Expiring Mortgage Debt Relief Act Fuels Strategic Default: Survey
By Esther Cho, DSNews, May 29, 2012

A foreclosure prevention agency found that the pending expiration of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 is prompting struggling homeowners to strategically default on their loan.

Are Bankers Manipulating the Housing Market?
By Octavio Nuiry, Staff Writer, May 29, 2012

The tentative housing recovery might be a mirage. Let me pull back the curtain and show you why the financial industry may be manipulating real estate data. For the last few months of 2012, foreclosure activity has steadily decreased nationwide, according to monthly reports from RealtyTrac. But even with this slowdown in foreclosure activity, it appears there is still a bottleneck between when a property is foreclosed and when it’s listed for sale. Let’s take a look at a few markets to illustrate how this plays out.

Robo-Signing Settlement Cash Disappears Into State Treasuries
By Peter G. Miller, Guest Columnist, May 29, 2012

The $25 billion robo-signing settlement announced earlier this year has finally begun to bear fruit — at least for a number of states with budgetary problems.

Foreclosures fall to lowest level since 2007
By Les Christie, CNN Money, May 17, 2012

NEW YORK — Foreclosure filings in April fell for the third straight month to the lowest level since July 2007.

Will Short Sales Finally Save the Housing Market?
By Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Vice President, May 15, 2012

Short sales, where a distressed property (often in foreclosure) is sold for less than what is owed on the mortgage, have long been viewed as an elegant solution to the nation’s foreclosure problem — at least in theory. A short sale, in theory, provides a win-win-win for the buyer, bank and even the seller. The buyer purchases a house they want at a price they can afford, the bank gets the best price for its distressed asset, and the seller walks away from a mountain of debt, free to get a fresh start.

NY home loan court filings still marred
By Catherine Curan, New York Post, May 12, 2012

Foreclosure-mill attorneys are routinely breaking the law and clogging New York courts with unresolved cases, an explosive new study shows.

Top Fla. Court Hears Landmark Foreclosure Case
By Octavio Nuiry, Staff Writer, May 11, 2012

The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on May 10 in a landmark mortgage foreclosure case that could have far-reaching consequences. The justices took up Pino v. Bank of New York Mellon, a Palm Beach County case in which drywall hanger Roman Pino accused his bank of fraudulently backdating documents used against him in foreclosure proceedings. The bank’s original lawyers were the law firm of David J. Stern, which has gone out of business for questionable foreclosure practices.

Occupy Bernal succeeds in stalling foreclosures
By C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle, May 5, 2012

An organization founded by a porn performer, a Summer of Love radical, and a guy named Stardust Darkmatterji, is challenging the eviction of homeowners in their Bernal Heights neighborhood. For the past week the group has been staging very polite, but noisy, demonstrations next to the steps of City Hall to disrupt bank auctions.

5 Steps to Buying a Pre-Foreclosure (Short Sale)
By Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Vice President, May 7, 2012

The foreclosure process allows for three different bargain-buying opportunities: when the property is in the pre-foreclosure period, typically a short sale; at the public foreclosure auction; or when the property is bank owned, also known as REO. Here’s a quick checklist to follow if you are interested in purchasing a pre-foreclosure (NOD, LIS) property. In the 2012 market, these properties are typically short sales because the homeowners owe more the property is worth. In separate articles we also cover how to buy at the foreclosure auction and how to buy bank owned homes.

Will Principal Write-Offs Increase Foreclosure Discounts?
By Peter G. Miller, April 30, 2012

There's a new plan floating around in Washington to end the foreclosure crisis. The thought is that we can keep more people in their homes if we reduce the size of their mortgage debt.

Foreclosure reform bill passes
By 67AM KPUA News, May 2, 2012

In a released statement, state lawmakers announced that House Bill 1875 HD2 SD2 CD1, which amends the mortgage foreclosure law to provide additional protections for Hawaii’s homeowners, passed its final floor vote Tuesday before the full House and Senate.

Foreclosure Home Auctions Giving Way to Short Sales
By Peter G. Miller, May 3, 2012

If you're a lender and hold both the first and second liens then a very good reason to modify the first mortgage or accept a short sale to avoid a total loss on the second.

3 Ways Foreclosures Are Holding Home Prices Hostage
By Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Vice President, May 2, 2012

First quarter foreclosure activity hit its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2007, but foreclosures — and the threat of more foreclosed homes for sale — continue to hold home prices hostage.