U.S. housing slump wipes out big and small investors - 2007-02-12
Brian Tuttle had so much land that he paid $3.6 million US to get divest 125 acres ready for development in the middle of Florida's Palm Beach County. The worst housing slump in 16 years made a lot of smart money disappear. D.R. Horton Inc., Pulte Homes Inc., Lennar Corp., Centex Corp. and Toll Brothers Inc., the five biggest U.S. home builders, said dropping land prices cost them a combined $1.47 billion in the fourth quarter.
Read the full story at Edmonton Journal

Morgan Stanley's Real Estate Push - 2007-02-12
Morgan Stanley's is making a major push into real estate. Last year Morgan Stanley was ranked second behind private equity giant Blackstone Group in global real estate acquisitions. And while Blackstone is locking in a $23 billion buyout of Chicago-based Equity Office in the biggest-ever office tower deal, Morgan Stanley is quietly setting up its own mega-international fund. The brokerage is raising $8 billion for a fund that would look to make acquisitions globally.
Read the full story at TheStreet.com