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A new study from Lake Research Partners is revealing the popular perspective on the controversial Dodd Frank Act. The poll, which was commissioned by AARP, the Center for Responsible Lending, Americans for Financial Reform, and the National Council of La Raza, showed that voters are generally in favor of the legislation.

Another former reality star and current pop star is joining the real estate fray. Just days after X Factor champion Leona Lewis listed her home in Los Angeles, Kelly Clarkson, who won the U.S. version of the competition, American Idol, has put her ranch in Mansfield, Texas, on the market for $1.495 million.

The median price of an existing single-family home rose in June to the highest level since 2008, marking a fifth straight month-over-month gain, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday. The trade group found the median price up 7.9 percent from June 2011. Existing-home sales dropped to 4.37 million in June, reaching the lowest level since last October, according to the group. It was the fourth drop in the last five months. Economists had expected the sales pace to increase to 4.65 million from 4.62 million in May.

Increased home sales continue to help the United States out of its Great Recession, but uneven job growth is stunting recovery, according to Freddie Mac├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for July. The report, released Wednesday, showed that record-breaking low mortgage rates and refinances through HARP 2.0 drove up housing demand, leading to increases in housing starts, home sales, and prices in many markets. Housing starts for the first five months of the year averaged an annual rate of 719,000, a 26 percent increase from the same period in 2011.

Calling the property one of "America's original 'green' houses," Curbed is reporting that a home in California's Sea Ranch development has hit the market for $1.2 million. The listed estate is part of a concept that was conceived by Al Boeke in 1963, when he tapped a notable roster of architects to participate in building Sea Ranch as the nation's first green housing project.

After recording a loss in the first quarter of the year, Bank of America announced a net income of $2.5 billion, $0.19 per diluted share in the second quarter of this year, according to a press release. The $8.8 billion in net loss in the first quarter was partially due to $18.2 billion charges ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£for certain mortgage-related items and other select adjustments, including provisions for representations and warranties and goodwill impairment,├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├é┬Ø according to the press release. This trend reversed during the second quarter. Bank of America lent out about $107 billion.

SourceLink has launched a new platform for lenders seeking strong refinancing prospects. The company recently debuted its MORE program, which SourceLink describes as an innovative campaign solution that gives lenders the ability to reach prime mortgage refinance prospects by utilizing direct mail and personalized campaign microsites.

Lake Research Partners released the results of an opinion poll showing that financial reforms enacted in recent years remain popular with potential voters. In light of events leading to 2008's financial meltdown, potential voters seem to overwhelmingly favor financial reform laws designed to prevent abuse. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of respondents favor the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, while only 20 percent expressed disagreement. The support for Dodd-Frank crosses party lines.

Housing starts in June soared to their highest level since October 2008, surging 6.9 percent to 760,000, the Census Bureau and HUD reported jointly Wednesday. Housing permits dropped 3.7 percent to 755,000 giving back half of May's gain. At the same time, permits for May were revised up to 784,000 from the originally reported 780,000 and housing starts were revised up for both April and May, to 747,000 and 711,000 respectively from 744,000 and 708,000. Total housing completions in June rose to 622,000.

Rising home prices and sales signal that the housing recovery may finally be underway, according to RE/MAX. The real estate company released a housing report Tuesday that found closed transactions up 2.1 percent from May and 5 percent from June year-over-year. These figures made June the twelfth straight month for higher transactions. Of 53 metro areas surveyed by the company, 31 offered up increases for both sales and prices. Available homes for sale fell 5 percent from May and 27.4 percent from June last year.