A Look at Congress's Long-Promised, Long-Delayed Mortgage Relief. After six months of haggling and political gamesmanship, a massive housing relief bill is heading for final approval.

Cat expresses worry over economy. While Caterpillar Inc. remains in a position of strength, the meltdown of U.S. financial markets could put the company's customers and the entire economy at risk, Chairman Jim Owens told members of Congress on..

US shares drop on credit woes. US stocks fell as tight credit markets and bleak economic data kept investors on edge before the Senate votes on a revamped financial sector rescue plan that was initially rejected by lawmakers.

Weak Market Creates Advantages for Lower-Income Buyers. Q: I don't want to continue renting, but I make only $30,000 annually and don't have a lot of money for a down payment. My credit score is over 800, and I'm self-employed.

Judge considers mistrial in Stevens case. A federal judge angrily halted the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens on Thursday after the Alaska lawmaker's attorney accused prosecutors of withholding evidence that would help their case.

In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software. Fast computers and sophisticated software give architects unprecedented ability to generate powerful designs.

Buffett's $230M Chinese Investment. MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

WiFi-enabled Crestron touchpanel aids in stargazing. We've seen home automation touchpanels used for some -- shall we say, unorthodox -- activities, but this is taking things to another level galaxy.

AGCO Corporation Launches New Brand Strategy. DULUTH, Ga. AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment today announced a new corporate branding strategy to showcase their commitment to Agriculture.

New Tax Credit Amounts To a Free Loan for $7,500. Anyone who has been hesitant about jumping into real estate until conditions settle down should keep in mind these dates: April 9, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

Several options for Burlingame Safeway parking to be studied Monday. City officials are going to be presented with multiple parking options for the Safeway project at Monday's study session.

Your First Negotiation: the Agent's Commission. Home sellers could save money by thinking of real estate commissions as an agent's asking price. It's something that's open to negotiation.

Tesoro Tries to Block California Rules Mandating More Ethanol in Gasoline. Tesoro Corp., the largest oil refiner in the U.S. West, said it filed a lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board to block a regulation that would raise the ethanol content in gasoline to as much as..

Warren Buffett likes the Wells-Wachovia combination. In this May 3, 2008 file photo, billionaire investor Warren Buffett speaks to a reporter during the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, in Omaha, Neb.

Silver Wheaton acquires quarter of silver output From Alexco's Keno Hill project. Silver Wheaton Corp. has agreed to pay US$50 million to acquire 25 per cent of the silver produced at the Keno Hill project from Alexco Resource Corp.

Electrograph Emphasizes Line, Services At CEDIA Expo. Electrograph Systems, the national distributor of display technology products, attended CEDIA Expo, here, earlier this month displaying a wide variety of brands and models.

Foreclosures and Short Sales, Equal Ills. Is there a right way to lose your home? And is there any good reason to pay for "expert" advice on how best to do it?.

Mailbox: Condo Coercions, Short Shrift on Short Sales and Testing the Bath. My mailbox has been full of comments on recent columns about life in homeowners associations, uncertainty with short sales and deciding how much money to invest in a bathroom.

Winners and Losers As Loan Fees Change. The two biggest sources of mortgages for American home buyers plan to raise their base fees to counter what they call continuing "adverse conditions" in the real estate market.

Keeping Closer Tabs On Brokers. Should your mortgage loan officer's fingerprints be on file in a national electronic database, even if he or she has never been convicted of a crime?.