<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" media="screen" href="/~d/styles/rss2full.xsl"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" version="2.0">
	<channel>
		
		<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> 
		<image> 
			<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> 
		</image>
		<atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/dsnews/NYhw" /><feedburner:info xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" uri="dsnews/nyhw" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><item> 
			<title>Fannie Mae's Book of Business Sees Falling Totals</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fannie-maes-book-of-business-sees-falling-totals-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:53:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fannie-maes-book-of-business-sees-falling-totals-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[According to the GSE's monthly summary, its gross mortgage balance fell with a decrease in sales and purchases. The 13.8 percent shrinkage rate was greater than March's 7.3 percent and the highest since January, when it was 14.3 percent. The negative growth rate year-to-date in April was 10.3 percent.These falling values led to shrinkage in Fannie Mae's Book of Business, with an annualized rate decrease of 8 percent for April. This was a marked fall from March's positive 9.3 percent growth and brings the year-to-date rate growth to negative 0.3 percent.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FHFA: Q1 2012 HARP Refinances Double from Q4 2011</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-q1-2012-harp-refinances-double-from-q4-2011-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:17:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-q1-2012-harp-refinances-double-from-q4-2011-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The number of loans refinanced through HARP in the first quarter of 2012 was nearly double the number of refinances in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) March 2012 Refinance Report.
The report showed that 180,185 loans were refinanced through HARP during the year's first quarter, nearly twice the 93,190 refinances in the previous quarter. The month of March alone saw 79,470 loans refinanced with HARP, and nearly one in seven loan refinances in the quarter were done through program.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Employment Situation Mimics Prior Years and Could Delay Recovery</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/employment-situation-mimics-prior-years-and-could-delay-recovery-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:05:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/employment-situation-mimics-prior-years-and-could-delay-recovery-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Following dismal reports on employment, it might be time to give pause to assumptions that a housing recovery is here or soon to arrive. The Bureau of Labor statistics reported Friday that only 69,000 jobs were added in May, the slowest growth seen in a year. Economists said the patterns in the employment situation seen this year echo the previous year when it seemed the economy was gaining its strength back, only to falter.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>More Homeowners' Rights Bills Pass in California Houses</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/more-homeowners-rights-bills-pass-in-california-houses-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:41:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/more-homeowners-rights-bills-pass-in-california-houses-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Attorney General Kamala Harris' Homeowner Bill of Rights continues to work through the California Legislature as two more bills pass, the Office of the Attorney General announced Thursday. AB 2610 and SB 1473 will require buyers of foreclosed homes to allow tenants at least 90 days before starting eviction proceedings. Under the bills, if the tenant has a fixed-term lease, the new owner must honor it unless they can demonstrate that certain exceptions apply. The bills are intended to correct incongruities within California law and between state and federal law.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FHFA Appoints Deputy Director to Coordinate Strategic Plan</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-coordinates-deputy-director-to-coordinate-strategic-plan-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:35:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-coordinates-deputy-director-to-coordinate-strategic-plan-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Edward J. DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), announced Thursday the appointment of Wanda I. DeLeo as Deputy Director leading the newly created Office of Strategic Initiatives. DeLeo has served in several leadership roles at FHFA, including her most recent stint as Deputy Director for the agency's Division of Examination Programs and Support.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Radar Logic: Prices Will Fall Further, Strengths Due to Temporary Forces</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/radar-logic-home-prices-will-fall-further-strengths-due-to-temporary-forces-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:13:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/radar-logic-home-prices-will-fall-further-strengths-due-to-temporary-forces-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Even though Radar Logic reported a monthly increase in home prices for March, the analytics company expects prices to fall and gave credit to temporary market forces for recent strengths seen in the housing market. According to Radar Logic, the RPX Composite price, which tracks home prices in 25 major metropolitan areas, showed a 1.8 percent increase on a monthly basis, but decreased by 0.87 percent year-over-year in March. With distressed homes remaining a significant portion of home sales transactions, Radar Logic dismissed the monthly increase and said significant discounts for distressed properties in relation to non-distressed means a further fall in prices. As for the temporary forces, the analytics company named institutional investors and mild weather as driving factors that gave the market a boost.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>DocuTech Acquires 41 New Clients in Six Months</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/docutech-acquires-41-new-clients-in-six-months-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:07:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/docutech-acquires-41-new-clients-in-six-months-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[DocuTech Corp. announced Wednesday that the company has signed 41 new clients, including a Top 25 lender, since the beginning of December 2011.
leading loan origination software systems.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Personal Income Growth Slows in April; Consumer Spending Up</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/personal-income-growth-slows-in-april-consumer-spending-up-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:19:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/personal-income-growth-slows-in-april-consumer-spending-up-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Consumer spending grew just 0.3 percent in April, up slightly from 0.2 percent in March, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday. Economists had expected spending to be up 0.3 percent. At the same time, personal income grew 0.2 percent in April, BEA said, compared with market expectations of a 0.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Job Growth Weakest in a Year;  Unemployment Rate Up</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/job-growth-weakest-in-year-unemployment-rate-up-2012-06-01</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:08:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/job-growth-weakest-in-year-unemployment-rate-up-2012-06-01</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The economy added just 69,000 jobs in May compared with a revised 77,000 in April down from the originally reported 115,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. The closely watched unemployment rate inched up to 8.2 percent - a function of an increase in the nation's labor force to the highest level ever. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected the number of jobs to increase by 150,000 and the unemployment rate to remain at 8.1 percent.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Successful, Local Businesses Could Increase Home Values</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/successful-local-businesses-could-increase-home-value-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 16:57:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/successful-local-businesses-could-increase-home-value-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Before moving toward home renovations to increase value, Independent We Stand, a national small business organization, has another suggestion: Support local, independently-owned businesses in the neighborhood.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Drop in Non-Current Loans About 7Xs Higher in Non-Judicial States: LPS</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/drop-in-non-current-loans-nearly-7-times-greater-non-judicial-states-lps-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 16:15:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/drop-in-non-current-loans-nearly-7-times-greater-non-judicial-states-lps-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The percentage of loans not current, which includes 30-plus delinquencies and foreclosures, declined almost 7 times more in non-judicial states compared to judicial states, according to the LPS Mortgage Monitor report for April. Year-over-year, non-judicial states saw an 8.2 percent drop in non-current loans while in judicial states, the yearly decrease was only 1.2 percent. Foreclosure starts numbered 181,584 in April, down 2.6 percent from the previous of March and a 3.1 percent drop from a year ago. On the other hand, FHA foreclosure starts saw a 73 percent increase.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>CFPB Seeks Comments on Proposed Ability to Repay Rules</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/cfpb-seeks-comments-on-proposed-ability-to-repay-rules-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 15:54:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/cfpb-seeks-comments-on-proposed-ability-to-repay-rules-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is reopening a comment period regarding proposed ability-to-pay rules. The bureau reopened the comment period until July 9, 2012 to receive feedback on new data and information it received. The original comment period to the proposed rule closed on July 22, 2011.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Ellie Mae to Shift Common Stock to NYSE</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/ellie-mae-to-shift-common-stock-nyse-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 14:50:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/ellie-mae-to-shift-common-stock-nyse-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Ellie Mae, Inc., announced Thursday that it has received authorization to transfer its common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).The Pleasanton, California-based mortgage network and software provider was given authorization from NYSE Regulation to transfer the listing of its common stock from the NYSE MKT (formerly NYSE Amex), where it has traded since its initial public offering in April last year.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Hope Now Reports Lower Loan Modifications Than Previous Month</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hope-now-reports-lower-loan-modifications-than-previous-month-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 14:33:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hope-now-reports-lower-loan-modifications-than-previous-month-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Despite reporting 43,000 proprietary loans in April, 8 percent  lower than the previous month, Hope Now continues to reach out and stay in contact with at-risk borrowers. Foreclosure sales also declined in April to approximately 60,000 completed compared from 66,000 in March. Delinquencies of 60 days or more remained relatively flat for the month at 2.52 million. Delinquency data is extrapolated from data received by the Mortgage Bankers Association for the first quarter of 2012.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>California Houses Pass Parts of 'Homeowner Bill of Rights'</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/california-passes-parts-of-homeowner-bill-rights-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 11:45:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/california-passes-parts-of-homeowner-bill-rights-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[California attorney general Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that the state Assembly and Senate each passed components of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights designed to protect homeowners from scams. One of the passed bills, AB 1763/SB 1474, allows the use of special grand juries to prosecute financial crimes that occur across multiple jurisdictions. Under current California law, crimes involving fraud victims across the state require separate grand juries and separate charges filed in each county where the crime was committed.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Homeownership Still Holds High Emotional Value</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-still-holds-high-emotional-value-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 11:10:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeownership-still-holds-high-emotional-value-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Despite the economic downturn, a study conducted by Coldwell Banker and psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig found that even though people's feelings about homeownership have changed, owning a home is still very much a goal for many Americans. One of the findings stated while 79 percent of U.S. adults indicated the recession has caused society to rethink the concept of homeownership, 91 percent agreed owning a home is part of the American Dream. Another issue being re-evaluated is what homeowners want versus what they really need.  According to the survey, 90 percent of U.S. adults agree some people purchased more expensive homes than they should have before the recession.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Freddie Mac: 15-Year Fixed Falls Below 3%, 30-Year Fixed Hits New Low</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-15-year-fixed-falls-below-3-30-year-hits-new-low-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 10:54:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-15-year-fixed-falls-below-3-30-year-hits-new-low-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Following lower bond yields, the 15-year fixed fell below 3 percent, while the 30-year fixed set a new record-low as well, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.75 percent (0.8 point) for the week ending May 31. The 15-year fixed slid into new territory, averaging 2.97 percent (0.7 point), down from 3.04 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year fixed stood at 3.74 percent.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Jones Lang LaSalle Adds Clinton, Titcomb to Research Platforms</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/jones-lang-lasalle-adds-clinton-titcomb-to-research-platforms-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 10:47:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/jones-lang-lasalle-adds-clinton-titcomb-to-research-platforms-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers, announced Wednesday two hires as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen the firm's Capital Markets research platform.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Mortgage Fraud Risk Index Drops to Lowest Level Since 2009</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-fraud-risk-index-drops-to-lowest-level-since-2009-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 10:29:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-fraud-risk-index-drops-to-lowest-level-since-2009-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The number of "very high risk" metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) fell along with the national risk index, dropping from 67 to 62. Florida and California together house more than half of the nation's "very high risk" metros, with Florida being home to half of the top ten riskiest ZIP codes in the United States. Florida was also named third riskiest state, though California actually saw its own risk index decline from 192 last quarter to 173 this quarter and experienced declines in type-specific risk across nearly all categories.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Freddie Mac Offering Home Warranty Credit to Buyers</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-offering-home-warranty-credit-to-buyers-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 10:15:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-offering-home-warranty-credit-to-buyers-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The incentive comes as an extension of Freddie Mac's First Look Initiative, a program designed to stabilize communities and support housing recovery. The initiative offers owner-occupants, second purchasers, and neighborhood stabilization non-profits a chance to purchase HomeSteps homes for a brief period after listing with no competition from investors.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>NetDirector Adds MDK to Subscriber Network</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/netdirector-adds-mdk-to-subscriber-network-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 09:38:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/netdirector-adds-mdk-to-subscriber-network-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[NetDirector announced Wednesday that Manley Deas Kochalski, L.L.C. (MDK) has joined the cloud data exchange provider's network. According to a release from NetDirector, MDK has already completed the initial phase of interface deployment to automate data feeds with their client default servicing platforms.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>First-Quarter GDP Growth Dips to 1.9%; Corporate Profit Growth Slows</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/1q-gdp-growth-dips-to-19-corporate-profit-slows-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 08:47:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/1q-gdp-growth-dips-to-19-corporate-profit-slows-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. economy grew at a disappointing 1.9 percent in the first quarter  slower than the initially calculated 2.2 percent annualized rate, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday. The BEA report was consistent with market expectations but emphasized a moribund economy.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Initial Jobless Claims Up for 4th Straight Week for First Time Since 2008</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-jobless-claims-up-for-4th-straight-week-first-time-since-2008-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 07:27:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-jobless-claims-up-for-4th-straight-week-first-time-since-2008-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[First time claims for unemployment insurance rose to 383,000 up from the prior week's 373,000, revised up from the previously reported 370,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had expected the report would be unchanged at 370,000 initial claims.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Pre-Foreclosure Prices Hit New Low; Most Discounted States: RealtyTrac</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pre-foreclosure-prices-reach-new-low-realtytrac-reveals-states-with-greatest-discounts-2012-05-31</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 00:01:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pre-foreclosure-prices-reach-new-low-realtytrac-reveals-states-with-greatest-discounts-2012-05-31</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[For pre-foreclosure homes, which are residential properties in default or scheduled for auction, sales were at their highest quarterly level since the first quarter of 2009, according to RealtyTrac's foreclosure sales report. Pre-foreclosure sales, which are typically sold through the short sale process, accounted for 12 percent of all sales during the first quarter. Pre-foreclosure homes sold for an average price of $175,461 in the first quarter, a 10 percent decrease from a year ago. The average pre-foreclosure sales price was the lowest in the history of RealtyTrac's foreclosure sales report, which began in the first quarter of 2005.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>SECU Assists Members Through State Foreclosure Prevention Program</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/secu-assists-members-through-state-foreclosure-prevention-program-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 16:09:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/secu-assists-members-through-state-foreclosure-prevention-program-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Through a state foreclosure prevention effort known as the Mortgage Payment Program (MPP), the State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) announced it has helped nearly 500 members receive program benefits. MPP was formed through the N.C. Foreclosure Prevention Fund and helps struggling homeowners who are falling behind on payments due to no-fault job loss or other hardships such as divorce, illness, or death of a co-signer. As part of the program, homeowners are offered zero-interest loans for a maximum of $36,000 to cover mortgage and related expenses up to 36 months.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>California Democrats Call for Investigation into FHFA Lobbying</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/california-democrats-call-for-investigation-into-fhfa-lobbying-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 15:36:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/california-democrats-call-for-investigation-into-fhfa-lobbying-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[As debate continues over California Attorney General Kamala Harris' Homeowner Bill of Rights, members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation are questioning involvement by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). A letter issued from the delegation Wednesday criticized another letter sent to the California State Legislative Conference Committee from FHFA general counsel Alfred Pollard on May 11.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>DebtX: Commercial Real Estate Loan Prices Rise Again</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/debtx-cre-loan-prices-rise-again-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 14:48:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/debtx-cre-loan-prices-rise-again-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The aggregate value of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) loans increased to 88.1 percent as of April 30, 2012 from 87.3 percent as of the end of March and from 80.9 percent as of April 30, 2011, according to DebtX. 
The increase in April marks the fourth straight month CRE loan values rose. 

]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Wells Fargo Reaches Agreement with Memphis, Shelby County</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-reaches-agreement-with-memphis-shelby-county-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 14:03:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-reaches-agreement-with-memphis-shelby-county-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[In accordance with an agreement made with Memphis and Shelby County, Wells Fargo announced Tuesday it is investing $7.5 million into the area as part of new recovery efforts. Under the agreement, Wells Fargo will provide $4.5 million in grants for mortgage down payment and home renovation assistance. The agreement comes after months of negotiations and dismisses a lawsuit filed by Memphis and Shelby County against the bank at the end of 2009. The city and county alleged that Wells Fargo was engaging in discriminatory and deceptive lending practices and had violated the Fair Housing Act.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Sperlonga Creates New Services to Track HOAs</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sperlonga-creates-new-services-to-track-hoas-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 11:39:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sperlonga-creates-new-services-to-track-hoas-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Lenders and services now have a new tool to help track HOAs. Sperlonga Data and Analytics announced Wednesday the creation of "the industry's only broad database of the nations HOAs" to help lenders and services meet the July 1st Fannie Mae requirement.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Completed Foreclosures Drop to 66,000 in April: CoreLogic</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/number-of-completed-foreclosures-and-inventory-down-from-year-ago-corelogic-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 11:08:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/number-of-completed-foreclosures-and-inventory-down-from-year-ago-corelogic-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[In April, the number of completed foreclosures was 66,000, down 15 percent compared to the same month a year ago when there were 78,000 completed foreclosures. Month-over-month, the number of completed foreclosures remained unchanged. 
The number of homes in foreclosure inventory as of April 2012 shrank slightly from 1.5 million homes a year ago to 1.4 million. Among the five states with the highest number of completed foreclosures - California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Georgia - only Florida is a judicial state. These states alone account for 48.8 percent of all completed foreclosures nationally.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Demand for Foreclosures Triples for Homebuyers: Realtor.com</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/demand-for-foreclosures-triples-homebuyers-realtorcom-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 11:03:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/demand-for-foreclosures-triples-homebuyers-realtorcom-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The stigma associated with foreclosure purchases has apparently faded with interest in foreclosures nearly tripling in the past two years, according to a survey released Wednesday by Realtor.com. The survey, conducted over 1,004 phone interviews at the beginning of May, suggested that homebuyer interest in foreclosures has jumped 159 percent since October 2009, when foreclosures made up 29 percent of all home sales. The vast majority of buyers said they would want to live in their foreclosure purchase, with 92.1 percent looking for a home to live in and only 6.9 percent looking for foreclosure investments.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Stevens, President and CEO of MBA, Joins SunTrust as President</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/stevens-president-and-ceo-of-mba-joins-suntrust-as-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 10:09:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/stevens-president-and-ceo-of-mba-joins-suntrust-as-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Sun Trust Banks, Inc., announced Wednesday the appointment of David Stevens, current President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), to president of SunTrust Mortgage.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Sirote &amp; Permutt Attorneys Named 'Alabama Super Lawyers 2012'</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sirote-permutt-attorneys-named-alabama-super-lawyers-2012-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 09:41:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sirote-permutt-attorneys-named-alabama-super-lawyers-2012-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Sirote & Permutt, PC announced Tuesday that 32 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers 2012, an annual legal publication that recognizes outstanding lawyers.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Pending Home Sales Index Slips Badly in April</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pending-home-sales-index-slips-badly-in-april-2012-05-30</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 08:27:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pending-home-sales-index-slips-badly-in-april-2012-05-30</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) gave back its entire March increase in April, falling to 95.5 from 101.1 one month earlier, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday. The March index was revised downward from the originally reported 101.4 adding to the gloomy report. Economist had expected the index to increase 0.5 percent from March.Even with the decline though, the index is up 14.4 percent since April 2011, but is now at its lowest level since December, dampening expectations at the onset of the home-buying season.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Homeward Residential Launches New Brand and Services</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeward-residential-launches-new-brand-and-services-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 16:57:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/homeward-residential-launches-new-brand-and-services-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[In order to better reflect its offerings, Homeward Residential, Inc., a full-service mortgage banking organization, announced Tuesday the official launch of its new brand name and identity in support of its business diversification strategy.

Formerly known as American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>MAA Issues 'Call to Action' Against California Legislation</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/maa-issues-call-to-action-against-california-legislation-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 16:41:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/maa-issues-call-to-action-against-california-legislation-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The MAA, an advocacy branch of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), issued a call in support of the California MBA's efforts to stop legislation it said would cause serious damage to lenders, servicers, and California's economy.
The bill in question would amend California's foreclosure laws to implement and permanently set servicing standards and other provisions of the settlement between the country's attorneys general and the five largest mortgage servicers. It is currently under review by the six-member Legislative Conference Committee on the California Foreclosure Crisis.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Bay State Foreclosure Levels Higher than Previous Year</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bay-state-foreclosure-levels-dramatically-higher-than-previous-year-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 16:25:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bay-state-foreclosure-levels-dramatically-higher-than-previous-year-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[With foreclosure petitions in Massachusetts the highest in nearly two years, foreclosure activity for the Bay State remained at levels drastically higher than recorded in 2011, according to a report released Tuesday by The Warren Group, a Boston-based real estate data provider.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Expiring Mortgage Debt Relief Act Fuels Strategic Default: Survey</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/survey-reveals-expiring-mortgage-debt-relief-act-leads-to-more-strategic-defaults-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 15:56:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/survey-reveals-expiring-mortgage-debt-relief-act-leads-to-more-strategic-defaults-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[A foreclosure prevention agency found that the pending expiration of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 200 is prompting struggling homeowners to strategically default on their loan. YouWalkAway.com conducted a national survey and found 34 percent of respondents indicated that the act, which is set to expire December 31, 2012, contributed to their decision to walk away sooner rather than later from their property. The Mortgage Debt Relief Act releases homeowners from the obligation of paying taxes on mortgage debt forgiven from a short sale, foreclosure or modification. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FLS Offers Widget to Appeal to Borrowers</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fls-offers-widget-to-appeal-borrowers-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 15:17:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fls-offers-widget-to-appeal-borrowers-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Financial Literary Solutions, LLC (FLS) announced Tuesday the release of a new video solution for lenders hoping to attract borrowers who want to refinance under HARP 2.0.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Online Real Estate Firms Partner to Launch Realtor.com VOD Channel</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/online-real-estate-companies-partner-to-launch-realtorcom-vod-channel-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 14:44:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/online-real-estate-companies-partner-to-launch-realtorcom-vod-channel-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Move, Inc., operator of online real estate Web site Real.com, and RealBizMedia, a media content provider for the real estate industry, announced a partnership to launch the Realtor.com TV Channel which will provide millions of home listings to approximately 55 million U.S homes. Launching the second half of 2012, the channel will begin airing on the Cox cable network as Video on Demand (VOD). By doing so, Realtor.com will reach potential homeowners on three platforms: computer, mobile, and television.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Consumer Confidence Drops Third Consecutive Month in May</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/consumer-confidence-drops-third-consecutive-month-in-may-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 14:21:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/consumer-confidence-drops-third-consecutive-month-in-may-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined for the third straight month in May, dropping down from 68.7 in April to 64.9. When looking at consumer confidence in on the employment front, consumers are expressing more pessimism. Those who expected an increase in jobs in the months ahead decreased to 15.8 percent from 16.9 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs increased to 21 percent from 18.4 percent. However, consumers were more positive about their income, with those projecting an increase rising from 13.9 percent to 15.2 percent.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>What the Case Shiller Indexes Indicate</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/what-case-shiller-indexes-say-about-recovery-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 12:15:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/what-case-shiller-indexes-say-about-recovery-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Following the release of the first quarter 2012 Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, economists from IHS Global Insight and Capital Economics offered their take on whether the data indicates the market is stabilizing or still searching for a bottom. Patrick Newport and Michelle Valverde, U.S. Economists for IHS Global Insight, said it depends on where you are since prices are driven by local forces such as foreclosure rates and job growth.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>CFPB Proposes Rules to Supervise Nonbanks</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/cfpb-proposes-rules-to-supervise-nonbanks-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/cfpb-proposes-rules-to-supervise-nonbanks-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The CFPB, created by the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, is seeking to clarify procedures that would be used when examining nonbank activity. The bureau launched its nonbank supervision program in January this year as an extension of its bank supervision authority. The proposed rule defines procedures involved in notifying a nonbank that it is being considered for supervision by the CFPB based on reasonable cause.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>National Servicing Settlement Funds Expand Connecticut Programs</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/national-servicing-settlement-funds-expand-connecticut-programs-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 11:01:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/national-servicing-settlement-funds-expand-connecticut-programs-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Connecticut attorney general George Jepsen announced Friday that programs of benefits resulting from a $25 billion mortgage foreclosure servicing settlement are moving forward in the state. Out of Connecticut's $190 million share of the settlement funds, an estimated $119 million is going into loan modifications. The banks have also agreed to provide $36 million in refinancing to Connecticut borrowers whose homes are worth less than their mortgages. Furthermore, they agreed to provide cash payments of about $1,500 to an estimated 7,500 borrowers in the state who experienced loan servicing abuses and lost their homes to foreclosure between the start of 2008 and the end of 2011.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Safeguard Promotes Five to Assistant VP, Director Positions</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/safeguard-promotes-five-to-assistant-vp-director-positions-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 10:08:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/safeguard-promotes-five-to-assistant-vp-director-positions-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Safeguard Properties announced Thursday that five of its employees have been promoted within its executive and management teams.

Three of the five workers-Kellie Chambers, Russ Klein, and Steve Meyer-are moving to assistant VP positions of Safeguard's various areas of service.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Case Shiller Indexes in Slower Drop, Composites Hit New Lows</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/case-shiller-indexes-in-slower-drop-national-index-at-10-year-low-2012-05-29</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 07:52:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/case-shiller-indexes-in-slower-drop-national-index-at-10-year-low-2012-05-29</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Case Shiller Home Price Indexes fell for the seventh straight month in March. The drop in the broader 20-city index was barely noticeable - down to 134.10 from 134.14 in February - while the 10-city index fell to 146.61 from 146.74. Year-over-year, the 10-city index was down 2.8 percent and the 20-city index off 2.6 percent, improving from February. The national Case Shiller Index, reported quarterly, was down 2.0 percent in the first quarter and down 1.9 percent from the first quarter of 2011. All three composites posted the lowest levels since mid-2006 when the housing crises began.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>High Court Decides in Favor of Quicken Loans in RESPA Case</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/high-court-decides-in-favor-of-quicken-loans-respa-case-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 17:38:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/high-court-decides-in-favor-of-quicken-loans-respa-case-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Quicken Loans, Inc., Thursday, in a case that bars lenders from splitting settlement fees with third parties. The decision upholds an interpretation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act that gives lenders leeway when it comes to charging fees. It rejects a longstanding HUD policy that interpreted the law to include a flat ban on unearned fees. Much of the contention surrounded previous guidance issued by HUD supporting the view that the legal framework prohibits lenders from charging unearned fees.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>RMBS Working Group Launches Website to Report Fraud</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rmbs-working-group-launches-website-to-report-fraud-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 13:40:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rmbs-working-group-launches-website-to-report-fraud-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[With the hope that whistleblowers will sound their horn, the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Working Group launched website for insiders to report fraud, the Justice Department announced in a statement. The RMBS Working Group was created in late January 2012 to investigate abuses and fraud in the RMBS market that only exacerbated the financial crises. While still a fairly new group, the unit has been criticized for its slow progress.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Job Expectations Raise Consumer Confidence in May</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/job-expectations-raise-consumer-confidence-in-may-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 12:53:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/job-expectations-raise-consumer-confidence-in-may-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Consumer confidence is at a level that hasn't been seen for years, according to the results of Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan's Survey of Consumers for May. Thomson Reuters and UM released the findings of the consumer survey, revealing that the consumer sentiment index improved to 79.3 percent in the month of May, an increase of 3.8 percent from April and 6.7 percent from May 2011. Consumer confidence has improved in each survey for the past nine months, but May's level is the highest since October 2007.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Organization for Military Veteran Real Estate Professionals Founded</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/organization-for-military-veteran-real-estate-professionals-founded-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 11:30:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/organization-for-military-veteran-real-estate-professionals-founded-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[According to a press release, Military Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (MVAREP) was formed to "level the playing field" for military veterans trying to buy homes with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan. In many cases, VA appraisers are brought in to insure the loan and make sure the purchase is a good investment for the buyer. This process sometimes throws off listing agents and sellers who want to take an easier route.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>White Paper Argues for AMCs to Pay Appraisers Full Fees</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/white-paper-explains-20-benefits-for-amcs-to-pay-full-fees-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 11:06:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/white-paper-explains-20-benefits-for-amcs-to-pay-full-fees-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Competition can lead to low prices, but sometimes when prices get too low, someone ends up paying. This is an issue the appraisal industry is facing, where appraisal management companies (AMCs) compete for clients by lowering the cost of appraisals, leading to less compensation for the appraisers. In a white paper, Jeff Schurman, executive director of Leading Causes and Rick Grant, president and CEO of RGA Public Relations, listed and explained 20 benefits for AMCs if they pay appraisers full fees.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Zillow: Home Values See Highest Monthly Increase Since 2006</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-home-values-climb-in-april-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 10:40:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-home-values-climb-in-april-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Zillow issued a released Friday reporting that both national home values and rents rose in the month of April. According to the April Zillow Real Estate Market Reports, national home values rose 0.7 percent in April to a Zillow Home Value Index of $147,300. This is the largest monthly increase in home values since January 2006, and it makes April the second month in a row in which home values climbed up. Zillow also reported that rents rose from March to April, increasing by 1.6 percent, according to the Zillow Rent Index.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Rogers Townsend Announces New Special Counsel</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rogers-townsend-announces-new-special-counsel-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 09:54:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rogers-townsend-announces-new-special-counsel-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC, announced Thursday the addition of Nina Shor as special counsel to serve as city executive in the firm's Charlotte office.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>BofA and Barclays Sell Stake in Archstone for $1.58B</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bofa-and-barclays-sell-stake-in-archstone-for-158b-2012-05-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 09:53:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/bofa-and-barclays-sell-stake-in-archstone-for-158b-2012-05-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Bank of America and Barclays Bank PLC agreed to sell their remaining 26.5 percent interest in Archstone to Equity Residential and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., BofA announced Friday in a statement.The purchase price for the remaining interest in Archstone, a privately-held owner, operator and developer of multifamily apartment properties, is $1.58 billion.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Top 10 Places to Buy Foreclosures According to RealtyTrac</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/top-10-places-to-buy-foreclosures-ranked-by-realtytrac-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 16:49:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/top-10-places-to-buy-foreclosures-ranked-by-realtytrac-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[In its May foreclosure newsletter, RealtyTrac named the top 10 places to buy foreclosures in 2012. The selected locations were out of the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas based on population. The list was further narrowed down according markets with at least 200 foreclosure-related sales transactions in January 2012. Then, it was whittled down again to only include metros with foreclosure sales prices at least 30 percent below the average price of a non-foreclosure property.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FDIC Reports Profit of $35.3B, Problem Institutions Decline</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fdic-reports-profit-of-353b-problem-institutions-decline-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 16:40:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fdic-reports-profit-of-353b-problem-institutions-decline-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[FDIC-insured banks and savings institutions reported a total profit of $35.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012, a $6.6 billion increase from the $28.8 billion net income reported in the 2011 first quarter. The increase marks the 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year gains. The number of "problem" institutions dropped to the smallest number since year-end 2009. "Problem" institutions declined from 813 to 772, with total assets of "problem" institutions shrinking from $319 billion to $292 billion.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>SIGTARP, CFPB, Treasury Issue Fraud Alert for Servicemembers</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sigtarp-cfpb-treasury-issue-fraud-alert-for-armed-service-members-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 16:04:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/sigtarp-cfpb-treasury-issue-fraud-alert-for-armed-service-members-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Treasury issued a fraud alert Thursday warning the armed services community about scams targeting homeowners seeking mortgage assistance. The alert specifically warned about scammers attempting to exploit the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP),  which can provide mortgage relief for struggling homeowners through modified payments.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Freddie Mac Says Q1 Indicators 'Encouraging'</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-says-q1-indicators-encouraging-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 14:10:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/freddie-mac-says-q1-indicators-encouraging-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Freddie Mac released its U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for May on Wednesday, pointing to the available data as an encouraging sign for housing and the economy in 2012-3. The release details information gathered about economic growth and housing markets over the first quarter of 2012. Although not all of the data is positive, the outlook stated that the data for the most part "trend in the right direction."]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Expanding HARP to Prevent Defaults and Stimulate Economy</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/expanding-harp-to-prevent-foreclosures-and-stimulate-recovery-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 13:19:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/expanding-harp-to-prevent-foreclosures-and-stimulate-recovery-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[While seeming to recover, the housing market is still undoubtedly fragile, and there are millions of underwater borrowers who continue to struggle with making payments. While HARP proposes to address these concerns, the program has been limited in its ability to reach the masses.  Through the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012 introduced by Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Barbara Boxer (D-California), a new HARP 3.0 would break down barriers preventing millions more from refinancing. During a hearing on Thursday before a senate subcommittee, industry experts and leaders offered testimony on how the proposed legislation could impact the economy.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Total Mortgage Expands Headquarters</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/total-mortgage-expands-headquarters-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 12:52:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/total-mortgage-expands-headquarters-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Total Mortgage is adding an additional 2000 square-foot office space which will house the company's senior leadership. The new space will be part of the same building complex where Total Mortgage's origination and operation centers are located. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Fixed Rates Show Little Movement Maintaining Record-Low Averages</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fixed-rates-show-little-movement-maintaining-record-low-averages-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 10:25:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fixed-rates-show-little-movement-maintaining-record-low-averages-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Fixed rate mortgages were little changed this week after falling and breaking record lows, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.78 percent (0.8 point) for the week ending May 24, down slightly from last week when it averaged 3.79 percent. The 15-year rate was unchanged from last week's average at 3.04 percent (0.7 point). Bankrate.com reported little movement as well in its weekly survey.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Rubin Lublin Senior Partner Named President of Georgia Bar Section</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rubin-lublin-senior-partner-named-president-of-georgia-bar-section-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 09:51:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rubin-lublin-senior-partner-named-president-of-georgia-bar-section-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Rubin Lublin, LLC announced Wednesday the appointment of senior partner Peter Lublin to president of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Lublin, a co-founder of Rubin Lublin, has been a senior partner since the firm formed in spring 2009.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Initial Unemployment Claims Drop But Remain Elevated</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-unemployment-claims-drop-but-remain-elevated-2012-05-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 06:48:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/initial-unemployment-claims-drop-but-remain-elevated-2012-05-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[First time claims for unemployment insurance dipped to 370,000 for the week ended May 19 from the previous week's upwardly revised reading of 372,000 the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had expected the report would show 371,000 initial claims.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Zillow: One-Third of Homeowners Underwater, 9 Out of 10 Current</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-one-third-of-homeowners-underwater-9-out-10-current-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 23:02:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-one-third-of-homeowners-underwater-9-out-10-current-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[About 15.7 million U.S. homeowners were underwater in the first quarter of 2012, according Zillow's Negative Equity Report released Thursday. Yet, most underwater homeowners are current on their mortgages, with nine in 10 continuing to make their payments on time. Also, just 10.1 percent of underwater homeowners are more than 90 days delinquent, Zillow reported.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Home Prices Increase 0.6% for GSE-Backed Mortgages: FHFA</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-increase-06-for-gse-backed-mortgages-fhfa-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 14:51:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/home-prices-increase-06-for-gse-backed-mortgages-fhfa-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Home prices for GSE-backed mortgages rose 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the previous 2011 fourth quarter, according to FHFA's purchase-only home price index (HPI). Prices also showed a 0.5 percent increase from the year ago first quarter, and month-over-month, prices increased 1.8 percent in March. The purchase only HPI uses home sales price information from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans and includes more than 6 million repeat sales transactions.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Economists Analyze Positive Reports on New Home Sales</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/economists-analyze-positive-reports-on-new-home-sales-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 13:02:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/economists-analyze-positive-reports-on-new-home-sales-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[New home sales rose 3.3 percent month-over-month in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000, the Commerce Department and HUD reported Wednesday. On a yearly basis, new home sales rose 9.9 percent. And, the good news did not end there. This report was followed by the National Association of Realtor's existing home sales report released Tuesday, which showed the sale of existing homes rose 3.4 percent on a monthly basis and 10 percent year-over-year. In comparison to the sale of existing homes, Paul Diggle, property economist with Capital Economics, said new home sales will still continue to lag behind the existing home sales market, and one of the reasons for this is competition with discounted foreclosures and short sales.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Old Republic Sells Stake in Subsidiary, Announces Planned Spin-Off</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/old-republic-announces-spin-off-plans-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 11:13:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/old-republic-announces-spin-off-plans-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) announced Monday it sold off 20.6 percent of common equity interest in Republic Financial Indemnity Group Inc. (RFIG)  to a group of investors in a partial leveraged buyout (LBO).]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>ICBA Names Northeast Account Manager</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/icba-names-northeast-account-manager-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 10:40:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/icba-names-northeast-account-manager-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[ICBA Mortgage Solutions (ICBAMS) announced Tuesday that it has named Ron Bricker as Northeast regional manager.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Ellie Mae Awarded Patent for Security Model</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/ellie-mae-awarded-patent-for-security-model-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 10:21:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/ellie-mae-awarded-patent-for-security-model-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Ellie Mae announced Wednesday that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the company a patent for an advanced security model that enables managers, loan officers, and processors to securely access loan files and documents online.

The patent is for an invention that allows multiple ownership of system files and resources while maintaining organizational control and security rules over users.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Senators Seek to Expand Housing Assistance for Military Members</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/senators-seek-to-expand-housing-assistance-for-military-members-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 10:01:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/senators-seek-to-expand-housing-assistance-for-military-members-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Senators Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) are sponsoring a bill to expand protections for military members in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is also supporting the bill, known as the Servicemember Housing Protection Act (S. 3179), which has been has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Texas Appraisal Districts Perform Poorly in Review</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/texas-appraisal-districts-perform-poorly-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 09:58:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/texas-appraisal-districts-perform-poorly-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association: (TTARA) released a report analyzing the findings of performance audits in Texas' 253 central appraisal districts (CAD). The report, titled "Equal and Uniform...sort of," compiles the results of reviews of local appraisal districts performed by the Property Tax Assistance Division (PTAD), housed at the State Comptroller's Office. The purpose of the evaluation was to see if appraisal districts in the state have the necessary tools to appraise property at its fair market value. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>April New Home Sales Up 3.3 Percent</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/april-new-home-sales-up-33-percent-2012-05-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 08:48:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/april-new-home-sales-up-33-percent-2012-05-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[New homes sales rose 3.3 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000, the Commerce Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development reported jointly Wednesday (May 23). Sales for March were revised upward from 328,000 to 332,000. Sales for March were revised upward from 328,000 to 332,000. Economists had expected the report to show a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 335,000 for new home sales in April. New home sales in April were up 9.9 percent from April 2011, the seventh straight month of year-over-year increases.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FDIC Reportedly Files Suit Against Several Large Banks</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fdic-reportedly-files-suit-against-several-large-banks-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 18:19:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fdic-reportedly-files-suit-against-several-large-banks-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The FDIC reportedly filed suit Friday against a number of large bank holding companies, including Bank of America, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, and JPMorgan Chase. Reuters reported that the FDIC seeks to recoup some $92 million for two banks that failed in 2009. Speaking with MReport, FDIC spokesperson David Barr declined to comment on the story.

For the full details visit our sister publication at theMReport.com.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>California Promising Despite Drop in Sales: C.A.R.</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/car-california-sector-promising-despite-decreased-inventory-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 14:52:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/car-california-sector-promising-despite-decreased-inventory-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) reported today that, although pending home sales in the state fell from March to April, other statistics indicate a good start for the housing market. C.A.R.'s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) fell from a revised 138.9 in March to 128.0 in April. This index was nearly 14 points higher than the revised 114.4 index from April 2011, marking the 12th consecutive month that pending sales were higher year-over-year. Pending home sales figures are often used as an indicator of the market's future direction.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Affordability Reaches All-Time High Again: NAHB/Wells</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/affordability-reaches-all-time-high-for-2nd-consecutive-quarter-nahb-wells-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 14:33:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/affordability-reaches-all-time-high-for-2nd-consecutive-quarter-nahb-wells-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[With low rates and low prices, homeowner affordability continues to hit record levels, reaching another high for the first quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). During the previous record-breaking 2011 fourth quarter, 75.9 percent of homes sold were affordable to median-income earners. For this most recent quarter, HOI data showed 77.5 percent of all new and existing homes sold were affordable to families earning the national median income of $65,000.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>NAR Data Points to Recovery, but How Long Will It Last?</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/nar-data-points-to-recovery-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 12:12:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/nar-data-points-to-recovery-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The take on the state of the housing market, according to Capital Economics, is that the U.S. is currently in recovery mode. Although other reports may contend the bottom is yet to be reached, the research firm points to increasing home sales and the drop in excess supply, which leads to price gains, as reasons to believe the U.S. is beyond bottoming out. Data released on Tuesday from the National Association of Realtors backs what Capital Economics had to say. The NAR reported a rise in existing home sales in April after a two-month drop and a rise in prices. Even with positive reports on the housing market, the question of how long this will last still remains. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>FINRA Fines Citigroup $3.5M  for Inaccurate Mortgage Information</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/finra-fines-citigroup-for-inaccurate-mortgage-information-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:47:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/finra-fines-citigroup-for-inaccurate-mortgage-information-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced Tuesday that it has fined Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., $3.5 million for providing inaccurate mortgage perform information, among other violations. This inaccurate data may have led investors to make faulty decisions, FINRA said. FINRA found that Citigroup posted inaccurate mortgage performance data on its website from January 2006 to October 2007. This information stayed up until May 2012 despite reason to believe the data might not be accurate. Citigroup was informed several times that the posted information was faulty, but it did not fix the problem until May this year.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>RE/MAX Global Site Tops 18 Million Views Since Launch</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/re-max-global-site-tops-18-million-views-since-launch-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:42:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/re-max-global-site-tops-18-million-views-since-launch-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[RE/MAX announced Monday that its global site, Global.remax.com, has drawn in nearly 750,000 unique visitors who have generated 18 million page views in six months.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Two American Brokers Look to Launch MLS in the Phillipines</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mls-in-philippines-will-connect-brokers-with-local-and-international-buyers-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:38:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mls-in-philippines-will-connect-brokers-with-local-and-international-buyers-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[George B. Flessas intended to retire in the Philippines after selling his REO firm back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Instead of settling, living in a new country inspired him to start another venture due to a need he saw for a nationwide Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the low cost to operate a business in the Philippines.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Interthinx Launches Compliancy Podcast</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/interthinx-launches-compliancy-podcast-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:36:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/interthinx-launches-compliancy-podcast-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The podcast, titled From the Bar: Inside Compliance with Roger Fendelman, will focus on the industry's toughest compliance issues. The program is meant to explain rulemaking by the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and to answer concerns that lenders have had.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>New President to Lead PHH Mortgage</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-president-to-lead-phh-mortgage-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:31:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/new-president-to-lead-phh-mortgage-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[PHH Corporation announced Monday that David E. Tucker has been appointed president of PHH Mortgage Corporation, a service and mortgage origination subsidiary of PHH. Tucker is succeeding Smriti Laxman Popenoe, PHH Mortgage's interim president since March 2012.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Stearns Lending Names New CFO</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/stearns-lending-names-new-cfo-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:28:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/stearns-lending-names-new-cfo-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Stearns Lending, Inc., announced Tuesday that Gary B. Fabian has joined the company as its CFO.
]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>MCS Completes Examination of Reporting Controls</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mcs-completes-examination-of-reporting-controls-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 11:23:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mcs-completes-examination-of-reporting-controls-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Mortgage Contracting Services LLC (MCS) announced Tuesday the completion of its Type 2 SSAE No. 16 and SOC 3 examinations. 
]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Home Prices Show Strongest Gain in 6 Years: NAR</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/existing-home-sales-rise-in-april-for-after-two-month-month-drops-prices-show-strongest-year-year-gain-6-years-2012-05-22</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 08:49:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/existing-home-sales-rise-in-april-for-after-two-month-month-drops-prices-show-strongest-year-year-gain-6-years-2012-05-22</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Existing-home sales rose to 4.62 million (seasonally adjusted annualized rate) in April from an downwardly revised March rate of 4.47 million, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported Tuesday. Economists had forecast the April sales pace would be 4.66 million. The median price of an existing home climbed 10.1 percent to $177,400 from $161,100 in April 2011, the strongest year-to-year gain since January 2006. The median price in April reached its highest level since July 2010 when it was $182,100. The median price of an existing home rose month-to-month and year-to-year in all four regions. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Impact of Principal Reduction on RMBS Through the Settlement: Fitch</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/principal-reductions-through-settlement-likely-to-be-small-for-rmbs-fitch-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 16:02:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/principal-reductions-through-settlement-likely-to-be-small-for-rmbs-fitch-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Through the $25 billion robo-signing settlement between federal and state officials and the five largest banks - Bank of America, Citi, J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Ally - $10 billion was set aside for principal reductions. According Fitch Ratings, the funds set aside for writing down principal will have little impact on private label residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). Fitch stated that the private label result of principal reduction through the settlement will likely reach only 10 percent of underwater borrowers. Overall, Fitch estimates there is about $203 billion in negative equity for private-label RMBS.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Preliminary LPS Report Shows Slight Rise in Delinquencies After Declines</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/preliminary-lps-report-shows-slight-rise-in-delinquencies-after-declines-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 15:30:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/preliminary-lps-report-shows-slight-rise-in-delinquencies-after-declines-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Lender Processing Services (LPS) provided a peak into month-end data for mortgage performance in April 2012, and reported after 9 months of declines, mortgage delinquencies increased. The total delinquency rate for loans 30 days or more past due but not in foreclosure was 7.12 percent, a 0.4 percent month-over-month increase. Compared to a year ago, the delinquency rate was down by 10.6 percent.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Four States Back at Peak Employment: IHS</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/four-states-back-at-peak-employment-ihs-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 14:49:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/four-states-back-at-peak-employment-ihs-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The report, put together by IHS U.S. Regional Economist Steven Frable, stated that Alaska, North Dakota, Texas, and Louisiana have all reached or passed their prerecession employment levels, with Alaska and North Dakota reporting peak employment in 2010-11. These four states are also experiencing the most benefits from the current energy boom. Many other states have bounced almost all the way back, coming within 1 percent of their employment peaks.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Prices Fall in April, 2-3 Bids Per Property: HousingPulse Survey</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/prices-flat-in-april-with-2-3-bids-housingpulse-survey-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 13:20:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/prices-flat-in-april-with-2-3-bids-housingpulse-survey-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[If the buzz about bidding wars is true, Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey reported those accounts did not boost prices in its findings. Homes are selling below the list price, and if a home is subject to a bidding war, the high offer becomes quashed by lower appraisals. According to the report, homes sold in April received only two or three offers, and average home prices declined slightly from March to April. ]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Memphis Invest Announces YTD Sales, Holds Investor Weekend</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/memphis-invest-announceds-ytd-sales-holds-investor-weekend-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 12:54:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/memphis-invest-announceds-ytd-sales-holds-investor-weekend-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Memphis Invest announced Monday that it has sold 229 homes to out-of-town, independent investors since January in a run-up to a recent investor weekend. Memphis Invest hosted the investor weekend May 11-13 in order to showcase local single-family rental properties and to demonstrate Memphis' strengths as a rental market.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Alabama Bank Closes, Tally Now 24</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/alabama-bank-closes-tally-now-24-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:37:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/alabama-bank-closes-tally-now-24-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed down Alabama Trust Bank, National Association, of Sycalaugua, Alabama over the weekend, marking the first Alabama bank failure and the 24th national failure this year.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>C.A.R. Announces Support for Bill to Prevent REO Initiative in California</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/car-announces-support-for-bill-to-prevent-reo-iniative-in-california-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:10:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/car-announces-support-for-bill-to-prevent-reo-iniative-in-california-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[When it comes to handling foreclosure inventory, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) has made it clear it does not see the need for government intervention in its state. The association recently announced its support for California Congressmen Gary Miller (R-Brea) and seven California lawmakers for introducing legislation that calls for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to halt its plan to sell Fannie Mae REO properties to institutional investors through bulk sales in California.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>MMI Survey: Struggling Homeowners Reluctant to Seek Help</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mmi-survey-struggling-homeowners-reluctant-to-seek-help-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:04:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mmi-survey-struggling-homeowners-reluctant-to-seek-help-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[According to a survey conducted by Money Management International, struggling homeowners are reluctant to seek professional mortgage relief help.

The survey found that half of respondents would first seek help from a family member or friend.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Rogers Townsend Announces New Shareholder</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rogers-townsend-announces-new-shareholder-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:01:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rogers-townsend-announces-new-shareholder-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC, has announced the election of Matthew T. McKee as a shareholder.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
		<item> 
			<title>Wells Fargo Names New CCO</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-names-new-cfo-2012-05-21</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 10:57:00 -0500</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/wells-fargo-names-new-cfo-2012-05-21</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Wells Fargo & Co. announced that it has named Yvette Hollingsworth as its chief compliance officer, effective June 1.]]></description> 
		</item>
			
	</channel> 
</rss>

