Banks tighten mortgage terms – This is the cause of a lot of confusion for buyers, sellers (need to be certain the buyer still qualifies) realtors and loan officers (particularly mortgage brokers). Large banks toughened standards on subprime, non-traditional and, to a lesser degree, prime mortgages, according to the Federal Reserve.

 

Fed bends rules to help two big banks

If the Federal Reserve is waiving a fundamental principle in banking regulation, the credit crunch must still be sapping the strength of America's biggest banks. Fortune's Peter Eavis documents an unusual Fed move. 

Mortgage meltdown: The lawsuits

The housing market went boom. Then it went bust. Now it goes to the courts.