Real estate in high-priced areas is finally becoming a little easier to buy or refinance, thanks to the jumbo conforming loan program approved by Congress in February.

Those new jumbo-conforming mortgages, created by Congress to make homes in high-priced areas more affordable, are finally getting cheaper.

Hope dimmed yesterday that Congress would act quickly to rescue homeowners at risk of foreclosure after key Republican and Democratic negotiators in the Senate said they could not reach agreement on a plan.

Back in 2003, Congress lowered the capital gains rate for people in the two lowest federal tax brackets to zero - but only for 2008 through 2010.

Back in 2003, Congress lowered the capital gains rate for people in the two lowest federal tax brackets to zero - but only for 2008 through 2010.

The Federal Reserve chairman urged Congress to give federal agencies “greater latitude” to take an innovative approach to dealing with the housing crisis.

The Federal Reserve chairman urged Congress to give federal agencies “greater latitude” to take an innovative approach to dealing with the housing crisis.

BOSTON (AP) - A key House lawmaker on Monday complained that the mortgage industry has done little over the past month to make higher-value loans available in costly housing markets after Congress took steps to try to infuse more cash into the so-called jumbo market.

WASHINGTON -- Democrats are finding more excuses to ignore the promise they made when they took over Congress that they wouldn't pass laws increasing the budget deficit.

BOSTON - A key House lawmaker today complained that the mortgage industry has done little over the past month to make higher-value loans available in costly housing markets after Congress took steps to try to infuse more cash into the so-called jumbo market.