Time.com - Overall, it’s a clear win for Obama and Democrats, a qualified win for the banks, and a minor, belated victory for homeowners

AP - A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation’s top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But consumer advocates countered that far too few people will benefit.

Reuters - Five big U.S. banks accused of abusive mortgage practices have agreed to a $25 billion government settlement that may help roughly one million borrowers but is no magic bullet for the ailing housing market.

The Christian Science Monitor - In a historic settlement, five of America’s largest banks have agreed to pay $26 billion to settle a lawsuit charging poor servicing of mortgages as they went bad and illegal use of automatic signature devices on legal documents for the years 2008-11.

AP - On Thursday, 49 states reached a $25 billion deal with the nation’s biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses that occurred after the housing bubble burst.

AP - Federal officials say a deal has been reached between states and the nation’s biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses.

AP - The U.S.

Time.com - One factor hurting the prices of homes that are for sale is the enormous number of homes that aren’t for sale but that should be

AP - Gov. Jerry Brown’s appointee to head the department that oversees banking, financial and consumer regulations in California led a trade association that fought against tighter lending restrictions before the subprime mortgage crisis exploded and was an executive with Washington Mutual when the now-failed bank was among the most aggressive marketers of loans to high-risk borrowers.

AP - The CEOs of some of the nation’s biggest homebuilding companies say the housing market appears to have stabilized.