brittney and scaremy are excited. they bought a home here in ham done. >> that was a factor was our credit so we could get a home. we're that the point. >> reporter: a sea of bad debt and default led to the mortgage crisis in america. yet, good news is on the horizon. according to the association of realtors home sales are up 15%. that makes maryland 9th in the number of homes sold. >> prices are firmed up and units are up. and good. >> reporter: a stable job market has helped the real estate. home sales are up in howard. and baltimore county but in the city according to the baltimore business journal. there are no concerns that they will increases will continue but it is a good time to buy. >> what about interest there are banks holding on to money and the bailout people are not getting the loans they hoped to get. >> the highers there is fh. a loans available for first- time buyers. >> like brittney and jeremy. they are renovating their home and hope to move it. >> it is a buyer's market. prices are low. interest ra

brittney takes us to louisiana where a community weight program has a 100% success rate. >> reporter: this is home to 37-year-old karla and her family. her heart is in the mission that she participates in as friendship volunteer. last year, a lingering health issue began impacting her service. >> i got to my largest weight ever. i didn't feel like i could do my job, physically, i was starting to have problems. >> reporter: at 271 pounds, she enrolled in the community clinic weight management program. >> for a long time, i knew i needed to do something about my weight. i just didn't know what to do. >> reporter: she was in good hands with linda jones who had her own weight battle before dropping over 70 pounds. >> our mission is there are no true diets, they are lifestyle changes. we help you make healthy lifestyle choices. >> reporter: unhealthy choices aren't just bad for the person making them, but the economy as well. >> 25% of health care costs are spent treating diseases from being overweight. >> reporter: since the weight program kicked off in february, 100% of the 30 participan

leslie and brittney brewer are a mother and daut their both work for the revenue administration. >> it is going to hurt a loftd families with this furlough. >> i'm 20 years old. i live on my own and it is going to kill me. >> reporter: maryland governor o'malley announced layoffs of more than 200 workers as state jobs are abolished to save $17 million. my message to all of the state employees, as well as the people of our state, is that these are difficult times and we have to make the decisions necessary in order to protect our priorities and to continue to move forward to the other side of this recession. reporter: the union representing state workers objected to the furloughs but knows it could have been worse. >> the fact of the matter is that we were able to avoid, you know, across the board layoffs in many departments which is a positive thing because that's going to keep people employed which is the most important thing. >> rorter: $210 million in budget cuts will come from state aid reductions to local governments. meaning montgomery and prince george's county willace new chall