In Feb., month-to-month home sales surged 14.5% as buyers locked in lower mortgage rates, but a 0.2% price drop is the first decline in almost 11 years.

Current bank problems are largely driven by fear, and savers are moving money from regional banks to the big ones bailed out during the Great Recession.

Last week some pundits thought the Fed might keep rates steady at its meeting this week, but most now say that would make the bank issue look like a big deal.

Habitat for Humanity may have to delay affordable-home builds as land costs rise – the one element of its program that needs money in addition to donations.