When anyone starts talking about accounting, most people cover their ears and run away. Many would prefer to have a root canal than to learn about financial controls. I’m a CPA, but also a musician and would personally prefer to write about drum sets than accounting. It is an undeniably dull topic, but proper accounting for any business is immensely important. So why learn accounting? Aside from the ability to know if your business is making money, learning accounting can protect your company from the growing threat of corporate theft.Read more

LendingTree has announced the launch of its first-ever iPhone App, the Mortgage RateFinder, now available at the Apple Store. This free application allows a user to get up-to-the-minute loan offers without any personal information being shared. Mortgage Ratefinder App is extremely user friendly. You simply enter information about the loan you would like. The App then performs a quick search of participating lenders and instantly provides users with customized loan offers. Users can choose to receive up to 30 different offers!Read more

Happy New Year! I hope each of you had a great holiday. As an industry we can begin the New Year with optimism for continued economic recovery and a more stable housing finance system.
As I mentioned in the last edition, there continues to be change coming from FHA, and I want to reiterate how much we appreciate your partnership as you work to implement these changes.Read more

On Jan. 25, the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry (NMLS) is scheduled to launch a consumer focused Web site, NMLS Consumer Access, which will make information available about mortgage loan originators. NMLS Consumer Access is being launched to bring greater transparency to the mortgage industry and to comply with provisions of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act).

The following information in a registered loan originator's NMLS record will be made available through NMLS Consumer Access:Read more

Jim Hodson is the chief executive officer and founder of Bethel, Conn.-based Countdown To Buy, a next generation online real estate marketplace offering a fair and effective way to buy and sell properties. On Dec. 8, 2009, the company launched its Web site that allows qualified home buyers to purchase foreclosed properties in a very efficient and transparent manner.Read more