Mortgage Banking July 31, 2010

→   Fifth Third Mortgage Company Refinances $4 Billion in Loans
Mortgage Company working hard to help homeowners during troubled times -- Fifth Third Bank,Whitney Ellis,Cincinnati   07/31/2010



→   Freddie Mac Will Not Issue a Reference Notes® Security on July 29, 2010
Freddie Mac (OTC Bulletin Board: FMCC) announced today that it will not issue a Reference Notes® security on July 29, 2010. The company's 2010 Reference Notes calendar designates dates that it may use to announce the issuance of Reference Notes securities. -- Freddie Mac,Michael Cosgrove,Mclean Va.  07/31/2010



→   Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Reset Record Lows
Mortgage rates were lower this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate hitting a record low of 4.71 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points. -- Bankrate.com,Kayleen Yates,New York   07/31/2010



→   Rocket Scientist Becomes Anago Master Franchise Owner
POMPANO BEACH, FL, July 31, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Anago Cleaning Systems is proud to announce the sale of the Eastern Ohio Master Territory to Ken Speece, based out of Canton, Ohio. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/31/2010



→   Get Inspired with Design Ideas for Your Kitchen, Bath or Whole Home Remodel: Jackson Design & Remodeling Launches Expanded Online Portfolio
SAN DIEGO, CA, July 31, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jackson Design & Remodeling and its team of award-winning designers today launched an enhanced portfolio page on its website showcasing amazing remodeling projects, including award-winning kitchens, baths, historical homes, specialty designs and more. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/31/2010



→   OFOX Rapeseed Futures Added to International Commodity Index
OSAKA, JAPAN, July 31, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The index was designed to meet the need for consistent investing in a broad-based international vehicle; it represents the value of a basket of commodities consumed in the global economy, ranging from agricultural to energy and metals products. The value of this basket is tracked via futures contracts on 36 different exchanges traded physical commodities, quoted in five different currencies, and listed on twelve exchanges in five countries. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/31/2010



→   Getting Roofing Estimates Made Easier in New York
GREENBELT, MD, July 31, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Roofing just got easier for New York homeowners, thanks to http://www.Roofing-Directory.com. The popular roofing estimate website recently expanded coverage to include more regions within the Empire State. From Staten Island to Syracuse, New York residents everywhere now have easy access to free roofing estimates from qualified local contractors. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/31/2010



→   U.S. Housing Market Is in Worse Shape than You Think: Altos Research
Real estate data provider Altos Research is taking a very bearish outlook on the housing market. The company says that ominous shadow inventory of distressed properties hanging over the industry will lock home prices into a downward trajectory for the remainder of this year, with property values starting out 2011 even lower than they were in 2009. Add to that the fact that the pool of viable buyers out there is shrinking, and you've got an equation that Altos says is a sign of real market weakness. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/31/2010



→   Fannie Mae`s Serious Delinquency Rate Falls for Third Straight Month
The percentage of loans 90 or more days past due held by the nation's largest mortgage company has declined for three months in a row. According to a new monthly summary report released by Fannie Mae on Friday, the GSE's single-family serious delinquency rate dropped 15 basis points to 5.15 percent in May. That follows a decline of 17 basis points in April and 12 basis points in March. The March reading was the first time Fannie’s delinquency rate had dropped since March 2007, when it was a mere 0.62 percent. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   New 3.5% Mortgage Rate Program Introduced in West Virginia
Mortgage rates have hit record lows across the nation, but not as low as the rate being offered through a new program in West Virginia. According to a recent announcement by the state's governor, the West Virginia Housing Development Fund has launched a new mortgage program for West Virginia families that includes a 30-year loan at a fixed rate of approximately 3.5 percent. This historically-low rate is achieved as a result of a $35 million bond issue coupled with a special bond refunding by the Housing Development Fund. However, funds for this program are limited. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   HUD to Award $79 Million in Grants to Housing Counselors Nationwide
HUD recently announced the availability of $79 million in grants for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. This represents an increase of $21 million, or 27 percent, over last year's funding. According to HUD, these grants will be awarded competitively to approximately 550 HUD-approved counseling agencies and state housing finance agencies across the nation to help families stave off foreclosure, avoid mortgage scams, and improve their credit scores. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Ready $788M CMBS Offering
The two corporate names linked in recent weeks to high-profile settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over questionable practices related to mortgage investments are teaming up to bring to market the year's third multi-borrower bond backed by commercial real estate. Goldman Sachs and Citigroup are putting together a $788.5 million commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) offering comprised of debt from 48 retail and office properties. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Fannie Mae Opens Mortgage Help Center in Chicago
Fannie Mae has opened a mortgage help center in the Windy City in order to provide counseling and other services for struggling homeowners in the greater metro area with loans owned by the GSE. The new center in Chicago is the second facility and third announced partnership in Fannie Mae's planned series of mortgage help centers across the country. The GSE said it partnered on this initiative with Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, major mortgage servicers, and civic and community leaders from across the region. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Fed Raises Fee Amount for TILA and HOEPA Disclosures
The Federal Reserve has decided to raise the dollar amount of mortgage fees that trigger additional regulatory disclosure requirements under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA). On Friday, the central bank's board of governors issued an adjustment to the rule, bumping the amount of the fee-based trigger up 2 percent to $592, effective January 1, 2011. Currently that threshold is set at $579. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   DocuTech Adds 25 New Clients in the First Two Quarters of 2010
DocuTech Corp, an Idaho Falls, Idaho-based provider of compliance services and documentation technology for the mortgage industry, recently announced that it signed 25 new clients in the first two quarters of this year, marking 14 consecutive quarters of growth for the 19-year-old company. According to DocuTech, lenders look to the company for sophisticated, but not complicated, mortgage document tools that seamlessly integrate with existing loan origination systems, thus enabling mortgage professionals to generate documents locally. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Credit News From Premier by Louis S. Barnes July 30, 2010
The end of July usually marks the quietest time of the year for markets. Big-shot bankers are away from trading desks, loading up for August in the Hamptons -- in the old days to kick sand at 98-pound weaklings, today to compete for most-obnoxious conduct on a beach with a cell phone. -- Premier Mortgage Group, Inc,Lou Barnes,Boulder Co  07/30/2010



→   Fannie Mae portfolio grows, delinquencies decline
Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB) expanded it mortgage portfolio in June, while the rate of late payments on loans it guarantees fell in May, the largest U.S. home loan purchaser said on Friday. The serious delinquency rate has improved as Fannie Mae repurchases these severely troubled loans in bulk from its securities trusts, aiming to ease the drain [...] -- MortgageLatestNews,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Feds put up $1 billion more for mortgage relief
Congress has just come up with an extra $1 billion to help people who can’t pay their mortgage because of unemployment or a medical problem. Under this new Emergency Mortgage Relief program, eligible homeowners who are at least three months delinquent can get up to $50,000 apiece in federal loans to pay their mortgages. The money for [...] -- MortgageLatestNews,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   GSE foreclosure starts on the rise in new LPS survey
The June Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) shows that overall foreclosure starts and foreclosure inventories have remained relatively stable; however, foreclosure starts for loans owned by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are at an all-time high. The largest percentage of GSE foreclosure starts are coming from loans that are six or more months behind on payment. This finding is consistent with the reports of increased Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) trial period cancellations. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/30/2010



→   Michigan AG Cox charges 19 criminal complaints in foreclosure rescue schemes
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has announced the filing of 19 criminal complaints and a total of 69 charges against illegal advanced fee "foreclosure rescue" operations accused of defrauding Michigan families of thousands of dollars. Nine Michigan mortgage companies are accused of illegally charging homeowners facing foreclosure upfront fees for mortgage modification assistance. The defendants claimed they would help homeowners by working with their lenders in an attempt to modify the borrower`s mortgage. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/30/2010



→   Regulatory compliance outlook: Fannie Mae`s new appraisal guidelines
On June 30, 2010, Fannie Mae issued additional guidance on appraisal-related policies, along with a number of other miscellaneous changes to its Selling Guide: Fannie Mae Single Family.1 Fannie`s new policy requirements and clarifications concerning existing lender requirements are being added to a number of appraisal sections of the Selling Guide, with respect to post-purchase reviews of mortgage loan files. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/30/2010



→   First American Adds Key Players to Trustee Divisions
First American National Default Title Services, a division of First American Title Insurance Company, announced this week that it has added two key team members to its trustee servicing and sales divisions. Cathe Cole-Sherburn has joined the company as SVP of the Trustee Servicing Solutions division (formerly LoanStar Trustee Services). Milt Baker has been appointed SVP of the Western States Trustee Sale Guarantee division. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Foreclosure activity rises in most major metropolitan areas
Foreclosure activity climbed in three-quarters of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas in the first half of 2010, compared with the same period a year ago, but declined in some of the nation’s hardest-hit regions, according to data released Thursday. The number of properties in some stage of foreclosure rose during the first six months of the [...] -- MortgageLatestNews,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Housing policy must be set on sustainable basis
The financial reform bill enacted last week is a significant step toward a much-needed modernization of our regulatory structure. It will provide tools to help mitigate and manage the next financial crisis. But the job remains unfinished until Congress addresses the housing policies that fueled the crisis — a big part of which requires reforming [...] -- MortgageLatestNews,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Commercial, Multifamily Mortgage Originations Tick Upward in Q2 `10
Though volume remains low on an absolute level, commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations seem to be on the journey upward. According to the Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association, second quarter 2010 commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations inched up 1 percent from the same period last year and surged 35 percent from the first quarter of this year. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Fiserv Predicts Home Prices to Drop Another 4.9% in Year Ahead
Despite recent increases in a number of the industry's home price measurements, and even an uptick in the company's own index of residential property prices, Fiserv Inc. says the gains will be short-lived. The information technology firm is forecasting home prices to fall by another 4.9 percent over the next 12 months, as unemployment remains high, mortgage rates rise, and markets such as Florida, Arizona, and Nevada add even more distressed properties to their inventories. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Citi Charged with Misleading Investors about Subprime Exposure
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday charged Citigroup Inc. with misleading investors about the company's exposure to subprime mortgage-related assets. The SEC also charged former CFO Gary Crittenden and Arthur Tildesley, Jr., currently the head of cross marketing at Citigroup, for their roles in causing the company to make the misleading statements in an SEC filing. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/30/2010



→   Ellie Mae announces the addition of PHH Mortgage to Encompass 360 program
PHH Mortgage Corporation, a subsidiary of PHH Corporation, and Ellie Mae, the enterprise mortgage origination technology provider, have jointly announced that PHH Mortgage has been added as a lender to Ellie Mae’s Encompass360 Select program, which is exclusively accessed by preferred customers of Encompass360. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Arizona Attorney General accuses The Guardian Group of deceptive practices
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has announced that he has filed a lawsuit against The Guardian Group LLC for engaging in allegedly deceptive mortgage loan reduction services that have cost more than 2,500 consumers millions of dollars. Goddard also called attention to a new state law taking effect that prohibits foreclosure consultants and mortgage “rescue” companies from charging upfront fees. The Attorney General supported passage of the law. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   MICA testifies: Private mortgage insurance is the future of housing finance market
Testifying before Congress, Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA) pledged to play a critical role in the future of housing finance by continuing to enable first-time and lower income families to purchase homes safely and soundly. Testifying on behalf of MICA was Patrick Sinks, president and chief operating officer of Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisc. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Citigroup to pay SEC`s $75 million penalty for misleading investors on sub-prime loans
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Citigroup Inc. with misleading investors about the company`s exposure to sub-prime mortgage-related assets. The SEC also charged one current and one former executive for their roles in causing Citigroup to make the misleading statements in an SEC filing. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Foreclosure rescue firm to return $2.4 million to consumers to settle FTC charges
Home Assure LLC, a company that deceived consumers with promises it could save their homes from foreclosure, will pay $2.4 million to victims as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The case is part of the FTC`s continuing crackdown on scams that prey on financially distressed homeowners. According to the FTC’s complaint, Home Assure LLC conducted a nationwide marketing campaign designed to take advantage of struggling homeowners by offering so-called mortgage foreclosure rescue services. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Connecticut man pleads guilty to defrauding Mortgage Lenders Network USA
David B. Fein, United States for the District of Connecticut, has announced that John Jackson of Middletown, Conn. has pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford, Conn. to a one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud stemming from a mortgage fraud scheme. Jackson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Report: 75% of Nation`s Top Metros Post Foreclosure Increases
A new report published by RealtyTrac Thursday shows that 75 percent of the nation's largest metro areas posted increases in foreclosure activity during the first half of 2010. RealtyTrac says it's seeing early signs that foreclosures may have peaked in some hard-hit markets, but with three-quarters of the nation's most populated metros showing continued increases in foreclosure filings, the numbers illustrate just how fragile the housing recovery really is. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Freddie Mac`s Former CEO Joins Business Lender CIT
David M. Moffett has been named to the board of directors at CIT Group Inc., a century-old middle market business lender that emerged from Chapter 11 just seven months ago after filing for bankruptcy in November 2009. Moffett served as CEO of Freddie Mac for a very short period during one of the most tumultuous times in the GSE's history, from when it was placed into conservatorship by the federal government in September 2008 to March 2009. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Mortgage Rates Dip to New Record Lows
Mortgage rates continued to slide downward for the week ending July 29, 2010, marking yet another round of record lows, Freddie Mac and Bankrate reported Thursday. According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.54 percent this week, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 4 percent. Bankrate said 30-year fixed-rate mortgages came in at 4.71 percent, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages inched down to 4.17 percent. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Bay State Home Sales Hit Four-Year High in June
The residential real estate market in Massachusetts seems to be on the mend. According to a recent report by the Warren Group, a provider of real estate data in New England, the Bay State saw year-over-year increases in both sales and prices of single-family homes and condos in June and in the second quarter. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   More Borrowers Are Paying Down Their Mortgages: Freddie Mac
Even with record-low mortgage rates, many refinancing borrowers are choosing to pay down their loan balances rather than borrower more money. According to a recent report by Freddie Mac, cash-in borrowers - those who reduced their principal balance by paying in additional money at the closing table - represented 22 percent of all borrowers who refinanced during the second quarter, up from 19 percent the previous quarter. Freddie said tied the record for the third highest cash-in share since it began keeping records on refinancing patterns in 1985. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Regulators Issue SAFE Act Rules for Banks` Loan Officers
Residential mortgage loan officers at banks, credit unions, and other federally regulated financial institutions are now required to register their names and fingerprints with a national database. Federal banking regulators approved new rules Wednesday that say all mortgage originators who are employees of both state and federally regulated lenders must meet the requirements of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (S.A.F.E. Act) by the middle of next year. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Fannie Mae`s CEO Lauds `New Realism` of Better Underwriting
Fannie Mae is building the "strongest book of business we've seen in the last decade," the GSE's president and CEO, Michael Williams, proclaimed to a group of industry professionals this week. "I believe that we are seeing across the U.S. housing market - from borrowers, lenders, and everyone with a stake in the future - what I would call a 'new realism,'" Williams said. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Lendingtree`s Weekly Mortgage Rate Pulse Reports Rates Remain Stable at Record-Lows
Rates for 30-Year Fixed Mortgages Have Declined Faster Than 15-Year Rates -- LendingTree,Bethany Ciampa,Charlotte N.c.  07/29/2010



→   Hanover Community Bank: Providing Liquidity to the Community
Hanover Community Bank will be honoring its commitment to Long Island widower George Baumann and funding his $271,000 loan. -- Hanover Community Bank,Frank Carone,Garden City N.y.  07/29/2010



→   Ellie MAE Adds PHH Mortgage TO Encompass360ä Select Program
Encompass360 Select program provides automated loan pricing from PHH Mortgage, accessible from directly within the Encompass360 mortgage management software -- Ellie Mae Inc.,Rosalie Berg,Pleasanton California  07/29/2010



→   ICBA: Private Mortgage Insurance Critical to Housing Recovery Without Pmi, Housing Recovery Will Take Longer
Marti Rodamaker, president of First Citizens National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, testified today on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) before the House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee. During her testimony, the Iowa community banker stressed that private mortgage insurance (PMI) is critical to the nation’s housing recovery and any reform of it must be made in coordination with other elements of housing finance reform. -- The Independent Community Bankers of America,Bill Grassano,Washington DC  07/29/2010



→   Cenlar and Mortgage Builder form LOS servicing partnership
Mortgage Builder Software, a provider of loan origination software (LOS) technology, has announced its strategic alliance with Cenlar FSB, a subservicer of mortgage loans. Mortgage Builder has integrated with Cenlar to provide a seamless process for boarding closed mortgage loans from its LOS system directly to the Cenlar servicing platform. The new association began with both companies’ relationship with the Lenders One Mortgage Cooperative, an alliance of independent mortgage bankers that originates more loans than any non-bank mortgage company in the United States. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Residential Mortgage employees and public official busted in Garden State fraud ring
The co-owner of Ridgewood, N.J. mortgage brokerage firm Diversified Financial Group, d/b/a Residential Mortgage Corporation, and a former Residential Mortgage employee have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Edward Olimpio of Boonton, N.J., and Rachell Fischbein of Hillsdale, N.J., both entered guilty pleas before United States District Judge Susan D. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Rates dip to record low of 4.54 percent in Freddie Mac survey
Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), with the 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages reaching record lows. This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.54 percent, with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 29, 2010, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.56 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.25 percent. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/29/2010



→   Grandparents Take Strain Of Summer Holiday Childcare
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND, July 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The UK`s grandparents will save parents around GBP806 million in childcare costs this summer, new research reveals today. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/29/2010



→   Ephraim House - Ephraim and Manti Guest House Lodging
ST. GEORGE, UT, July 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Located in Ephraim, Utah, the restored home has two floors available for use as a family or small group meeting and lodging facility. The house is located on Main Street, US 89, in the central Utah town of Ephraim. Its location makes it convenient for travelers visiting Snow College, or the Manti Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/29/2010



→   Katy Real Estate News and Katy Homes For Sale by Coldwell Banker
KATY, TX, July 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Katy Real Estate news and information now comes to you through a remarkable new online resource, http://www.angelakhomes.com! Katy foreclosures are now hand picked with the top 5 foreclosures featured for our readers in my blog every month. Subdivisions have been written about individually and they`re organized by name so news and sales information is quickly and easily available. The latest in Katy real estate news such as `Texas Bond 77 allowing Zero Down Home Loans for Buyers` or updated news like `Tax Credit Extended Until September` are also available on our blog, View my site, Katy Real Estate. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/29/2010



→   Prepaid Cards Comparison Site Offers Exclusive Offer
ESSEX, ENGLAND, July 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Prepaid cards comparison website offers a free card with GBP20 top up. This is currently the best offer on the Internet. -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/29/2010



→   Will Musk`s Bitter Divorce Affect Tesla Motors` Business Standing?
July 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- CEO`s High-Profile Divorce Proceeding Throws Company`s Sustainability Into Question -- 24/7 Press Release Newswire,24/7 Media,   07/29/2010



→   Fed Paints Picture of Uneven Recovery, Still Hampered by Real Estate
The latest edition of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book depicts only intermittent, patchy spots of continued economic growth, with residential real estate markets across the country characterized as "sluggish," and commercial real estate conditions garnering a descriptor of "weak." Nearly all 12 Fed districts reported a slow-down in housing activity since the homebuyer tax credit expired. Most reported lending standards to be restrictive, with several regions noting that loan delinquencies remain above historic norms. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   Fannie Mae`s Multifamily Investment Totals $5.9B in First Half of 2010
In the first half of 2010, Fannie Mae provided $5.9 billion in investment to the multifamily rental housing market, according to a semiannual report released Tuesday. The multifamily unit at Fannie Mae said it has bolstered mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issuance since focusing its efforts on securitization and broadening the investor base in 2009. Of the $5.9 billion invested in the first of this year, $5.5 billion was delivered through MBS execution. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   PMI Gives $50,000 to CCCS of San Francisco for Foreclosure Prevention
The PMI Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the PMI Group, Inc., has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of San Francisco. The grant will support continued funding for CCCS of San Francisco's nationwide mortgage default counseling program and homebuyer education initiatives. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/29/2010



→   BNY Mellon Corporate Trust Launches Innovative Evault Service
New service transforms paper-based process of tracking and storing mortgage documents -- BNY Mellon,Kevin Heine,New York   07/28/2010



→   New Mortgage Industry Association Has Been Formed To Promote Thought Leadership and Innovation
PROGRESS in Lending Association affirms that the status quo is not what’s going to get the -- Progress In Lending,Tony Garritano,WILTON ct  07/28/2010



→   LV= Warns of GBP264m Repair Bill for Alcohol-Fuelled Home Accidents
LONDON, ENGLAND, July 28, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- LV= is warning that accidents caused by Brits drinking and partying at home this summer is predicted to leave UK homeowners with a total repair bill of GBP264 million*. -- Midflorida Schools Federal Credit Union,24/7 Media,   07/28/2010



→   Homeownership rate drops to 66.9 percent per U.S. Census Bureau
National vacancy rates in the second quarter 2010 were 10.6 percent for rental housing and 2.5 percent for homeowner housing, according to stats released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau. The rental vacancy rate of 10.6 percent was approximately the same as rates recorded in the second quarter 2009 (+/-0.5 percentage points) and last quarter (+/-0.4 percentage points). -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010



→   MBA finds 35 percent increase in commercial/multifamily volumes
Second quarter 2010 commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations were one percent higher than during the same period last year and 35 percent higher than during the first quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association`s (MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010



→   Connecticut Mortgage Fraud Task Force nabs three
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven, Conn. has returned an 11-count indictment charging Steven J. Kottage and Genaro R. Hathaway, both of Weston, Conn., and Mary Ellen Durso of Milford, Conn. with conspiracy and other offenses stemming from the defendants alleged involvement in mortgage fraud. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010



→   Colorado AG files suit in suspected fraudulent foreclosure rescue legal services operation
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against a Denver man, Sherron L. Lewis Jr., suspected of defrauding homeowners in foreclosure, including the elderly and disabled, by collecting upfront fees in exchange for fraudulent legal services. According to the complaint, Lewis Jr. attracted homeowners facing foreclosure through his Web site, www.illegalforeclosures.com, and mail advertising and informed consumers that they could defeat the foreclosure process and eliminate their mortgages. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010



→   Administration Makes Foreclosure Help a Public Service in New Ad Spots
Faced with growing criticism of its Making Home Affordable foreclosure prevention program, the Obama administration is turning to the tried and true method of advertising to raise public awareness of the program and encourage homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments to seek assistance from the federal government. The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Treasury and HUD, announced plans Wednesday to launch a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign about the Making Home Affordable program. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/28/2010



→   Weekly Mortgage App Volume Falls 4.4%: MBA
Despite a continued increase in purchase applications, mortgage loan application volume fell 4.4 percent for the week ending July 23, 2010, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported Wednesday. According to MBA's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, the purchase index inched up 2 percent from one week earlier. But this uptick wasn't enough to keep overall mortgage application volume on the rise. The week-to-week dip came as the refinance index tumbled 5.6 percent. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/28/2010



→   J.D. Power Study Confirms, It`s Still a Buyers` Market
The real estate downturn has sent home prices tumbling, inflated housing inventories, and prompted stimulus programs that have pushed mortgage rates to record lows and given homebuyers tax breaks and cash incentives. Undoubtedly, it's a buyers' market. A new study released by J.D. Power and Associates Wednesday confirms that with today's bargain-basement market conditions, homebuyers are giving their real estate experiences a thumbs-up. Sellers, on the other hand, aren't nearly as pleased once the deal is done. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/28/2010



→   FTC Bans Deceptive Marketers from Selling Mortgage Relief Services
As part of an ongoing effort against scams that target financially distressed consumers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has banned several marketers from selling mortgage modification or foreclosure relief services. According to the FTC, the marketers allegedly charged homeowners up-front fees and falsely claimed they could get their mortgage modified or prevent foreclosure on their homes. Settlements regarding these allegations have been met through three separate actions. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/28/2010



→   U.S. Reps Partner With HUD, Treasury to Prevent Foreclosures in Atlanta
U.S. Reps. John Lewis, David Scott, and Hank Johnson have joined forces with HUD, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the HOPE NOW Alliance, and NeighborWorks America for an upcoming event aimed at helping financially troubled homeowners in the Atlanta area. The event, dubbed the "Help for Homeowners" project, is scheduled for July 30 and July 31. Nearly 20 of the area's top lenders will be available at the event to meet one-on-one with area residents who are struggling to pay their mortgages. The event, dubbed the Help for Homeowners project, is scheduled for July 30 and July 31. -- DSNews.com,Admin,   07/28/2010



→   Etec to Market Inhouse Connexions as Private Label Appraisal Process Management Technology
Advanced technology expands appraisal management company’s product and service offerings for lender clients -- Inhouse Inc,Chuck johnson,Orange Ca  07/28/2010



→   Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 23, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 4.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 4.2 percent compared with the previous week. -- CampusMBA,Melissa Key,Washington District of Columbia  07/28/2010



→   Mortgage Builder and Nylx Integrate Systems to Bring Advanced Pricing and Origination Capabilities to Mortgage Lenders
Alliance brings industry’s most reliable product eligibility and pricing technology to fingertips of Mortgage Builder users -- Mortgage Builder Software Inc,Keven Smith,Southfield Michigan  07/28/2010



→   Unintended Consequences of Refinancing With Respect to Life Insurance Coverage
While the past couple years have created financial havoc for millions of Americans -- foreclosures, 10 percent unemployment and manic-depressive financial markets -- there has been a silver lining for millions of others: Mortgage interest rates. Rates have plummeted to historic lows and millions of homeowners have refinanced, often saving hundreds of dollars per month in the process. With such savings, they're paying off credit cards and increasing their savings. -- IntelliQuote,Jennifer Bulotti,El Dorado Hills Calif.  07/28/2010



→   Fannie Mae Announces Semiannual Multifamily Investment Volumes
Fannie Mae (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) today announced that the company, through its lender and housing partners, provided $5.9 billion in investment to the multifamily rental housing market for the first half of 2010. -- HomePath,Heather Baker,Washington   07/28/2010



→   Eight Tips to Help Homeowners Get Their Loan Modification Application Reviewed by Mortgage Company
CredAbility Helps Homeowners Navigate Mortgage Modification Process -- CredAbility,Scott Scredon,Atlanta   07/28/2010



→   Mortgage Builder and NYLX form pricing partnership
Mortgage Builder Software, a provider of loan origination software (LOS) technology, has completed its integration with product eligibility and pricing (PPE) technology provider, NYLX, of Mt. Arlington, N.J. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010



→   Mortgage apps decrease 4.4 percent over last week
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 23, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 4.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 4.2 percent compared with the previous week. -- NationalMortgageProfessional.com,NMP Media Services,   07/28/2010