Disruptions in the mortgage market and tightening credit continued to impact the housing sector in Florida in October. Statewide, sales of existing single-family homes totaled 9,165 last month while 12,846 homes sold in October 2006 for a decrease of 29 percent in the year-to-year comparison, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).

It has been an indecisive session on Wall Street with a late plunge in the market sending stock prices sharply lower. A rebound in crude oil prices has sent big energy issues like Exxon Mobil higher, but it has hurt large manufacturers, including Caterpillar.

American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. (NYSE:AHM) today (August 2) reported that, in light of the liquidity issues resulting from extraordinary disruptions occurring in the secondary mortgage market, the Company has determined to significantly reduce its operating structure as it seeks the most appropriate course of resolution to preserve the value of its remaining assets.

Assurant Solutions, a leading provider and administrator of niche insurance protection products in North America, Latin America and Europe, announced July 12 that its affiliate in the United Kingdom has acquired Swansure Group, a distributor of its mortgage payment protection products in the UK.