What do you see in your housing market this weekend? Regulation changes? "On Tuesday, a group of banking regulators agreed to extend new guidelines for federal mortgage brokers to ones charted on the state level, where many experts say the riskiest loans come from. In Passaic County, foreclosures are projected to rise by 22 percent this year, an analysis of county Sheriff's Department statistics shows."

"Melissa Totaro, a West Orange lawyer who previously worked for the Passaic County Legal Aid Society said that any measure helps. 'It's too late for people who are in foreclosure,' she said. 'It's not too late to stop this craziness and help people in the future.'"

Neighborhood foreclosures? "Neighbors have been eyeing the shoulder-high weeds at a vacant Kennewick house for months. Laura Roberson lives right next door. She remembers how nice the house was when people used to live there. 'This wasn't our neighborhood less than two years ago. It's just gone down hill and gone down hill,' said Roberson."

"Kennewick code enforcement officer Patsy Osborn wishes there was an easy fix. She says forclosures are her biggest hassle."

Market statistics? "The number of homes sold in the Lehigh Valley continued to fall last month, as average home prices dipped slightly and the time homes sat on the market lengthened."

"Home sales fell last year for the first time in at least 10 years. Simultaneously, the number of new listings set a record."

"So far this year, those trends have held: as home sales have fallen, new listings have soared. The healthy stock of homes for sale has been a boon for prospective buyers who have more choices. But for sellers, the competition has proven a nuisance."

Industry issues? "Walk into the mustard-and-Similac-stained office of any Realtor in Southern California and ask the following question: 'The newspapers keep telling me the real estate market is dropping like a rotten pear. Foreclosures are up, lending is tight, and I've got a cousin who serves complimentary Rob Roys at his Sunday open houses and still can't draw a crowd. So why should I even be wasting my time considering these astronomical asking prices?'"

"No matter how you phrase the question, you'll get the same answer: 'Prices are stable, but houses are just staying on the market a little longer, so now's a good time to get in.'"

"So it's spectacularly good or bad timing that Southern California Multiple Listing Service has decided to limit disclosure of days-on-the-market and cumulative-days-on-the-market data."

"First, this is clearly a change that serves nervous home sellers and their agents, the only parties who would be concerned that apparently lengthy days-on-market periods might prompt buyers to make low-ball offers."

"Second, despite this hiccup, the real estate market is experiencing a rapid trend toward transparency."

"Third, it's a sign of how much the market has changed from a few years ago, when the buying frenzy made days-on-the-market a nonissue. So here's some advice: When an agent tells you that overpriced starter home you're looking at just listed two days ago, smile, nod and check to see how thick the dust is on the windowsills."