A mortgage industry alliance, under pressure to show progress in its efforts to aid troubled borrowers, says lenders gave a record amount of assistance to homeowners last month.

WASHINGTON - A key Senate panel approved a homeowner rescue plan today to give cheaper, government-backed mortgages to up to 500,000 strapped borrowers.

WASHINGTON - Two powerful senators announced today they had reached an agreement for a homeowner rescue package that could help a half-million strapped borrowers get government-backed mortgages.

Fannie Mae is doing away with higher minimum down payment requirements for borrowers in parts of the U.S. in which home prices are dropping.

WASHINGTON - Fannie Mae says it is doing away with higher minimum downpayment requirements for borrowers in distressed real estate markets.

WASHINGTON -- A key senator postponed action Thursday on a homeowner rescue package that could help half a million strapped borrowers get government-backed mortgages, as negotiators inched toward a bipartisan deal.

The metro region is feeling the effects of nationwide mortgage troubles, as a new data reveals the number of borrowers with mortgage payments at least 60 days late doubled or almost doubled - and in some cases tripled - in all counties in the region from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the same period in 2007.

The metro region is feeling the effects of nationwide mortgage troubles, as a new data reveals the number of borrowers with mortgage payments at least 60 days late doubled or almost doubled - and in some cases tripled - in all counties in the region from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the same period in 2007.

The metro region is feeling the effects of nationwide mortgage troubles, as a new data reveals the number of borrowers with mortgage payments at least 60 days late doubled or almost doubled - and in some cases tripled - in all counties in the region from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the same period in 2007.

WASHINGTON -- Mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., which is under investigation for inflating certain borrowers' fees, acknowledged Tuesday that it has made errors and pledged to take steps to improve its operations.