Colleges and universities are buying up chunks of land at bargain prices, sometimes without a clear idea how they'll be used.

A broad swath of homeowners ? those not headed for the worst-case scenario of foreclosure ? are nonetheless grappling with the impact of lost home equity.

The Empire State Building's owner has lost his bid to stop a new skyscraper from rising in the neighborhood.

Sales of new homes dropped sharply last month to the slowest pace on record, the latest sign that the economic recovery is fading.