KUTV reports from Utah. "Utah's housing market is booming with homes selling in a matter of days with multiple offers at or above asking price. Prices have been rising so fast, some worry the state and the nation could be in for another housing bubble. Here in Utah, home prices have recovered to pre-crash prices, adjusted for inflation. Nationally home prices are about one percent shy of the peak pre-bubble. 'The area I am worried about is the value of new home construction,' said Robert Spendlove, a senior economist for Zion’s Bank who keeps a close eye on Utah’s economy. Overall, he sees strength. Looking at the housing market and especially new home builds, he 'wouldn't say people should wait- but they should be careful not to overbuild.'"

"His reticence comes from the possibility that interest rates could rise while families are waiting for their house to be built, pricing them over their allotted budget by the time they reach closing. But there are differing opinions on whether or not Utah is nearing a housing bubble. Jim Wood, who’s studied Utah’s housing market for 40 years and is a senior fellow at the University of Utah’s Kem Gardner Policy Institute, 'doesn’t see any sign of a bubble in the housing market, nor in new construction.'"

"He's watched housing in Utah since the early '70s and believes Utah’s prices will only keep increasing into 2017. Wood tells people “don't wait for prices to go down. That's not going to happen in the short term.' If you're in the market for a new house, Wood’s advice 'would be to get into a home as soon as you can.'"

"Only time will tell if Utah’s housing market will stay on its upward trajectory, but neither economist sees a big bubble that will burst and hit Utah families. There is also a difference in the so called bubble effect this time around. The difference today is that rising prices are not being driven by bad mortgages."

The Wall Street Journal. "Mortgage-finance giant Freddie Mac and two nonbank lenders are loosening income and documentation requirements for mortgage applicants in a new pilot program. The changes announced Monday are designed to help boost mortgage originations among first-time buyers, applicants with low-to-moderate incomes and those who live in underserved areas."

"The moves come nearly a decade after the start of the mortgage meltdown, as many consumers remain shut out of the housing market largely because they can’t meet the underwriting criteria that most lenders require. Under the Freddie program, applicants will be able use the income of people who will live with them but aren’t going to be on the mortgage to qualify."

"In addition, income from second jobs that borrowers have held for a relatively short period will be factored in. The pilot also doesn’t require bank statements that would show a paper trail of how some borrowers save for their down payments. Many of the pilot’s features are similar to what Fannie Mae currently allows on some mortgages it purchases but are new for Freddie Mac, which is among the largest purchasers of mortgages in the country. Freddie Mac says it purchases one in every four mortgages originated by lenders in the U.S."

The Nevada Appeal. "The Nevada Rural Housing Authority Home at Last program is providing an increasing number of mortgage grants in Fallon. The program, which started 10 years ago and expanded its loan product suite last year, has helped 146 families in Churchill County with $20.4 million in mortgage assistance. The Home at Last enhancements combined with the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance premium decrease last year is encouraging low-to-moderate income borrowers into the housing market, often for the first time."

"The program has provided $1 billion in mortgages and $28.6 million in down payment assistance to help over 5,300 households statewide. The expansions addressed homebuyer and lender feedback to provide more borrower down payment and closing cost aid. 'Many people think homeownership isn’t possible due to rising home prices, reduced inventory or lack of a down payment,' said Diane Arvizo, director of Homebuyer Services for the program. 'The reality is with rising rents, lack of adequate and affordable rental housing as well as the influx of people moving to the region to seek expanded job opportunities, now is a great time to buy.'"

The SFist in California. "Smack dab in the middle of a terrible affordability crisis, San Francisco is getting a jolt of what it really needs: ultra high-end condos. Or so argues Forbes, which on Friday published a post celebrating the fact that housing in the city by the Bay has 'finally' begun to cater to the super rich. Think helipads, infinity pools, and brass door-handles custom-forged 'a few steps from the Seine' — you know, rich people stuff."

"'After years of lacking the kinds of glossy, amenity-filled towers found in abundance in other big markets, high-end condominium developments are coming to San Francisco,' the article explains. 'And they are packing some of the highest price tags in the city.'"

"But don't worry, these building aren't pulling in global investors who will buy the property and just leave it sitting empty. Rather, Forbes tells us, they are meeting a local need. 'These projects will appeal to local buyers,' Alan P. Mark, the president of a high-end development sales and marketing firm, explained the paper. 'Bay Area buyers are looking for projects in prime locations that will rapidly appreciate.'"

The Record in New Jersey. "The asking price has been lowered – again – on the Saddle River chateau owned by Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige. The eight-bedroom, 4-acre estate is now listed for $9.88 million, down from $13 million earlier this year. The house had been on the market for as much as $13.9 million in 2011. Blige bought the gated stone manse at 119 E. Saddle River Road for $12.3 million in 2008, as the housing bubble was beginning to deflate. The home was brand new then; it had been built on speculation on the site of two ranch houses."

"Blige is not the only Saddle River celebrity trying to sell a home. Rosie O’Donnell has listed her home at 115 East Allendale Road for just under $6.5 million. The actress/comedian bought the six-bedroom house for $6.375 million in October 2013. Another celebrity, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, recently sold his Alpine home for an undisclosed amount. He had bought it for $6 million in 2004 in the name of an LLC and had been trying to sell it, off and on, since 2006. In 2011, the asking price was $13.5 million, but that was cut several times, reaching $7.9 million earlier this year."

"There are 38 homes listed for sale for $6 million or more in Bergen County, according to the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service."

The Advertiser in Louisiana. "Lafayette and its neighbors remain mired among the worst 10 housing markets in America, Nationwide Economics reported. Nationwide economists said Lafayette ranked fifth in the bottom 10 of 400 housing markets across the country. All of the bottom 10 are located in identifiable 'energy' markets. 'You’re still seeing the downstream impacts of low oil prices,' said senior economist Ben Ayers."

"While mining and logging has 'hit bottom' and was 'slowly coming up,' he said, manufacturing jobs declined by about 3,000 in the five-parish area that includes Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin and Vermilion. 'Manufacturing falling off is not helping,' he said."

"For those shopping for a home, the low ranking means 'it’s a great time to buy,' Ayers said. For homeowners looking to sell: Not so much."