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		<title>DSNews.com Article Feed</title> 
		<link>http://www.dsnews.com</link> 
		<description>DSNews.com was conceived as the online counterpart to DS News (formerly REO Magazine),the default mortgage servicing industry's monthly media voice in print. Designed to be the industry's first news bureau and premier online destination, DSNews.com delivers up-to-the-minute news, daily broadcasts and a complete range of industry resources.</description> 
		<language>en-us</language> 
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			<title>DSNews.com Article Feed</title> 
			<url>http://www.dsnews.com/site/img/DSNewsLogoSmall.png</url> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com</link> 
			<width>144</width> 
			<height>23</height> 
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			<title>Report: 30-year Fixed Rate Unchanged, Other Rates Climb</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/30-year-fixed-rate-unchanged-as-other-rates-climb-2012-02-09</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:44:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/30-year-fixed-rate-unchanged-as-other-rates-climb-2012-02-09</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[While the 30-year fixed rate mortgage remained at a record low, data released Thursday by Freddie Mac reported other rates are steadily moving upward. 
A strong January employment report added upward pressure to most mortgage rates this week, Frank Nothaft, VP and chief economist for Freddie Mac, said.]]></description> 
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			<title>Robo-Signing Settlement Finalized</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/robo-signing-settlement-finalized-2012-02-09</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:38:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/robo-signing-settlement-finalized-2012-02-09</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Federal and state officials announced Thursday morning that the federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a $25 billion agreement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers to address what authorities describe as "loan servicing and foreclosure abuses." The settlement agreement provides financial relief to homeowners and establishes new homeowner protections. The joint federal-state group entered into the agreement with Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial. The only state not to sign on to the settlement is Oklahoma.]]></description> 
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			<title>Consumer Sentiment Improving, Fannie Mae Survey Shows</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/consumer-sentiment-improving-according-to-most-recent-fannie-mae-survey-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:31:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/consumer-sentiment-improving-according-to-most-recent-fannie-mae-survey-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Respondents from a Fannie Mae National Housing Survey for January 2012 expressed expectations for home prices to increase by 1 percent over the next 12 months, and most Americans continue to expect no change in mortgage rates. This marks the fourth month in a row consumer expectation was positive. The Fannie Mae survey polled 1,000 Americans through a telephone interview to assess attitudes towards different areas of the mortgage industry, including owning and renting, rates, homeownership distress, and the economy.]]></description> 
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			<title>Loan Servicing Costs Expected to Rise as Foreclosure Expenses Mount</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/loan-servicing-costs-expected-to-rise-as-foreclosure-expenses-mount-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:39:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/loan-servicing-costs-expected-to-rise-as-foreclosure-expenses-mount-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Analysts at Fitch Ratings expect to see a sharp rise in the cost to service mortgage loans. They describe the housing recovery in the U.S. as "unhurried" and as a result, they say lenders have been forced to shoulder higher foreclosure expenses. Fitch says increased foreclosure costs compounded by credit, compliance, regulatory, and other real-estate owned expenses are beginning to have a profound effect on the industry. The agency estimates the cost of servicing nonperforming loans is likely to double from pre-crisis levels.]]></description> 
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			<title>HOPE NOW Plans to Reach Military Homeowners</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hope-now-plans-to-expand-and-reach-military-homeowners-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:19:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hope-now-plans-to-expand-and-reach-military-homeowners-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[HOPE NOW announced plans to reach out to military homeowners facing foreclosure. 
Stakeholders representing the mortgage servicing industry, non-profit counselors, investors, regulators, and military members met in Washington, D.C. to strategize on ways to assist those in the military who are at risk of losing their home due to a permanent change in station and other issues.]]></description> 
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			<title>Federal Agencies Reiterate Guidelines for Junior Lien Holders</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/federal-agencies-reiterate-guidelines-for-junior-lien-holders-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:32:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/federal-agencies-reiterate-guidelines-for-junior-lien-holders-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Four federal regulatory agencies issued guidance for junior lien holders regarding loan loss allowances. Junior liens include second mortgages and home equity lines of credit. The Federal Reserve, FDIC, National Credit Union Administration, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the guidance not to enact new rules, but rather "to reiterate policy and to remind regulated financial institutions to monitor all credit quality indicators relevant to credit portfolios, including junior liens," according to a joint release from the agencies.]]></description> 
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			<title>Homeownership Preservation Foundation Adds Two Board of Directors</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-preservation-foundation-appoints-two-more-board-of-directors-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:39:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-preservation-foundation-appoints-two-more-board-of-directors-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) expanded its board of directors with two new appointments. Jill Kanin-Lovers and Prue Larocca are the new additions, increasing the HPF's board to 13 seats, which is about double the size since the beginning of 2010. The move reflects HPF's strategic goal of broadening the professional diversity and issues expertise of its board, according to a release.]]></description> 
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			<title>Report Reveals Number of Foreclosures Down From Last Year</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/report-reveals-number-of-foreclosures-down-from-last-year-2012-02-08</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:10:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/report-reveals-number-of-foreclosures-down-from-last-year-2012-02-08</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[A foreclosure report released by CoreLogic Wednesday revealed that the number of homes in foreclosure is decreasing nationwide. Completed foreclosures for 2011 totaled 830,000, compared to 1.1 million in 2010. The December 2011 completed foreclosures figure was also down to 55,000, compared to 67,000 in December 2010. CoreLogic's report also notes that in December of last year, servicers increased the rate at which they were able to process distressed assets, also known as the distressed clearing ratio.]]></description> 
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			<title>Fannie Mae Now Accepting Online Offers for REOs</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fannie-mae-now-accepting-online-offers-for-reos-2012-02-07</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fannie-mae-now-accepting-online-offers-for-reos-2012-02-07</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Fannie Mae announced Tuesday that it has expanded its online system to accept purchase offers for all its REOs listed for sale. Real estate agents will now submit offers online on behalf of clients, receive receipt confirmation, and track the status of submitted offers through the HomePath.com website. In November 2010, Fannie Mae launched the HomePath Online Offers pilot in Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; and Detroit, Michigan. Now, the Online Offers feature is available for all Fannie Mae-owned properties across the nation.]]></description> 
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			<title>Missouri AG Files Suit Against DocX for Robo-Signing</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/missouri-ag-files-suit-against-lps-for-robo-signing-2012-02-07</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:04:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/missouri-ag-files-suit-against-lps-for-robo-signing-2012-02-07</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[While the industry awaits the final details of the attorneys general settlement with the nation’s largest servicers, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced Tuesday it is prosecuting DocX, LLC, and its founder, Lorraine Brown, for forgery and false declarations on mortgage documents. The announcement comes after a grand jury delivered 136-count criminal indictments against DocX and Brown, the result of several months of investigation.]]></description> 
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			<title>Mortgage Modifications Down 40%</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-modifications-down-by-40-2012-02-07</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:42:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-modifications-down-by-40-2012-02-07</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[An estimated 1.05 million homeowners received permanent loan modifications from mortgage servicers in 2011, according to year-end data released Tuesday by HOPE NOW. That tally includes both proprietary and government-program mods, and represents a 40 percent decline from the 1.76 million modifications granted in 2010. At the same time, HOPE NOW reports loan modifications outpaced foreclosure sales for the fourth consecutive year. In 2011, there were approximately 843,000 foreclosure sales completed, down from 1.07 million in 2010.]]></description> 
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			<title>Independent Lenders Must Establish Anti-Money Laundering Programs</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/independent-lenders-must-now-establish-anti-money-laundering-programs-2012-02-07</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:51:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/independent-lenders-must-now-establish-anti-money-laundering-programs-2012-02-07</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is expanding its reach. The agency, which in the past has required banks to establish anti-money laundering programs and notify FinCEN of suspected fraud through suspicious activity reports (SARs), will now require non-bank residential mortgage originators and lenders to do the same. FinCEN has noticed recently that many SARs it has received from banks reported suspicious activity on loans originated by independent lenders.]]></description> 
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			<title>PropertyAccess Offers Investors REO-to-Rental Solution</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/propertyaccess-offers-investors-reo-to-rental-solution-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:34:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/propertyaccess-offers-investors-reo-to-rental-solution-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[PropertyAccess, a provider of national property management services for institutional investors, is taking the guesswork out of the REO-to-rental market by offering investors a solution that addresses the full lifecycle of property management, including assessment, evaluation, renovation, management, maintenance, and future disposition. The industry's support to release the excess of government-owned REO properties to investors is growing, and PropertyAccess says it can support investors with a single-source solution.]]></description> 
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			<title>Number of 'Improving' Housing Markets Expands to Nearly 100</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/number-of-improving-housing-markets-expands-to-nearly-100-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:54:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/number-of-improving-housing-markets-expands-to-nearly-100-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The number of housing markets showing measurable improvement expanded by 29 metros in February to include a total of 98 markets listed on the Improving Markets Index from First American and the National Association of Home Builders. The index tracks markets that are showing signs of improving economic health as measured by growth in employment and home price appreciation. Notable additions include Miami and Detroit. Washington, D.C. was dropped from the index this month as it showed a softening in home prices.]]></description> 
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			<title>Industry Waits with Bated Breath as States Consider Settlement</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/industry-waits-with-bated-breath-as-states-consider-robo-signing-settlement-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:46:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/industry-waits-with-bated-breath-as-states-consider-robo-signing-settlement-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The deadline for the 50 state attorneys general to sign onto the settlement negotiated between the committee headed by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and five large servicers was extended from Friday to Monday. Late Monday evening, Miller's office issued a statement saying more than 40 states have agreed to participate. For the past few months, the number repeated from various sources is $25 billion. That's $25 billion that Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial would pay for a clean slate regarding robo-signing misdeeds of the past.]]></description> 
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			<title>HAMP Mods Approach 1M Mark</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hamp-mods-approach-1m-mark-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:32:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hamp-mods-approach-1m-mark-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[More than 930,000 homeowners have received a permanent modification through the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), saving an estimated $10.5 billion in monthly mortgage payments, according to Treasury. While this tally - nearly three years after the program's launch - falls well short of the results initially promised by President Obama of helping 3 to 4 million homeowners restructure their loans, federal officials continue to tout a key success of HAMP as improving standards and processes within the industry.]]></description> 
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			<title>New York Housing Counselor Charged with Defrauding Homeowners</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-york-housing-counselor-charged-with-defrauding-homeowners-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:16:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-york-housing-counselor-charged-with-defrauding-homeowners-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[A New York housing counselor has been sentenced to 72 months in jail and three years supervision by a U.S. District Court judge after defrauding 136 homeowners who reached out for help as they attempted to avoid foreclosure. The judge also ordered Lori J. Macakanja to pay $298,639 in restitution to the homeowners affected. Macakanja reportedly required upfront fees from homeowners and promised in return to help them achieve mortgage modifications in order to stave off foreclosure.]]></description> 
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			<title>South &amp; Associates Hires Four New Attorneys</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/south-associates-hires-four-new-attorneys-2012-02-06</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/south-associates-hires-four-new-attorneys-2012-02-06</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[South & Associates, a law firm focusing on the protection of creditors' rights in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, has recently hired four new associate attorneys in its corporate office located in Overland Park, Kansas. Matt Durgin has joined South & Associate's commercial and special asset department. David Boman and Laura Lane are now attorneys in the firm's litigation department. Eric Worster has joined the firm's foreclosure department.]]></description> 
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			<title>Home Prices Start Year With 2.6% Annual Drop</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-start-year-with-26-annual-drop-2012-02-05</link> 
			<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-start-year-with-26-annual-drop-2012-02-05</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Data through the end of January released by Clear Capital Monday shows home prices in the U.S. are down 2.6 percent from a year ago. The company's rolling quarter assessment, which compares the four months through January 2012 to the previous three months, returned a 1.6 percent decline in home prices at the national level, after three months of stability. Clear Capital says the culprit is the Midwest market, which saw a dramatic turnaround in momentum in January and led the nation in quarterly losses.]]></description> 
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			<title>Bank of America's Barbara Desoer to Retire</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bank-of-americas-barbara-desoer-to-retire-2012-02-03</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:44:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bank-of-americas-barbara-desoer-to-retire-2012-02-03</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Bank of America informed its staff Friday that Barbara Desoer will retire from the company in February.  

In her current role as president of Bank of America Home Loans, Desoer helped manage the integration of the Home Loans business into Consumer Banking and oversees the servicing of the company’s more than 12 million mortgage customers who remain current on their accounts, as well as the mortgage origination side of the business.]]></description> 
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			<title>Florida Bill Limits Banks' HOA Obligations</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/florida-bill-limits-banks-hoa-obligations-2012-02-03</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/florida-bill-limits-banks-hoa-obligations-2012-02-03</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Among the provisions stipulated in Florida's newly revised House Bill 319 are enhanced specifications regarding banks' obligations to homeowner associations (HOAs). When a bank forecloses on a home, it potentially absorbs liabilities from unpaid homeowner or condo association fees, which are often compounded by late fees and attorney fees. Reps. George R. Moraitis and Fed Costello co-sponsored House Bill 319, providing banks clarification on just how much liability they incur.]]></description> 
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			<title>New York AG Sues Three Largest Lenders Over MERS</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-york-ag-sues-three-largest-lenders-over-mers-2012-02-03</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:46:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-york-ag-sues-three-largest-lenders-over-mers-2012-02-03</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against the nation's top three mortgage lenders charging that their use of the electronic registry system MERS has resulted in deceptive and fraudulent foreclosure filings throughout New York's state and federal courts. The lawsuit alleges that employees of Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, acting as "MERS certifying officers," submitted court documents containing false information. MERS is also named as a defendant.]]></description> 
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			<title>Outstanding Mortgage Balances Declined $30B Each Month in 2011</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/outstanding-mortgage-balances-declined-30b-each-month-in-2011-2012-02-03</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/outstanding-mortgage-balances-declined-30b-each-month-in-2011-2012-02-03</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Each month of 2011, outstanding mortgage balances in the U.S. declined by an average of $30 billion, according to a recently released report from Moody's Analytics and Equifax. The report attributes the decline to defaulted loans being written off. Aggregate delinquency rose by 6 basis points in December to 6.12 percent, according to the companies' joint study. The rate remains in line with rates seen since April but has declined since a January high of 8.25 percent.]]></description> 
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			<title>Economy Adds 243,000 Jobs in January, Unemployment Rate at 8.3%</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/economy-adds-243000-jobs-in-january-unemployment-rate-down-to-83-2012-02-03</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/economy-adds-243000-jobs-in-january-unemployment-rate-down-to-83-2012-02-03</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[In a report released Friday morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that could be described only as the Republicans' worst nightmare, the economy added 243,000 jobs in January  the strongest month-to-month gain since last March  as the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. The unemployment rate, the number of people employed, and the number unemployed were at their best levels since President Obama took office in January 2009. Economists had anticipated about 155,000 new jobs in January.]]></description> 
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			<title>States' Deadline for Decision on Robo-Signing Settlement Gets Pushed</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/states-deadline-for-decision-on-robo-signing-settlement-gets-pushed-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:12:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/states-deadline-for-decision-on-robo-signing-settlement-gets-pushed-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[It will be at least three more days before the industry learns how many and which states have agreed to the robo-signing settlement that was proposed last week. The deadline for state attorneys general to opt in has been pushed from February 3 to February 6. A spokesperson for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says at least one state requested an additional business day to come to a decision, so Miller, who is head of the states' negotiating committee, moved the cut-off date to Monday.]]></description> 
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			<title>CoreLogic Records 4.7% Drop in Home Prices in 2011</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/corelogic-records-47-drop-in-home-prices-2011-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:03:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/corelogic-records-47-drop-in-home-prices-2011-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Year-end data from CoreLogic shows home prices fell by 4.7 percent over 2011. It marks the fifth consecutive year the company has recorded an annual decline in residential property values. CoreLogic performed a separate calculation, which illustrates just how big an impact distressed sales are having on home prices. The company excluded all short sale and REO transactions from 2011 and found that when the distress factor is taken out, prices declined by just 0.9 percent.]]></description> 
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			<title>Potestivo &amp; Associates Announces New Hires</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/potestivo-associates-announces-new-hires-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/potestivo-associates-announces-new-hires-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Rochester Hills, Michigan-based Potestivo & Associates recently announced the addition of two attorneys and a new director of information technology. Daren S. O'Connell will serve as an associate attorney supporting the firm's Michigan foreclosure department. Mary K. Atallah will serve as an associate attorney in the Michigan office supporting both the landlord/tenant and litigation departments. Daniel Bowen has been named the firm's new director of information technology.]]></description> 
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			<title>Rates Give Back Last Week's Increases, Setting New Record Lows</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-rates-give-back-last-weeks-increases-setting-new-record-lows-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:53:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-rates-give-back-last-weeks-increases-setting-new-record-lows-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Average mortgage interest rates have reversed from the upward blip reported last week. Declines this week completely erased the previous week's increases, as the average rate attached to the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, and 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage all settled in at new record lows, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The GSE attributed the about-face to the fact that recent data on economic growth fell short of market projections.]]></description> 
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			<title>Claims for Unemployment Insurance Improve as January Ends</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-continuing-claims-for-unemployment-insurance-improve-as-january-ends-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:48:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-continuing-claims-for-unemployment-insurance-improve-as-january-ends-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[First time claims for unemployment insurance fell 12,000 for the week ended January 28 to 367,000, reversing half of the increase of the previous week, the Department of Labor reported Thursday. Continuing claims for unemployment insurance fell 130,000 to 3,437,000 for the week ended January 21, the lowest level since August 2008. The total number of individuals receiving benefits was essentially unchanged at 7,670,452. This compares, though, with nearly 13.1 million people classified as unemployed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in December.]]></description> 
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			<title>Real Estate Professionals Feeling Brunt of Recession</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/real-estate-professionals-feeling-brunt-of-recession-2012-02-02</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:15:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/real-estate-professionals-feeling-brunt-of-recession-2012-02-02</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The effects of the housing crisis are widespread, but nowhere do they hit home more than in the real estate community. Eighty-eight percent of real estate professionals in a recent survey said they have lost money since 2008 or are living off significantly less income. Many are dipping into savings to make ends meet. The survey of more than 800 real estate agents and brokers across the nation was conducted in January, and the results show that both personally and professionally, they have had to make significant sacrifices to adapt to the new environment.]]></description> 
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			<title>National Servicing Standards Emerge in New Homeowner Bill of Rights</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/national-servicing-standards-emerge-from-new-homeowner-bill-of-rights-2012-02-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:42:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/national-servicing-standards-emerge-from-new-homeowner-bill-of-rights-2012-02-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The mortgage servicing system is badly broken and would benefit from a single set of federal standards, according to White House officials. President Obama on Wednesday introduced what he's termed the Homeowner Bill of Rights - principles that he says will ensure borrowers and lenders are playing by the same common-sense rules. These rules address disclosures, conflicts of interest posed by investors and junior lien holders, assistance for at-risk homeowners, and safeguards to prevent wrongful foreclosures.]]></description> 
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			<title>FHFA Solicits Investors for REO-to-Rental Sales</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-solicits-investors-for-reo-to-rental-sales-2012-02-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:37:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-solicits-investors-for-reo-to-rental-sales-2012-02-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Wednesday issued a notice to investors interested in buying government-owned REOs in bulk for use as rental properties, encouraging them to register with Fannie Mae in order to pre-qualify as an eligible bidder. FHFA says the first pilot transaction will be announced in the "near-term." During the pilot phase, Fannie Mae will sell off pools of various types of assets, including rental properties, vacant properties, and nonperforming loans, with a focus on the hardest-hit areas.]]></description> 
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			<title>Mortgage and Foreclosure Complaints Quadruple in Massachusetts</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-and-foreclosure-complaints-quadruple-in-massachusetts-2012-02-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:13:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-and-foreclosure-complaints-quadruple-in-massachusetts-2012-02-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has seen mortgage and foreclosure-related complaints quadruple in her state over the past two years. In fact, the category now overshadows all other types of consumer complaints. Coakley's office counted 983 mortgage and foreclosure-related complaints last year, a 431 percent increase over 2009. Coakley says the data confirms that the subprime lending and foreclosure crisis is a top concern for homeowners who face losing their most valued possession.]]></description> 
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			<title>Obama Details Plan for Mass Refi Program Funded by Largest Lenders</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obama-details-proposal-for-mass-refi-program-funded-by-largest-lenders-2012-02-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:44:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obama-details-proposal-for-mass-refi-program-funded-by-largest-lenders-2012-02-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[President Obama on Wednesday outlined his proposal to allow millions more homeowners to cash in on today's historically low mortgage rates. He issued a call to Congress to pass legislation to establish a streamlined refinancing program through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that would be open to all non-GSE borrowers with non-jumbo loans who are current on their payments. The program would cost $5 to $10 billion and would be paid for by imposing fees on the largest financial institutions.]]></description> 
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			<title>Refi Claims Against Freddie Mac Expose GSEs' Public-Private Conflict</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/claims-against-freddie-over-refinancing-expose-gses-public-private-conflict-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:42:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/claims-against-freddie-over-refinancing-expose-gses-public-private-conflict-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Was the nation's second largest mortgage company betting against mortgage refinancing? Allegations supporting the affirmative which were made public this week have prompted the U.S. Treasury to launch an official probe. Analysts say the story is less sensational than it appears and only highlights the conflict that comes with being neither fully public nor fully private. The GSE's main business is guaranteeing mortgage credit risk, but it needs to turn a profit to stay in this business, all the while being told its duty is to foster a housing recovery.]]></description> 
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			<title>Homeownership and Vacancy Rates Drop</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-and-vacancy-rates-drop-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:26:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-and-vacancy-rates-drop-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The percentage of single-family homes sitting empty fell to 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

That's down from 2.7 percent at the beginning of last year, and the lowest homeowner vacancy rate since early 2006. Analysts say it's a sign that excess inventory - at least the visible inventory - is slowly but surely beginning to clear. 

The Census Bureau also reported that the nation's homeownership rate dropped to 66.0 percent - its lowest level in nearly 14 years.]]></description> 
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			<title>ALFN Appoints Interim CEO and President</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/alfn-appoints-interim-ceo-and-president-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:25:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/alfn-appoints-interim-ceo-and-president-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The board of directors of the American Legal & Financial Network (ALFN) has announced the resignation of William LeRoy as CEO and president. DS News has learned that LeRoy now serves as founder and principal of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Phoenix Consulting, LLC. The ALFN board has named Wes Kozeny, of Kozeny & McCubbin, L.C., as the interim CEO and president.]]></description> 
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			<title>Robo-Signing Settlement Update: Friday is Cutoff for States to Join</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/robo-signing-settlement-update-friday-is-cutoff-for-states-to-join-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:28:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/robo-signing-settlement-update-friday-is-cutoff-for-states-to-join-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[State attorneys general have until Friday to sign on to a settlement that would resolve claims against the nation's top five mortgage servicers surrounding documentation errors in foreclosure processing, according to a widely circulated media report. The year-long back-and-forth between state counsels and the largest servicers may be in its final days ... possibly. Attorneys general in Delaware and California have already rejected the proposal, and some say without California, in particular, the settlement may not be of interest to the banks.]]></description> 
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			<title>HUD Approves IndiSoft Module for Direct Reporting by Counselors</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hud-approves-indisoft-technology-for-direct-reporting-of-counseling-activities-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:09:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hud-approves-indisoft-technology-for-direct-reporting-of-counseling-activities-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[IndiSoft announced Tuesday that the company has enhanced its RxOffice Premium Counselor Edition. The updated module has been approved by HUD to meet the reporting requirements of agencies participating in its Housing Counseling Program. It was created to address the surge in the number of homeowners needing counseling to make informed housing decisions, and gives counseling agencies a scalable and flexible web-based case management tool to manage their internal business operations.]]></description> 
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			<title>Appraisal Institute Offers Guidance on Distressed Comparables</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/appraisal-institute-offers-guidance-on-distressed-comparables-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:56:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/appraisal-institute-offers-guidance-on-distressed-comparables-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Appraisal Institute has released guidelines to instruct its members on how to deal with distressed sales and foreclosures when seeking comparables. According to the organization, some homeowners claim appraisers have undervalued their homes by relying on nearby foreclosed and distressed homes to assess a property's value. The Appraisal Institute stresses that qualified appraisers know what adjustments to make when using distressed sales as comparables, but because the issue is "particularly crucial" in the current market, it's offering additional guidance.]]></description> 
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			<title>Case-Shiller Records Continuing Declines in Home Prices</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/case-shiller-records-continuing-declines-in-home-prices-2012-01-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:19:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/case-shiller-records-continuing-declines-in-home-prices-2012-01-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Data released Tuesday morning by Standard & Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller home price index showed declines in November of 3.6 percent for the 10-city composite and 3.7 percent for the 20-city composite when compared to price levels from a year earlier.

Analysts were expecting a year-over-year drop in the range of 3.2 to 3.4 percent. Eighteen cities were in negative territory. Detroit and Washington, D.C. were the only exceptions. At -11.8 percent Atlanta continued to post the lowest annual return.]]></description> 
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			<title>Don't Expect Rise in National Home Prices Until 2013: Fiserv</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dont-expect-rise-in-national-home-prices-until-2013-fiserv-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:13:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dont-expect-rise-in-national-home-prices-until-2013-fiserv-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Fiserv is forecasting average U.S. home prices to fall by another 2.7 percent through the third quarter of 2012, before rising 3.8 percent by the third quarter of 2013. The company says the monthly mortgage payment for the median-priced U.S. home has dropped to $640, nearly 45 percent below the peak of the housing bubble. This improvement in housing affordability is expected to drive sales activity going forward, and while not enough to change Fiserv's predictions for the direction of prices at the national level, the company does foresee notable improvements in select markets.]]></description> 
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			<title>Regulators Shutter Five Lenders</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/regulators-shutter-five-lenders-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/regulators-shutter-five-lenders-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[State and federal regulators stepped in to shut down five lenders over the weekend, including one New York-based credit union and four FDIC-insured institutions - two in Tennessee and one each in Florida and Minnesota. Eastern New York Federal Credit Union in Napanoch, New York, is the first federally insured credit union to be liquidated in 2012, while the FDIC's failed-bank tally for the 2012 calendar year now stands at seven.]]></description> 
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			<title>Wells Fargo Aims to 'Lift' Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Atlanta</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-aims-to-lift-neighborhoods-in-los-angeles-atlanta-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:51:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-aims-to-lift-neighborhoods-in-los-angeles-atlanta-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Wells Fargo announced the launch of a new program, Neighborhood LIFT, which aims to bring reluctant buyers off the sidelines to help absorb excess inventory in two major cities. The bank established a goal of lending $10.5 billion to Los Angeles homebuyers and $1.3 billion to Atlanta buyers. In addition, Wells designated $15 million to assisting homeowners with down payments in Los Angeles and $8 million in Atlanta. The company chose to launch Neighborhood LIFT in Los Angeles and Atlanta because the two have high inventories of bank-owned homes.]]></description> 
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			<title>Hutchens, Senter &amp; Britton Attorneys Receive Honors</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hutchens-senter-britton-attorneys-receive-honors-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:03:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hutchens-senter-britton-attorneys-receive-honors-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Three attorneys with Hutchens, Senter, & Britton, P.A. HSB) were honored with different accolades for their work in the industry. Terry Hutchens, a managing partner at HSB, has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Hilton "Hutch" Hutchens and Sarah Miranda, an associate at HSB, have both been named to the 2012 North Carolina Super Lawyers list as "North Carolina Rising Stars." Miranda was also recently awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell for both legal ability and ethics.]]></description> 
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			<title>Housing Will Soon Help the Economy, but Not by Much: Report</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-will-soon-help-economy-but-not-by-much-report-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:54:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-will-soon-help-economy-but-not-by-much-report-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The analysts at Capital Economics are holding fast to their forecast that the downturn in the housing market is drawing to a close. As a result, they say housing should soon start to boost economic growth, but as it now makes up only a small share of the economy, the sector is unlikely to add much more than 0.2 percentage points to annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year. In the fourth quarter of 2011, residential investment accounted for just 2.5 percent of overall GDP. That's down from the 2005 peak of 6.3 percent and the 1946 to 2008 average of 4.8 percent.]]></description> 
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			<title>FAS Outlines Top 10 Property Preservation Predictions for 2012</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fas-outlines-top-10-property-preservation-predictions-for-coming-year-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fas-outlines-top-10-property-preservation-predictions-for-coming-year-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Field Asset Services (FAS), a provider of pre-foreclosure, REO, and renovation field services, has released its top 10 property preservation predictions for 2012, which focus on providing superior customer service, the need to take initiative to pre-empt future problems, and a demand for knowledge that will open communication and deliver results. Among the company's forecasts, institutional investors will begin to emerge as their interest in purchasing single-family residence REO properties increases, and innovation in the area of mobile technology will be necessary for vendors and contractors to work more efficiently from the field.]]></description> 
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			<title>Homeowner Satisfaction Rate at 72%, Highest for Short Sale Purchasers</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-satisfaction-rate-at-72-highest-for-short-sale-purchasers-2012-01-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:27:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-satisfaction-rate-at-72-highest-for-short-sale-purchasers-2012-01-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Seventy-two percent of homeowners say they are satisfied with homeownership, according to a recent HomeGain survey of more than 1,400 homeowners. Among the 28 percent who said they were dissatisfied, nearly two-thirds cited price depreciation as the main reason for their dissatisfaction. HomeGain also assessed satisfaction levels by sales type and found that homeowners who purchased a home through a short sale were the most likely to be pleased with their choice, followed by those who purchased a foreclosed home.]]></description> 
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			<title>Processing Delays Manifested: 39% Fewer Foreclosure Starts in 2011</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/processing-delays-manifested-39-fewer-foreclosure-starts-in-2011-2012-01-27</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:37:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/processing-delays-manifested-39-fewer-foreclosure-starts-in-2011-2012-01-27</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The number of foreclosure actions initiated in 2011 was down 38.7 percent compared to 2010, according to a new report from Lender Processing Services (LPS). The foreclosure inventory, on the other hand, remains near historic highs, at 4.11 percent. The numbers illustrate the impact of processing delays brought on by the robo-signing controversy, the impact of which remains strong in judicial states. LPS says half of all loans in foreclosure in judicial states have not made a payment in more than two years compared to 28 percent in non-judicial states.]]></description> 
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			<title>Obama's New RMBS Investigation Unit Takes Shape</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obamas-new-rmbs-investigation-unit-takes-shape-2012-01-27</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:24:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obamas-new-rmbs-investigation-unit-takes-shape-2012-01-27</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The special mortgage investigation unit announced by President Obama during his State of the Union address Tuesday night has taken shape. The new Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Working Group will operate within the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force and will consists of at least 55 Department of Justice attorneys and investigators, as well as state attorneys general. The president has tasked the group with uncovering those responsible for pooling and selling mortgage bonds that contributed to the financial crisis.]]></description> 
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			<title>Selene's Larry Litton on the Rise of Smaller Special Servicing Shops</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/selenes-larry-litton-on-burgeoning-role-of-smaller-special-servicing-shops-2012-01-27</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/selenes-larry-litton-on-burgeoning-role-of-smaller-special-servicing-shops-2012-01-27</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The default servicing industry is in a state of transition, according to Larry B. Litton Jr., CEO of Selene Finance, and it's the smaller, more nimble servicing operations that will have the advantage in reacting quickly to the new rules and the changes that are in store. Litton says many of the bigger servicing shops are still set up to do what he considers commoditized types of processes and aren't able to adapt quickly to the regulatory changes coming down the line, while smaller special servicers are already built for single point of contact and to be highly responsive to consumers.]]></description> 
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			<title>Administration Revamps HAMP to Reach More Borrowers</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/administration-announces-changes-to-hamp-2012-01-27</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:55:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/administration-announces-changes-to-hamp-2012-01-27</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Changes announced Friday to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) are expected to extend relief to a larger share of struggling homeowners as well as renters. One of the key adjustments centers around principal reductions. To encourage investors to agree to the principal reducing modification currently available through HAMP, Treasury is tripling incentives for such restructurings, paying from 18 to 63 cents on the dollar, and extending this same incentive to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who have previously opted not to participate in HAMP's principal writedown option.]]></description> 
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			<title>Michigan, Ohio Lawmakers Propose Large-Scale Demolition</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/michigan-ohio-lawmakers-propose-large-scale-demolition-2012-01-27</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:48:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/michigan-ohio-lawmakers-propose-large-scale-demolition-2012-01-27</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[With vacant and deteriorating properties taking a toll on communities throughout Ohio and Michigan, 16 congressmen from the two states are proposing large-scale demolition as a means of easing the burden of these problematic properties, and they've petitioned President Obama for federal funding. They say some homes in Ohio are selling for 8 percent of their appraised value as a result of neighboring vacancies, and they cite a demolition project in Flint, Michigan, that preserved $109 million in property values among the remaining inhabited homes.]]></description> 
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			<title>Equator Promotes Two to Vice President Positions</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/equator-promotes-two-to-vice-president-positions-2012-01-26</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:27:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/equator-promotes-two-to-vice-president-positions-2012-01-26</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Default technology provider Equator has promoted Chris Michaels to VP of product development and Robert McKinley to VP of business development. Michaels has nine years of business analysis and product development experience. He will lead the team that provides business process solutions and system design for all Equator's clients. McKinley has led Equator's business development effort while working closely with new and existing customers. In his new role, he will continue to foster new business relationships.]]></description> 
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			<title>Mortgage Rates Reverse Course</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-rates-reverse-course-2012-01-26</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:09:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-rates-reverse-course-2012-01-26</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Freddie Mac reported Thursday that mortgage interest rates have done a 180 and are now starting to climb, buoyed by positive housing data over recent weeks which show the market ended 2011 on a high note. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 10 basis points in one week's time and is now averaging 3.98 percent, reversing its previous three-week trend of setting all-time record lows. Despite the jump, this marks the eighth consecutive week the 30-year fixed rate has remained below 4.00 percent.]]></description> 
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			<title>Obama's Investigative Unit: Absolving Iniquities or Slowing Progress?</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obamas-mortgage-investigative-unit-absolving-iniquities-or-slowing-progress-2012-01-26</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obamas-mortgage-investigative-unit-absolving-iniquities-or-slowing-progress-2012-01-26</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has reportedly been designated co-chair of President Obama's new investigative team to probe the mortgage industry for past misconduct. In his State of the Union address, Obama announced the creation of a special unit of federal prosecutors and state attorneys general to examine the risky lending practices that led to the financial crisis. As the industry and the economy stagger toward recovery, some believe digging into the past may not be the best way to move forward.]]></description> 
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			<title>Homes Backing GSE Mortgages Post 1% Price Gain in November</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homes-backing-gse-mortgages-post-1-gain-in-values-november-2012-01-26</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:44:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homes-backing-gse-mortgages-post-1-gain-in-values-november-2012-01-26</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Data released this week by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) show purchase prices of homes backing mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rose 1.0 percent between October and November. The agency's index has recorded sporadic ups and downs throughout the year. For the 12 months ending in November, the net effect is a decline in property values of 1.8 percent. FHFA says prices are now roughly the same as in February 2004.]]></description> 
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			<title>Illinois AG Sues S&amp;P</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/illinois-ag-sues-sp-2012-01-26</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:09:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/illinois-ag-sues-sp-2012-01-26</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against Standard & Poor's this week alleging the ratings agency inflated ratings of mortgage-backed securities investments - an act Madigan believes triggered the financial crisis. The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, relies on internal emails from within the ratings agency as evidence of the company's misrepresentations of risk. Madigan references congressional testimony from a former managing director at S&P, stating "profits were running the show."]]></description> 
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