Five years ago, Federal Reserve head Ben Bernanke said the housing sector wasn't a major economic concern. In fact, most experts failed to see the looming subprime mortgage crisis that sank the U.S. economy. If they were so wrong about the Great Recession, it's possible they could also be blind to a "Great Recovery."

It used to be unthinkable for high-end designers to sell their clothes at mass retailers. Now they regularly team up with Gap, Macy's and Target to bring fashion to the masses. The arrangement can help both the designers and the retailers.

Two senators who have taken the lead on legislation aimed to help homeowners refinance are blunt about how concerned they are by the news NPR reported about Freddie Mac's "multibillion-dollar bets against American homeowners being able to refinance."