I found these very interesting housing articles recently published.

BofA developing foreclosure rental programs to deal with distressed properties-BOA, Fannie and Freddie are trying to figure out how to move some of these non-performing mortgages or worse these REO properties that they own.  Banks have an estimated $50 billion worth of REOs on the books right now.  The thought is that banks may rent the house back to the people that lost it to foreclosure.  They would do a short sale on them to an investor and rent it back to the previously owner.  Interesting, but I think some of these people need to downsize and move out.  Plus the emotional attachment to the house has to be severed.  As a landlord, you can’t have someone remodeling their bathroom because they still regard this house as theirs.

Residential Housing Ready to Awaken-As we have seen over the last 5 years, you get 50% of the “experts” saying we are in a recovery and 50% of the other “experts” saying we have time to go.  This article suggests that some of the important pieces are falling into place for a 2012 slow, but steady recovery.

How Can Renters Solve the Housing Crisis-This article perfectly articulates what my customers have been seeing over the last 5 years.  The market is going to recover, put your money in rental properties, and you will see a gain.  The mindset of people has shifted.  It is OK to be a renter and not a homeowner.