CoreLogic released new analysis showing approximately 850,000 more residential properties returned to a state of positive equity during the first quarter of 2013, and the total number of mortgaged residential properties with equity currently stands at 39 million. The analysis shows that 9.7 million, or 19.8 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage, were still in negative equity at the end of the first quarter of 2013 with a total value of $580 billion.Click to continue

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have released the May edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard—a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market. Data continue to show important progress across many key indicators—as the annual home price increase is the highest since the housing bubble burst in mid-2006 and purchases of new and existing homes remain strong—although officials caution that a full housing recovery will take more time.Click to continue

The April Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) found that the rate of foreclosure sales (i.e., completion of the foreclosure process) in judicial foreclosure states hit its highest point since 2010. However, the length of time that process is taking -- as well as the disparity in foreclosure timelines between judicial and non-judicial states -- continues to grow.Click to continue

Attorney General Eric T. Schneider­­man has filed a lawsuit against HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Mortgage Corporation (USA) for failing to follow state law related to foreclosure actions, putting homeowners at greater risk of losing their homes. Under state law, residential mortgage lenders, servicers and their agents who sue to foreclose on a homeowner are required to file a “Request for Judicial Intervention” (RJI) when they file their proof of service with the county clerk. The process mandates that the lender then attend a settlement conference within 60 days.Click to continue

RealtyTrac has released its Q1 2013 U.S. Foreclosure & Short Sales Report, which shows a total of 190,121 U.S. properties in some stage of foreclosure or real estate-owned (REO) were sold during the quarter, a decrease of 18 percent from the previous quarter and down 22 percent from the first quarter of 2012. These foreclosure-related sales accounted for 21 percent of all U.S. residential sales during the first quarter, down from 25 percent of all sales in the first quarter of 2012 and down from a peak of 45 percent of all sales in the first quarter of 2009.Click to continue

The national negative equity rate fell in the first quarter, to 25.4 percent of all homeowners with a mortgage, according to the first quarter Zillow Negative Equity Report. But another 18.2 percent of homeowners with mortgages, while not technically underwater, likely do not have enough equity to afford to move. Slightly more than 13 million homeowners with a mortgage were in negative equity, or underwater, at the end of the first quarter, owing more on their mortgage than their home is worth.Click to continue

Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) has reported the following "first look" at April 2013 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing approximately 70 percent of the overall market. Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure) stood at 6.21 percent, while the month-over-month change in delinquency rate was -5.81 percent. Click to continue

The nation’s largest mortgage servicers have distributed $50.63 billion in direct relief to over 620,000 homeowners, or roughly $81,000 per homeowner as part of the National Mortgage Settlement, according to a progress update released by independent settlement monitor Joseph A. Smith of the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight. Over one year ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S.Click to continue

HOPE NOW has released its first 2013 data, showing that approximately 245,000 homeowners have received permanent loan modifications from mortgage servicers so far this year. Of the 245,000 loan modifications completed from January through March, about 203,000 homeowners received proprietary loan modifications and 42,157 homeowners received loan modifications completed under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).Click to continue

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have implemented policies to expedite the short sales process, including new resources to help determine property values, according to panelists at a property valuation forum during the Realtors Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Short sales continue to represent a significant portion of the real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), short sales accounted for nine percent of transactions during the first quarter of 2013.Click to continue