14 percent of Florida facing mortgage crisis (Sun-Sentinel) More than 4 million American homeowners with a mortgage, a record 9 percent, were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of June, as damage from the housing crisis worsened, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday.

Florida, California driving mortgage delinquency rate (Orlando Business Journal) Mortgage loan delinquency rates in Florida and California are driving the nation's residential delinquency rate, which jumped .06 percent in the second quarter to 6.41 percent of all outstanding loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Florida tops in lapsed mortgages (The Palm Beach Post) One in 12 mortgage borrowers in Florida are critically behind on their loan payments, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday.

Florida leads in housing defaults (Bradenton Herald) Florida continues to lead the nation in mortgage delinquencies, with one in every seven borrowers either in foreclosure or behind on their payments at the end of June, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday.

Fitch Rates Florida HFC's $100MM Mortgage Revenue Bonds 'AA+' (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) NEW YORK----Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA+' rating to Florida Housing Finance Corporation's $100 million homeowner mortgage revenue bonds, 2008 series 3. The bonds are expected to be sold through negotiation this week and are expected to close on or about Sept. 30, 2008.

Live Video: Federal Government Announces Takeover Of Mortgage Giants (FOX 29 Lake Charles) Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announces the federal takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Mortgage giants were blind to bubble (MSNBC) Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — despite their robust cadre of economists and mortgage experts — failed to heed warnings that the housing bubble would burst.

Mortgage giants blind to bubble (Arizona Daily Sun) WASHINGTON -- Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- despite their robust cadre of economists and mortgage experts -- failed to heed warnings that the most dramatic housing bubble in U.S. history would burst.

Guilty plea in $10 million mortgage scheme (Miami Herald) In an ongoing battle against mortgage fraud, a pervasive crime in South Florida, two defendants have pleaded guilty in a scheme involving 25 properties and more than $10 million in fraudulent home loans in Broward County, according to federal prosecutors.

Florida couple turns food talk into board game (The Pantagraph) MIAMI -- Eric and Monica Ash moved to northwest Broward, Fla., from Alexandria, Va., in May with a newborn, a toddler and no regular paychecks to cover the mortgage or employers to subsidize the health insurance. Eric says they're living a dream.