What do you see in your housing market this weekend? Builder incentives? Auctions? Statistics? "According to statistics compiled by the Intermountain MLS, in the Treasure Valley, the 834 transactions posted in January were 27 percent fewer than the 1,149 sales in January 2006. Ada County saw a 40 percent decline in sales in January."

"One real estate agent still worries that most homes coming onto the market are beyond the financial reach of the typical buyer. George Tallabas, a Realtor in Nampa, pointed out that on Dec. 3 there were 274 active listings in Nampa priced between $200,000 and $300,000. As of earlier this week, there were 387 listings in that range."

Economic predictions? "The economy isn't headed down the tubes this year. That's the word from Memphis investment gurus. 'There has been some air that has come out of the housing market,' said David Waddell, CEO of Waddell & Associates. 'The contraction in housing to date hasn't affected consumers,' Waddell said. 'Never bet against the American consumer. We spend our way through everything.'"

New legislation? " Mortgage fraud is on the rise, and the Texas Legislature may take a giant step to squash it. A pending bill would establish specific punishments for mortgage fraud, including imprisonment for up to 20 years and fines of up to $10,000 for knowingly making false statements."

"Two state lawmakers plan to introduce bills on Monday that would require mortgage lenders in Colorado to be licensed, as well as other requirements designed to 'put some teeth' into measures to help stem the foreclosure tide sweeping the state."

"'I've been calling for the licensing of mortgage brokers for more than 10 years,' mortgage lender Jim Spray said. 'It is just stupid for a lender to be making loans when they know the borrower can't pay it back.'"

"Existing law, the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, provides for the licensure and regulation by the Commissioner of Corporations of persons engaged in the business of making residential mortgage loans or servicing those loans."

"This bill would require a person engaged in the business of making or servicing residential mortgage loans who advertises option adjustable rate mortgage loans and references a payment rate with a negative amortization feature to include a specified disclosure in the advertisements."

Or foreclosures? "With a historic increase in foreclosure cases Jacksonville (Florida) Legal Aid is now turning people away. 'About 60 days ago we realized we reached capacity, despite foreclosures coming in the door 20 to 30 a week,' said Jacksonville Legal Aid Director Michael Figgins."

"With just four lawyers working foreclosure cases he says his office is overwhelmed, and can't take new cases."