I thought it might be interesting to recap some of this weeks headlines from national and local news sources to see what the news media mood is related to real estate and the economy. Here is a recap of this week’s real estate headlines:

• Mortgage rates stay below 5%
• Charlotte-area home sales pick up in February (up 3.6%)
• Clear Springs back to development Mixed-use project one of rare starts across the region at Springfield Town Center in Fort Mill

(Charlotte Business Journal)

• Foreclosures level off in February
• It’s OK to be optimistic

(Inman News)

• Fort Mill to lose 27 teaching jobs,middle school sports to budget cuts
• York County Says: Fort Mill tower owners have 60 days – Claiming that MorningStar Ministries breached an agreement with York County to rehabilitate the former Heritage USA tower

(Fort Mill Times)

• FHA Head: Don’t Raise Down Payments
• FHA Commissioner David Stevens said if the mandatory down payment for an FHA loan is raised from 3.5 percent to 5 percent, the organization will probably insure 300,000 fewer homes every year.
• Future Foreclosures Could Hamper Housing
• A second wave of foreclosures could hit the market this year, which could negatively affect an otherwise stabilizing housing market.
• Mortgage Rates Remain Steady
• For the second week in a row, average rates for 30-year mortgages stayed below 5 percent.
• Home Equity Loans Available Again

(Realtor.com)

The mood seems to be positive, negative, and contradicting but I would say leaning more positive. Your thoughts?