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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> 
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			<title>DSNews.com Article Feed</title> 
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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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			<title>Foreclosures for Sale: 34% Off</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/foreclosures-for-sale-34-off-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:01:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/foreclosures-for-sale-34-off-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Foreclosure homes sold for 34 percent less than the average price of a non-distressed home during the third quarter of 2011, according to new data released by RealtyTrac Thursday. The average sales price of homes in the process of foreclosure or bank-owned was $165,322 over the July-to-September period last year. RealtyTrac says third parties purchased a total of 221,536 residential properties classified as foreclosures or REO during the third quarter of 2011, representing just 20 percent of all residential sales during that timeframe.]]></description> 
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			<title>Fed Extends Expectations for Low Rates Through 2014</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fed-extends-expectations-for-low-rates-through-2014-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:54:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fed-extends-expectations-for-low-rates-through-2014-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will hold a key benchmark interest rate near zero through 2014. The setting of this federal funds rate - the rate at which banks lend to one another - is one of the most fundamental and principal tools in the central bank's chest of economic influence. The Fed has kept the target range for the rate at 0 to 0.25 percent for three years now. The decision to maintain this range for another three years is testament to just how slow the U.S. economy's recovery is likely to be.]]></description> 
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			<title>Pending Home Sales Decline Monthly, Rise Annually</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pending-home-sales-decline-monthly-rise-annually-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:29:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/pending-home-sales-decline-monthly-rise-annually-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[After reaching a 19-month high in November, pending home sales declined 3.5 percent in December, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Wednesday. November's pending home sales stood at 100.1 for the nation, just above the "historically healthy" average of 100, designated by NAR. The rate ticked down to 96.6 in December. Despite the decline, December's pending home sales are 5.6 percent higher than the rate recorded in December 2010.]]></description> 
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			<title>MBA Names VP of Strategic Planning and Internal Technology</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mba-names-vp-of-strategic-planning-and-internal-technology-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:17:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mba-names-vp-of-strategic-planning-and-internal-technology-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced Wednesday the appointment of Peter J. Grace as the trade group's new VP of strategic planning and internal technology. Grace will facilitate the implementation of initiatives that involve membership engagement through a coordinated project management and leadership role. He joins MBA from HUD, where he most recently served as chief of staff for the Acting Deputy Secretary Estelle Richman.]]></description> 
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			<title>ISGN Enters Into $20M Line of Credit from JPMorgan</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/isgn-enters-into-20m-line-of-credit-from-jpmorgan-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:22:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/isgn-enters-into-20m-line-of-credit-from-jpmorgan-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[ISGN Corporation has obtained a $20 million secured line of credit from JPMorgan Chase, the company announced Wednesday. The line of credit from JPMorgan is available through November 21, 2012, subject to certain conditions. ISGN says the terms allow the company to utilize the entire $20 million immediately to take advantage of market opportunities in the first half of 2012.]]></description> 
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			<title>Obama Announces New Refi Program in State of the Union Address</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obama-announces-new-refi-program-in-state-of-union-address-2012-01-25</link> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:21:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/obama-announces-new-refi-program-in-state-of-union-address-2012-01-25</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Despite rumors earlier in the week that President Barack Obama would announce a settlement between the state attorneys general and the nation's top servicers in his State of the Union address, the president made no such announcement Tuesday night. However, he did announce his intention to save millions of homeowners approximately $3,000 annually on their mortgages by allowing them to refinance at today's low interest rates. Obama also plans to create a Financial Crimes Unit to protect consumers from fraud schemes.]]></description> 
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			<title>DBRS Expects a Year of Reform for Mortgage Servicing</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dbrs-expects-year-of-reform-for-mortgage-servicing-2012-01-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:26:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dbrs-expects-year-of-reform-for-mortgage-servicing-2012-01-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The ratings agency DBRS says mortgage servicers are going to continue to see "much needed reform" in 2012 as the industry moves to standardize the servicing business. The first go at such standardization will center around implementing the directives of regulators' consent orders, according to DBRS. The agency does expect the U.S. government to institute some of the REO programs currently being vetted, but doesn't foresee any tangible benefits in terms of loss recoveries until 2013.]]></description> 
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			<title>Housing Crisis to End in 2012 as Banks Loosen Credit Standards</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-crisis-to-end-in-2012-as-banks-loosen-credit-standards-2012-01-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:59:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-crisis-to-end-in-2012-as-banks-loosen-credit-standards-2012-01-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end this year, according to a report released Tuesday. One of the reasons: loosening credit. The analytics firm notes the average credit score required to attain a mortgage loan is 700. While this is higher than scores required prior to the crisis, it is constant with requirements one year ago. Banks are also loosening loan-to-value ratios (LTV), which Capital Economics denotes "the clearest sign yet of an improvement in mortgage credit conditions."]]></description> 
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			<title>Housing Inventory Down 22% From Year-Ago Levels</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-inventory-down-22-from-year-ago-levels-2012-01-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-inventory-down-22-from-year-ago-levels-2012-01-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[At the national level, the inventory of for-sale single-family homes dropped by 22.29 percent over the last year, according to new statistics released by Realtor.com. The site concludes that at the close of 2011, there were 1.89 million single-family homes on the market, down 6 percent from just one month prior. Realtor.com views the development as a positive sign the market is holding its own at the national level, but notes that the weight of foreclosures is keeping the market in a fragile state.]]></description> 
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			<title>DataQuick Launches Nationwide Distressed Property Analysis Tools</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dataquick-launches-nationwide-distressed-property-analysis-tools-2012-01-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:26:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dataquick-launches-nationwide-distressed-property-analysis-tools-2012-01-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[One of the keys to the housing market's recovery is managing and ultimately clearing out the inventory of distressed properties, according to DataQuick, a real estate data provider headquartered in San Diego, California. The company released its new RiskFinder Distress at the American Securitization Forum on Monday.]]></description> 
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			<title>Additional Servicers May Join in AG Settlement</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/additional-servicers-may-join-in-ag-settlement-2012-01-24</link> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:14:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/additional-servicers-may-join-in-ag-settlement-2012-01-24</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Settlement negotiations between state attorneys general and the top five servicers have dragged on for more than a year now throughout frequent reports that a settlement is close. Working out a deal that banks feel is fair and that attorneys general feel serves their states' residents has been challenging at best. However, with a settlement once again reportedly "weeks away," it appears the proposal on the table is agreeable to more than just the five banks involved from day one. Both U.S. Bancorp and PNC may sign on, according to multiple reports.]]></description> 
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			<title>First Three Bank Failures of 2012 to Cost FDIC $244M</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/first-three-bank-failures-of-2012-to-cost-fdic-244m-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:28:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/first-three-bank-failures-of-2012-to-cost-fdic-244m-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Three community-based lenders went under over the weekend in Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania, marking the first bank failures of 2012. Altogether, the three closings are expected to cost the FDIC an estimated $243.8 million. Last year, the FDIC reported 92 closings nationwide - a sharp drop-off from the 157 bank seizures overseen by the agency in 2010 and the 140 institutions that became insolvent in 2009. FDIC officials maintain that bank failures stemming from the real estate downturn and the ensuing economic recession have peaked.]]></description> 
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			<title>FHFA Says Principal Writedowns by GSEs Would Cost $100B</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-says-principal-writedowns-by-gses-would-cost-100b-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:16:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-says-principal-writedowns-by-gses-would-cost-100b-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) says as of June 30, 2011, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac held nearly 3 million first lien mortgages in which the borrower owed more on the loan that the home was worth. FHFA estimates principal forgiveness for all of these mortgages would require funding of almost $100 billion to pay down the loans to the value of the homes securing them. Members of Congress have questioned FHFA's reasoning for excluding principal forgiveness from the menu of loss mitigation tools available to the GSEs.]]></description> 
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			<title>Reisenfeld and Associates Attorney Recognized as 2012 'Rising Star'</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/reisenfeld-and-associates-attorney-recognized-as-2012-rising-star-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:49:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/reisenfeld-and-associates-attorney-recognized-as-2012-rising-star-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Sallie A. Conyers, a member at Reisenfeld and Associates, was recognized as one of Ohio's Super Lawyer "Rising Stars" for 2012 by Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers is a peer-review publication that rates attorneys who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Conyers is currently the lead litigation attorney and supervising attorney of Reisenfeld and Associates' home retention department.]]></description> 
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			<title>State AGs Reviewing Settlement Draft</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/state-ags-reviewing-settlement-draft-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:38:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/state-ags-reviewing-settlement-draft-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[After HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced last Wednesday that a final settlement between state attorneys general and the nation's largest servicers is just weeks away, the news broke Monday that a settlement draft is now in the hands of the attorneys general for review. Dispelling rumors suggesting President Barack Obama will announce the settlement during his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, the lead negotiator for the states has issued a statement saying, "...we won't reach a settlement any time this week."]]></description> 
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			<title>Investors With Cash Place Downward Pressure on Home Prices</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/investors-with-cash-continue-to-place-downward-pressure-on-home-prices-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:56:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/investors-with-cash-continue-to-place-downward-pressure-on-home-prices-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[Homebuyers with enough cash in hand to cover their offer price in full are able to bid significantly lower on properties and according to a new industry report released Monday, because they offer a shorter and more reliable closing timeline without the impediments of a mortgage, they often win out with that lower bid. The study found that this low-bid-winning dynamic is particularly true for distressed properties because mortgage servicers selling foreclosed or REO homes generally prefer transactions that can settle within 30 days.]]></description> 
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			<title>Loan Modifications Are on the Decline: Moody's</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/loan-modifications-are-on-decline-moodys-2012-01-23</link> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/loan-modifications-are-on-decline-moodys-2012-01-23</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[As robo-signing reviews reach completion, servicers are beginning to work through some of their foreclosure backlogs, according to a third-quarter report from Moody's Investors Service. At the same time, the ratings agency found that loan modifications are on the decline. Servicers are now turning to loss mitigation alternatives such as short sales and deeds in lieu, Moody's says. The agency is also forecasting longer timelines this year to move properties from foreclosure sale to REO liquidation.]]></description> 
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			<title>FHA Steps Up Lender Requirements to Limit Default Risk</title> 
			<link>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fha-steps-up-lender-requirements-to-limit-default-risk-2012-01-20</link> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:11:00 -0600</pubDate> 
			<guid>http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fha-steps-up-lender-requirements-to-limit-default-risk-2012-01-20</guid> 
			<description><![CDATA[The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has announced new measures to strengthen standards for the lenders it works with - measures the agency says will help it better manage the risk that comes with insuring mortgages against default. The new regulations raise the bar in terms of lender performance when it comes to seriously delinquent and claim rates, and shores up the agency's processes for requiring lenders to cover losses from insurance claims paid on mortgages that involve fraud or don't meet FHA's underwriting guidelines.]]></description> 
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