clear picture of local market real estate activity.  According to Dick Anderwald, land use review manager for both major and minor applications, while development plans were down 30% on a year-over-year basis, some sub-categories were up.  Thirty-two concept plans, development plans and master development plans were submitted, up 3% from March 2007.  Another positive statistic was the number of building permits for unplatted land, 50% for the year from two submittals to three.  Master plans also remained steady at three, on target with last year’s numbers for the same period.
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19843

Foreclosure Prevention's Lesser Knowns, an article from RealtyTimes.com, reports that HopeNow's foreclosure prevention efforts and FHASecure loans aren't the only resources for those faced with the prospect of losing their home.  The National Community Reinvestment Coalition's (NCRC) National Homeownership Sustainability Fund helps financially struggling families with high-risk mortgages and senior citizens in trouble with reverse mortgages or other high-cost loans.  A Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center is offered by the Mortgage Bankers Association's Home Loan Learning Center.  Soldiers and sailors can contact their unit leader or the legal assistance office on base to learn more about the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act.  As always, at the first sign of trouble that could mean a missed mortgage payment, contact the lender for help with workouts, restructuring, modifications, refinanced mortgages and short sales or other assistance.

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080501_lesserknown.htm

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Foreclosures on record pace
http://www.gazette.com/articles/foreclosures_35880___article.html/pace_record.html

Plan for motorcycle park in Corral Bluffs rejected
http://www.gazette.com/articles/park_35873___article.html/county_parks.html
 
Dems fend off mortgage bill challenges
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/real_estate/congress_mortgages/index.htm?postversion=2008050115
 
Mortgage rates rise to highest level in 7 weeks
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7148582/

Fed rate cut benefits might be months away
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24408713/

Realty Viewpoint: Loans Bottleneck Housing
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080502_realtyviewpoint.htm