Loan Resolution Corporation has announced that it is adding 100 positions in March to meet demand for the government’s new Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program. The 100 full-time positions are necessary to meet the company’s growth as demand for short sales and deed-in-lieus skyrockets. The Scottsdale-based company moved into a 30,000-sq.-ft. office in North Scottsdale in September 2009.Read more

Elliott & Company Appraisers has announced the promotion of Client Services Director Carlyle Holt to the position of vice president. Holt literally grew up in the mortgage lending industry and has an extensive background in property and casualty insurance and commercial and residential construction restoration. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from North Carolina State University and currently holds a North Carolina Loan Officer License and a North Carolina Real Estate License.Read more

Equi-Trax Asset Solutions LP, a national collateral valuation provider, has announced it has promoted Danielle Drewisch to the position of director of client relations. “I enjoy the challenge and the opportunity of this new position," said Drewisch. "It affords me the opportunity to use my title and escrow experience to help our clients and vendors."Read more

Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS), a provider of integrated technology and services to the mortgage and real estate industries, has announced the launch of its professional short sale service. Offered through LPS Asset Management Solutions, LPS' short sale solution helps servicers respond more quickly to short-sale offers and close more transactions. In the current environment, servicers must be prepared to efficiently leverage alternatives like short sales.Read more

Pro Teck Valuations Services, a real estate valuation and risk solutions provider, has announced the expansion of its services by offering a configurable Appraisal Order Portal for wholesale and retail mortgage origination. The platform, already in use by top national mortgage wholesalers, is designed to meet the national appraisal needs of the market; including regulatory, investor and Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) requirements.Read more

In a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) asked that new Senate regulations on the financial services industry include Fattah's mortgage relief provisions that are contained in HR 4173, the Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. Sen. Dodd is working to introduce the Senate bill this week. If Fattah's provisions are included, and the legislation is passed by the Senate and signed by President Barack Obama, it would clear the way for $3 billion in emergency mortgage assistance to be provided to struggling homeowners.Read more

The February 2010 Mortgage Monitor report, released by Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS), a provider of mortgage performance data and analytics, shows that while delinquency rates in the U.S. have risen to historic highs, the pace of deterioration has slowed. However, the nation's housing market remains far from a full recovery.Read more

UnitedTech Lender Services Inc., holding company to UTLS Default Services, UTLS Technology Services and UTLS Consulting Services, has announced that, effective March 1, 2010, it has appointed Bradley Coburn as vice president of Valuations. Coburn’s combines experience with high profile lending institutions and the appraisal/valuation real estate sectors. Prior to his appointment as vice president of valuations, Bradley managed the quality and performance metrics as well as the appraisal training programs within JP Morgan Chase. Read more

Wells Fargo & Company is reporting that as of Feb. 28, the company had 505,832 active trial and completed modifications through its own modification programs and the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). More than 365,000 of those were non-HAMP active trials in place as of the end of February 2010 and modifications completed since the beginning of 2009. Wells Fargo had 139,065 HAMP active trial and completed modifications in place as of Feb. 28, including 24,975 permanent modifications and 7,533 permanent modifications pending completion.Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) have released February data for the Administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). As of the end of the month, more than one million borrowers were receiving a median savings of $500 each month, a 36 percent median monthly payment decrease. Permanent modifications have been granted to 170,000 homeowners and an additional 91,800 permanent modifications have been approved by servicers and are pending only borrower acceptance.

Highlights of the report include:Read more