It's no surprise Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud. State regulators have allowed thousands of criminals to enter the mortgage business, scarcely lifting a finger to protect homebuyers from con artists. ...more

July 22, 2008

Florida's attorney general on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp. for engaging in "deceptive and unfair trade practices." ...more

July 2, 2008

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's office said today it has filed a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial for engaging in "deceptive and unfair trade practices." The suit says Countrywide, one of the nation's largest mortgage companies, knowingly put Florida borrowers into mortgages they couldn't afford or into loans with rates and penalties that were "misleading." ...more

July 1, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The downturn in the economy is proving to be a boon for the human resources department at the Pasco County School District. ...more

June 18, 2008

At the center of the housing crisis, we're told, is someone called the "predatory lender." Such is the myth driving the housing debate in Washington, where both Democrats and Republicans are rushing toward a mortgage bailout. ...more

May 3, 2008

Travis Munnerlyn just wanted to add on to his Orlando home to make room for grandchildren coming to live with him and his wife. A couple years later, Munnerlyn cannot make the increasing payments on his adjustable rate loan - not even close - and could lose the house. ...more

February 20, 2008

Mortgage brokers who haven't fled the industry or been forced out are in survival mode. ...more

February 1, 2008

"Health and Wealth" is the theme of the third annual Women-N-Charge Expo. Aside from promoting the dual cause of improved personal well-being and financial success, this free event reflects the mission of its host organization. ...more

January 18, 2008

Regarding "Mortgage CEO Wants A Federal Rescue" (Business, Dec. 4): The mortgage mess is about to get messier. The bailout proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will spread the mess to tax-exempt bond funds, stealing money from many retirees that have invested in the bond funds to get by in retirement. It all deprives income that eases the burden on the taxpayers of this country. ...more

December 5, 2007

Food pantries and other groups that help the needy in the Brandon area are facing a crisis this holiday season, with huge increases in clients and decreases in donations. ...more

November 19, 2007