A report from the Miami Herald in Florida. "The number of existing home sales in Miami-Dade County took another plunge in October, dropping 22 percent compared to October 2015, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. Condo sales took a big hit, as developers pump new inventory into the market. Sales for existing condos fell to 983 in October, down 30 percent year-over year. October also saw a drop in home sales in Broward County. The number of residential transactions there fell 13 percent year-over-year. Brokers have warned that as sales slow down, sellers will need to lower their asking prices for luxury homes."

The Chicago Tribune in Illinois. "Home buying in the Chicago area plunged sharply in October, continuing a downward trend in sales that began over the summer. October's decline was the worst since an 8.5 percent plunge in November 2014. 'We are seeing a slowdown, definitely,' said Doug Carpenter, president of the Illinois Realtors. Yet he thinks there is pent-up demand and 'hopefully there will be a pickup now that the election is over.'"

The San Francisco Chronicle. "After months of rents shooting up almost unilaterally across the nation, finally a slowing down. Zumper’s national rent index for November, 2016 looks back at October. The data show that almost half of all US rental markets either experienced no change or experienced a decrease in the median price for one bedroom apartments. That includes the perennial most pricey markets of San Francisco and New York (so, still pricey; just slightly less so)."

"'Among the top ten rental markets, we saw declines in both of the most expensive markets, San Francisco and New York, a trend that continued from [September], and half of the twenty priciest saw falling rents, including cities like San Diego, and Miami, and Honolulu. The market for two bedroom apartments seems to be slowing down even faster, as prices fell in nearly 60% of rental markets.'"

The Baltimore Brew in Maryland. "Oaktree Capital Management cashed in during the U.S. housing crisis, buying up distressed assets at bargain prices. But critics say the holders of Oaktree’s mortgages are suffering because the Los Angeles-based investment firm misused a federal program to buy up the properties. One of those people, a 64-year-old nurse from the Cylburn neighborhood in Park Heights, stood in City Hall yesterday alongside of several City Council members and union and community allies."

"When Sandra Cohen’s income plummeted after the private duty patient she cared for died in 2009, she tried unsuccessfully to get the Bank of America to modify her loan. Cohen said she was thrilled when Oaktree’s servicer, Selene Finance, bought the loan, lowering her payments to $800 a month. 'I was excited. I thought I was back on track. I could afford $800,' she said. 'Little did I realize that in the year 2054, I’d have a balloon payment attached to my mortgage – $76,000. What’s my family going to do? Finance that after 40 years? I will never own this house.'"

"As of June, 40% of Oaktree’s Baltimore loans have been foreclosed, with another 20% in the process of foreclosure, according to a report by UNITE HERE Local 7, which organized the event along with United Workers. 'This is the sheer definition of predatory lending,' said Councilman-elect John T. Bullock (9th District)."

"In a statement emailed to The Brew, Oaktree disputed UNITE HERE’s information. 'For perspective, more than 55% of the Baltimore loans purchased by Oaktree-managed funds were already in foreclosure at the time of purchase, and the average loan was more than two years in arrears. HUD was seeking partners capable of injecting new capital and expertise into these difficult situations and helping borrowers retain their homes, and we’re proud to have been able to do so.'"

"Sandra Cohen, meanwhile, is pushing to get some relief after what she said was deceptive behavior by a lender under a federally managed program. Seeking a lawyer, she said her experience has left her bitter. 'When the banks got bailed out, the loans got sold, [but] our interest didn’t come down, the principal didn’t come down,' she said. 'Instead of anything coming down, we had fees attached, attorney fees, corporate advance. Corporate advances!'"