The CEO of Atlanta-based homebuilder Beazer Homes USA Inc. received a compensation package last year valued at $3.2 million, with more than half of it coming from stock awarded to him as part of a bonus for his performance in the prior year, according to an analysis of a regulatory filing Tuesday.

A government report due Tuesday is forecast to show that construction activity fell 0.5 percent in May, as pain in the housing sector continued to outweigh gains in other parts of the economy.

Nonprofit groups are battling with the Bush administration over whether to kill programs that allow homebuyers without the money for a down payment to get funds from sellers that are channeled through charities.

A government report to be released Wednesday is forecast to show that new home sales fell in May after an unexpected increase a month earlier.

A closely watched reading of U.S. home prices will provide an indication of how far the housing market slipped in April as investors and homeowners try to figure out when the market will hit bottom.

As if homebuilders didn't have enough to worry about with plunging home prices and rising foreclosures, the surge in oil prices is driving up the cost of key construction materials.

More than a year into a U.S. housing market meltdown, prosecutors have yet to bring major cases against mortgage industry leaders — and the slump's worst may pass before any charges are filed.

Housing stocks faltered Thursday after a major builder reported a quarterly loss and data showed home prices continued to fall last month.

U.S. home builders, struggling under sinking demand and a credit crisis, now face a fresh obstacle: competition from a flood of homes in foreclosure.

A revised report on June consumer sentiment due out Friday is expected to show that Americans remain pessimistic about the economy due to falling home prices, deteriorating job growth, surging fuel prices and rising inflation.

The FBI's criminal probe of the mortgage lending industry has grown to 17 firms, involves large companies, and could take years to conclude, bureau officials said on Tuesday in a Reuters interview.