The landmark National Mortgage Servicing Settlement —announced last year to speed up relief to struggling homeowners — was an important milestone in protecting homeowners and cracking down on abusive lending practices, said Shaun Donovan, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Politico reports. 

Bottom line: This historic agreement is making a profound difference for the American people. Families that were on the brink of losing their homes are now able to stay. Communities that were devastated by the housing crisis are starting to turn the page. And in the big picture, thanks to these and other efforts, the housing market is coming back.