By ADRIAN SAINZ, DAVID TWIDDY, DANIEL WAGNER, ALEX VEIGA

Associated Press Writers – Sat Aug 1, 10:39 am ET

It was — note the past tense — the worst housing recession anyone but survivors of the Great Depression can remember.
From the frenzied peak of the real estate boom in 2005-2006 to the recession’s trough earlier this year, home resales fell 38 percent and sales of new homes tumbled 76 percent. Construction of homes and apartments skidded 79 percent. And for the first time in more than four decades of record keeping, home prices posted consecutive annual declines. (more…)

By DAVID STREITFELD

Published: July 28, 2009 in the New York Times

After a plunge lasting three years, houses have finally become cheap enough to lure buyers. That, in turn, is stabilizing prices, generating hope that the real estate market is beginning to recover. (more…)