Federal government needs to be more aggressive to combat housing slump, experts say

Unemployment is the number one impediment to a housing recovery, according to Pete Flint, CEO of a real estate listing site Trulia. The housing market needs the federal government to more aggressively encourage banks to help homeowners facing foreclosure, Flint told CBS, otherwise the market sentiment may remain low. Rick Sharga, senior vice president with RealtyTrac, agreed. “Until we have [looser credit], we really can’t have a full-fledged housing market recovery,” Sharga said. As for lenders’ pledges to help at-risk homeowners with mortgage modifications? “Unfortunately, it’s all been lip service and little action,” Flint said.