AP - Mitt Romney released two years of his federal tax returns under pressure from Newt Gingrich, who made his 2010 tax filings public ahead of his GOP rival. Romney, in turn, successfully pressed Gingrich to disclose contracts between his consulting firm and housing giant Freddie Mac.

AP - Two organizations that track the Massachusetts housing market say a slow but steady recovery continues.

Reuters - Congressman Barney Frank on Wednesday asked his colleagues to hold a hearing on alleged mortgage abuses at Ally Financial, a day after the attorney general from his home state of Massachusetts requested that lawmakers investigate.

AP - Massachusetts is calling for a congressional hearing on GMAC Mortgage, a division of Ally Financial, claiming that the taxpayer-owned bank is illegally foreclosing on people’s homes in the state.

AP - One day after it was among five major banks sued by Massachusetts over deceptive foreclosure practices, GMAC Mortgage says it will stop purchasing new mortgage loans written by third parties in the state.

Making the most of the day, Gisele Bundchen was seen playing at a public park in Boston, Massachusetts today (December 2). The Brazilian supermodel was joined by her son Benjamin Brady and stepson John Moynahan as she took in the fresh air and sunshine.

Here are some interesting articles and quotes from the Web about real estate this week: Mass. AG sues five major banks over foreclosures By Patrick Rizzo Massachusetts’ top law enforcement official has sued five top U.S.

Reuters - The Massachusetts attorney general has filed a lawsuit against five large U.S. banks accusing them of deceptive foreclosure practices, a signal of ebbing confidence that a multi-state agreement can be worked out.

AP - Massachusetts sued five major banks Thursday over deceptive foreclosure practices such as the “robo-signing” of documents, potentially undermining negotiations between lenders and state prosecutors across the nation over the same issue.

Reuters - Massachusetts on Wednesday said it is preparing to sue big banks related to unlawful foreclosures, dealing another blow to the multi-state talks aimed at resolving those investigations on a national scale.