Foreclosures are a necessary ingredient of a recovering real estate market, according to the chief economist of the California Association of Realtors, who spoke at a conference of Contra Costa County Realtors held in Walnut Creek.

California is among eleven states that are part of a lawsuit settlement that requires Countrywide Financial to  help  modify home loans of borrowers who are having trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments, according to an Associated Press story.  The plan calls for Countrywide to reduce interest rates  in some cases and lower the principal that is due in other cases. If you are a Countrywide borrower, I would like to talk with you for a story.  Please call Eve Mitchell, real estate reporter, at 925-952-2690 or email at emitchell@bayareanewsgroup.com.