If you can’t convince your contractor brother-in-law to help with your next project, you need the next best thing: Here are the 3 best sources.

National City nears investment of $6 billion to $7 billion: sour (Reuters)

Reuters - Subprime mortgage-hit National City , a large U.S. Midwest regional bank, is close to getting a $6-$7 billion injection from a group of investors led by private equity firm Corsair Capital, a source familiar with the transaction said on Sunday.

What’s next for real estate
Reports on 380 home markets across the country. See latest prices, forecasts, and other key stats.

Invest to win 2007
Money Magazine’s new list of best mutual funds. Plus: 5 perfect money makeovers.

Best jobs in America
Second annual edition…Money Magazine and Salary.com sought out the best jobs for anyone ready for a new challenge.

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Money Magazine’s new list of best mutual funds. Plus: 5 perfect money makeovers. More Info…

AP - Former Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines and two other top executives have agreed to a $31.4 million settlement with the government announced Friday over their roles in a 2004 accounting scandal. More Info…

Admit it. you want to see some justice handed out on Wall Street. Thanks to the Great Mortgage Panic of 2008, your home value is tumbling, credit is harder to get and the job market may turn a lot tougher. And let’s not even talk about your 401(k) balance. More Info…

Coping in a market like this requires patience and prudence (and maybe a few dividends). More Info…

Reuters - National City Corp, a large U.S. Midwest bank, said on Monday it is raising $7 billion and slashed its dividend after mortgage and home equity problems led to its third straight quarterly loss.

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Over the past year or two, a combo of new government regulations and a chaotic stock market - not to mention the continued slashing of traditional pensions - has spurred many companies to revamp their 401(k) plans in ways that can pay off big-time. More Info…

Americans are flocking to places that offer big-city opportunities and amenities — with a lot more green space and a lot less stress. See the top 10 Great American Towns. More Info…

Reuters - The Bank of England moved to ease the effects of a credit crunch on the UK’s banking system on Monday by offering to swap secure government bonds for riskier mortgage debt.

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Check out these 7 places where the greenback is worth a lot more than the paper it’s printed on. More Info…

AFP/File - The Bank of England unveiled a 100-billion-dollar plan Monday to get Britain’s home loan market moving again in the latest attempt to combat the global credit crunch.

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AFP - US investment bank Merrill Lynch reported its third straight quarter in the red Thursday after another massive write-down on assets from its adventure in the risky US subprime mortgage market.

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Reuters - Sallie Mae , the largest U.S. student loan company, on Thursday affirmed its 2008 profit forecast, but warned of a “train wreck” in the $85 billion education financing market without urgent government intervention.

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The best personal takes on making the most of your money. More Info…

Reuters - Subprime mortgage-hit National City , a large U.S. Midwest regional bank, is close to getting a $6-$7 billion injection from a group of investors led by private equity firm Corsair Capital, a source familiar with the transaction said on Sunday.

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Still searching for that last-minute eureka on your 1040? Perhaps you’ll find it here. More Info…

With thriving street life and plentiful housing, college towns are drawing retirees for whom culture is as important as golf. More Info…

AP - Financial planner Stacy Francis, president of Francis Financial Inc. in New York, says frugal living requires that you minimize your spending, maximize your income and set achievable savings goals. Some strategies: More Info…

Money Magazine’s new list of best mutual funds. Plus: 5 perfect money makeovers. More Info…

Reuters - A federal judge has granted the U.S. Department of Justice wide authority to probe whether Countrywide Financial Corp abuses the bankruptcy process, rejecting the largest U.S. mortgage lender’s claim that the ruling could cause havoc for the lending industry.

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AFP - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson proposed a broad overhaul of financial market regulation in an effort to restore confidence in a system battered by the subprime mortgage crisis.

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At the risk of tipping my hand (real estate agents, stop reading now), I’m thinking of buying a second home. Like most of you, I own my primary residence, have no intention of moving soon and am locked into a fixed mortgage at a decent rate.

Take charge of your health care
Jason and Jean Jeffords of Bedford, N.H. pay about $240 a month for their health insurance, which they get through the small company that Jason works for. It’s a pretty comprehensive package of benefits. Hospital stays? Check. Trips to the E.R.? Check.

Best places to retire
With thriving street life and plentiful housing, college towns are drawing retirees for whom culture is as important as golf.

Invest to win 2007
Money Magazine’s new list of best mutual funds. Plus: 5 perfect money makeovers.

One upside to the popped real estate bubble is that hiring contractors has suddenly become a lot easier. A couple of years ago, it seemed like you had to be an A-list celebrity or a hedge fund tycoon to get one to so much as call you back. But with homeowners increasingly hesitant to plow big bucks into home improvement, even the best contractors might pick up your call before the second ring.

Money Magazine’s new list of best mutual funds. Plus: 5 perfect money makeovers.

FBI says targets major insiders in mortgage probe (Reuters)

Reuters - The FBI is targeting major corporate insiders and criminal groups in its investigation of fraud in the mortgage lending industry, agency chief Robert Mueller said on Tuesday.

The safest investments to buy now
Smart picks and sure strategies for today’s uncertain market