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Business editor Mike Benbow's insights into all things business.
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WEEK IN REVIEW
Monday


Lynnwood woman knew area's stories long before ...
Everett rethinks boutique wineries
A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
Sunday


Marysville family comes together amid devastati...
Monroe Correctional Complex to lessen security ...
Extra patrols will be watching for drunken driv...
Saturday


Olympics are in the air
Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shootin...
Edmonds woman leaves gift of millions
Friday


Budget squeeze may close beloved Trafton school
Endgame near on airport flight debate?
Aaron Reardon laments political sparring with c...
Thursday


4-car police pileup in Everett under investigation
Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
Bill would suspend limits on tax hikes
Wednesday


Citizenship classes: All for a better life
Many Snohomish County kids haven't had second d...
Snohomish County jail thrives under sheriff's m...
Tuesday


Mukilteo kids’ cards help Haitians
County Council increases scrutiny on Reardon
Pentagon report a good sign for Everett's Navy ...
 

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CONTACT THE HERALD
Mike Benbow, Business Editor
benbow@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Friday, November 6, 2009

Business Briefly: New federal lease plan may stall foreclosures

Can’t pay the mortgage? You still might be able to stay in your home. Government-controlled mortgage company Fannie Mae is going to give borrowers on the verge of foreclosure the option of renting their homes for a year. The change announced Thursday could give a temporary break to thousands of homeowners, but critics question whether it will only add to the mushrooming losses at the company, which has received billions in taxpayer money. The new Deed for Lease program will allow homeowners to transfer title to Fannie Mae and sign a one-year lease, with potential month-to-month extensions after that. It also helps save money because the lender does not need to complete the often-lengthy foreclosure process.

NFL package attracts DirectTV subscribers

Satellite TV operator DirecTV Group Inc. was one of the few pay-TV companies to gain subscribers in the third quarter, though earnings stayed steady because of the higher costs it incurred attracting and serving those new customers. DirecTV said Thursday that a marketing partnership with AT&T Inc. that began in February accounted for most of the increase in U.S. subscribers, but it likely also retained subscribers and gained new ones because of a perennial favorite, the NFL Sunday Ticket package that airs out-of-market games to football fans. DirecTV, which is controlled by media mogul John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp., has focused on attracting consumers who don’t mind paying more for quality TV as long as they get football and other packages they want.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad purchase may hurt Berkshire’s rating

Fitch Ratings warned Thursday that Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s $23.6 billion deal for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. could overexpose Warren Buffett’s company to weaknesses in the economy at the expense of its more durable investments. The agency put Berkshire Hathaway rating’s under review for a possible downgrade in the wake of its announcement Tuesday that it will buy the rest of the railroad company based in Texas. Berkshire already owns a 22 percent stake in the railroad. Another big ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s, placed its Berkshire ratings under review to see if a downgrade was in order.

Borders to shutter more Waldenbooks

Borders Group Inc., the second-largest U.S. bookstore chain, said Thursday it would shutter more of its small-format Waldenbooks stores in January as it focuses on its more profitable superstores. The company is closing 200 Waldenbooks and Borders Express stores and cutting 1,500 jobs in January to make the chain more profitable. Borders, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., said the closings would leave about 130 stores in its Waldenbooks Specialty Retail unit. The company said the closing will not affect any Borders superstores or any of its mall kiosks, including 500 Day by Day Calendar Co. spots and other mall-based stores.

From Herald news services

COMMENTS

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ya know... we still haven't dome ANYTHING to control the cause of this recession...
...and that is "unregulated real estate prices".

Come on... we all saw it happening. Prices escalated to a point where only a Lawyer could afford a 2 bedroom dive in North Everett. Bet that lawyer is happy now?

Across Everett i have seen home prices fall at an alarming rate ---AND it's about frikin time! Finally i can afford to buy the same house i bought in 1998, but at 2001 prices. ----That is about how much my wages have gone up since then so come on.... seems fair to me.

People need to wake up... the totally out of control real estate market is what fueled this recession. Banks, who gave these rediculous loans, came second. If it wasn't for the first EVIL, the 2nd evil never would have happened.

Regulate real estate now.

cme everett | Nov 6, 2009 2:39 am | 0 replies | Request removal

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