CNBC:  Own vs. rent riles government housing policy
By Diana Olick
Feb. 2, 2012

That’s why the federal regulator overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is launching a bulk sale program, offering investors the chance to buy foreclosed properties at a discount, as long as those investors turn the properties into viable rentals for a specified number of years.

Housing Wire:  Hope Now expands efforts to include military members
By Kerri Panchuk
Feb. 3, 2012

Hope Now, an alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and nonprofits, just completed a two-day brainstorming session on how to offer additional support to U.S. military members facing foreclosure.

USA Today:  Economy adds 243,000 jobs in January
By Paul Davidson
Feb. 3, 2012

The labor market perked up far more than expected in January as employers added 243,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3% from 8.5% in December, the Labor Department said.