Foreclosures

Foreclosure starts increased slightly while non-foreclosure resolutions for homeowners remained level from the same time last year, according to industry advocacy group Hope Now.

Black Knight Financial Services Inc., the mortgage-technology company backed by private-equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, gained in its trading debut after raising $441 million in an initial public offering.

The national foreclosure law firm Butler & Hosch has shuttered its operations after rapid growth through acquisitions tapped out its cash reserves.

Calling his state's foreclosure process "badly broken and in need of change," New York banking regulator Benjamin Lawsky wants new policies enacted to fast-track vacant property foreclosures and reform the state's mandatory foreclosure mediation requirements.

Banks and mortgage firms representing 70% of the New York market will adopt a set of best practices to combat the "zombie properties" afflicting communities throughout the state, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

Online real estate marketplace Hubzu is offering consumers looking to bid on real estate owned properties a financing contingency option.

There continues to be improvement in the number of distressed homes nationwide, according to a report from CoreLogic.

Genworth Financial Inc., the insurer divesting units after posting record losses, has sold 14% of its Australian mortgage-guaranty unit, the company announced on May 11.

MGIC Investment Corp. ended April with 2,606 fewer delinquent loans on its books as the number of new notices declined from the prior month.

The commercial mortgage-backed security loan delinquency rate dropped slightly in April, according to analytics and technology firm Trepp.

Real estate investors are shifting their purchases to multifamily properties as the number of available distressed single-family homes for sale has been depleted over the past two years.

Quarterly delinquency rates hit their second lowest rate since 2007-2008's real estate meltdown, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

A pioneer in the U.S. home-rental boom that grew out of the housing bust is becoming a takeover target.

March featured the largest monthly decline in the mortgage delinquency rate in nine years, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Wes Edens, a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has shot his share of air balls at his private-equity firm Fortress Investment Group. With mortgage assets, Edens has found his mark.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has rescinded a policy designed to help certain widowed spouses of reverse mortgage borrowers avoid foreclosure.

Ocwen Financial's shares jumped 19% to more than $10 a share as of late morning Friday, the day after it reported a first-quarter profit and highlighted an expansion into mortgage lending.

Mortgage interest rates rose during the week thanks to increases in home values and sales as well as slower-than-expected economic growth, Freddie Mac said.

Freddie Mac has planned its first Extended Timeline Pool Offering, the government-sponsored entity announced this week.

Mortgage delinquencies hit their lowest point in nine years during the month of March, according to Black Knight Financial Services.