Top Features
Addressing Foreclosures
David Abromowitz presents the Great American Neighborhood Stabilization Plan to address the glut of foreclosed properties across the country.
Strengthening Our Economy
CAP's Michael Barr testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on a plan to deal with the housing crisis.Other Housing Features
May 7, 2008
Jump-Starting Local Economies
By providing neighborhood stabilization funds to buy shuttered homes, Congress has the opportunity to create good jobs and stimulate local economies, writes Andrew Jakabovics
May 5, 2008
This Week in Congress 5.5.08-5.9.08
CAP has the resources you need to prepare for immigration, the housing debate, and the farm bill.
May 2, 2008
Bailouts and Bold Action
Here’s a guide from David Abromowitz to help tell the difference between the two phrases amid the current debate in Congress over relief measures for struggling homeowners.
May 2, 2008
Bailout Fantasies
The Bush administration falsely claims that targeted aid for neighborhoods with high foreclosures amounts to a bank bailout, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
April 29, 2008
New Housing Numbers Underscore the Need for Action
New numbers show the housing market hitting a new low, and congressional action ever more urgent, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
April 22, 2008
Issue Brief: Overcoming Legal Barriers to the Bulk Sale of At-Risk Mortgages
Selling loans and loan pools to new owners would help stabilize housing prices, write Michael Barr and James A. Feldman.
April 9, 2008
Shared Equity in Action: Recovery and Affordability Are Possible Amid the Crash in Housing Prices
Report outlines way to address the needs of large numbers of overleveraged homeowners while avoiding windfalls and unwarranted bailouts through shared equity.
April 9, 2008
Subprime Mortgages and the Moral Imperative to Help Homeowners
The government has helped Wall Street while ignoring its moral obligation to help homeowners, writes Michael Boylan.
April 7, 2008
Did Liberals Cause the Sub-Prime Crisis?
Conservatives blame the housing crisis on a 1977 law that helps-low income people get mortgages. It's a useful story for them, but it isn't true.
April 7, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.7.08 - 4.11.08
CAP prepares you for testimony from Petraeus and Crocker, the Senate housing package, and international trade and the farm bill.
April 7, 2008
Capital Responsibilities: Congress Must Weigh Housing Risks
Deploying taxpayer money judiciously to calm the housing and credit crises is important to Wall Street and Main Street, writes Ed Paisley.
March 31, 2008
HUD Cannot Be Left Adrift in the Wake of Secretary Jackson’s Resignation
After Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson's resignation, we will need a stronger Federal Housing Administration.
March 28, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Fixing Housing Key to Better Economy
Opinion polls show that the public thinks the housing crisis is central to our economic woes, and it wants a solution fast.
March 26, 2008
Subprime Policies: New Ideas to Tackle the Mortgage Mess
A new report by Scott Lilly examines possible alternate solutions to the housing crisis that go beyond $600 tax rebates.
March 26, 2008
Subprime Mortgages by the Numbers
The housing crisis has worsened since first appearing on the national radar a year ago. Struggling homeowners still need help.
March 24, 2008
The Housing Crisis Hits New Lows
Andrew Jakabovics answers questions about how to stabilize the housing market.
March 19, 2008
Subprime Mortgage Meltdown Renews Urban Blight
There is no shortage of regret over the failure of regulators and the Bush administration to heed the warning signs about the extent of the subprime housing crisis. A new regret is on the horizon: The failure to take action to prevent the descent into disrepair, economic distress and crime of revitalized urban neighborhoods across the nation.
March 17, 2008
Selective Bailouts: Help for Wall Street, Not Your Street
Bush administration chastises home buyers for bad decisions, then funnels bailout financing to Wall Street, writes David Abromowitz.
March 14, 2008
Bull and Bear: Bush Economy Speech Misses the Mark
Amid rising foreclosures and Bear Stearns' rescue, Bush's speech today shows he lacks solutions to the housing crisis, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
March 13, 2008
Bush Out of Touch: Housing Comments Are Inane
The president thinks helping neighborhoods would only help lenders. How about helping homeowners with negative equity in their homes?
March 11, 2008
Tame the Global Liquidity Crisis: Congress Needs to Help Central Banks
Global credit crisis cannot be solved by central banks alone, says Andrew Jakobovics. Congress needs to help them and U.S. homeowners, too.
March 10, 2008
Housing Crisis Basics
SAFE and GARDNS proposals are key components of an agenda to break the vicious downward spiral of home prices and restore confidence and liquidity to America’s financial markets.
March 4, 2008
The Perils of Mortgage Fraud: Why Cities Should Care
Mortgage scams artificially raise home values and then leave abandoned properties in their wake, explains Henry Fernandez
March 4, 2008
HOPE NOW Needs Help: Housing Crisis Requires Federal Action
CAP’s Andrew Jakabovics eyes the performance of the voluntary HOPE NOW Alliance and finds that more concerted federal action is urgent.
February 28, 2008
Conservatives Assail Homeowners: Administration Says "Let Homeowners Go Under"
Bush administration’s stubborn laissez faire stance to deteriorating housing market threatens U.S. economic prosperity, writes David Abromowitz.
February 28, 2008
Real Estate Woes
A short history of how people used to buy homes ... and the slightly more complicated history of how we got into the housing mess we're in today.
February 27, 2008
The Golden Parachute: CEO Severance and the Housing Crisis by the Numbers
As the housing crisis worsened, several CEOs found their companies in a mess of trouble, then left with hefty checks. CAP takes a look.
February 25, 2008
Our Housing Markets Must Have GARDNS and be SAFE
Congressional action on housing stimulus package must include two key progressive proposals: CAP’s GARDNS and SAFE programs.
February 13, 2008
Housing Downer: Economic Woes Require Targeted Government Action
The housing downturn is causing the biggest drain on economic growth in over 30 years, write Amanda Logan and Christian E. Weller. It’s time for targeted government action.
February 12, 2008
Still Lagging Behind: Latest Bush Housing Plan Too Little, Too Late
Voluntary moves by private sector and Bush administration lack key government action to halt spiraling crisis, write Abromowitz and Jakobovics.
January 30, 2008
Alarming GDP Growth Figures: Housing Crisis Puts Economy on the Skids
Accelerating problems in housing markets reverberate across the economy, writes Christian E. Weller, making a stimulus package imperative.
January 29, 2008
Quick Action For Housing Crisis: Market Indicators Are Tumbling
The latest data shows that homeowners and neighborhoods need targeted federal help now, write David Abromowitz and Andrew Jakabovics.
January 23, 2008
Solving the Housing Crisis: Key Legislator Embraces CAP Plan
The Senate Banking Committee chairman unveils Federal Homeownership Preservation Corp, a plan based on CAP proposal.
January 17, 2008
A Practical and Progressive Economic Stimulus and Recovery Plan
Laura Tyson, John Podesta and Sarah Wartell present Congress with CAPAF's practical and progressive economic stimulus plan.
January 15, 2008
No Day at the Spa: Rejuvenating the Economy Won’t be Easy
Christian Weller examines the latest consumer spending numbers and possible long-term housing trends. Government intervention is the solution.
January 11, 2008
Too Big to Fail, Too Small to Fail: Bank of America's Telling Deal for Countrywide
Bank of America’s purchase of Countrywide exposes fissures brought on by the mortgage crisis, says Andrew Jakabovics.
January 3, 2008
Fun with Numbers, Housing Crunch Style
Attention to November’s 0.4 percent increase in existing homes sales compared to October cannot whitewash the 20 percent drop in sales from last November. The grim reality is that there are more homes for sale on the market than last year at this time, fewer of those homes are selling, and when they do, they are selling for less money. No amount of spin from the National Association of Realtors or from the media looking for an upbeat story as we end the year is going to convince Americans that the housing market has now stabilized and is poised for a rebound.
December 21, 2007
Unbridled Markets: Conservatives Embrace Securitization Run Amok
The subprime mortgage securitization debacle may be the most profound legacy of the Bush era, writes Scott Lilly.
December 16, 2007
Are We in a Recession? Bet the House on It
December 12, 2007
Throwing Homeowners a Lifeline
Andrew Jakabovics offers a solution for borrowers who can make reasonable mortgage payments but lack enough equity in their homes to refinance.
November 13, 2007
Zero Hour on Mortgage Reform: Forthcoming Congressional Vote Is Key
The mortgage bill up for vote cannot be weakened if policymakers are to truly stabilize the home lending market, writes Tim Westrich.
November 6, 2007
Stop Abusive Lending: New Rules for Subprime Mortgages
A bill scheduled for vote today would ban the worst abuses in home mortgages for future borrowers. The bill cannot be weakened, says Tim Westrich.
October 25, 2007
Subprime Roadmap Laid Out in Gramlich's Last Act
October 12, 2007
Finally, Action on Home Mortgages by Bush Administration and Congress
Andrew Jakabovics applauds administration leadership and congressional efforts to help subprime borrowers. But more must be done.
October 2, 2007
Only the First Step: FHA Reform by Congress is Not Enough
Home foreclosure crisis requires more than reforms at the Federal Housing Administration, writes Tim Westrich, even though that’s a positive first step.
September 27, 2007
The Helping Hand Mirage
Andrew Jakabovics on why we need to hold lenders responsible, even if they claim that homeowners aren’t calling on them to help.
September 19, 2007
Wall Street’s Misplaced Exuberance: Interest Rate Cuts Won’t Help Homeowners
Dismal indicators for residential construction illustrate why the Fed’s rate cut will miss the mark for homeowners, explains Andrew Jakabovics.
September 17, 2007
How Congress Can Help Homeowners
CAP’s strategies for Congress to consider as it discusses ways to prevent the home loan crisis from damaging the broader economy.
September 14, 2007
FDR Solves the Mortgage Crisis
August 31, 2007