Regulatory oversight continues to be a top issue facing the origination industry in industry recruiting firm Hammerhouse’s latest annual survey of active participants in that market.

Oregon District Judge Michael W. Mosman sentenced Tu Ngoc Tran of Portland to 63 months in prison following his conviction in a jury trial on drug and mortgage fraud charges.

The proposed move could result in downgrades for about 1,200 residential mortgage-backed securities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is renewing its efforts to get Congress to pass legislation that will give the Federal Housing Administration additional enforcement powers.

Fitch is registering some concern about what it describes as a “very rapid rise” in the number of U.S. large-loan commercial mortgage-backed securities deals in recent months.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ recently proposed additional changes to its residential/commercial mortgage-backed securities valuation method could have a particularly notable impact on alternative-A credit fixed-rate and subprime securities.

A former employee of a New Jersey timeshare consulting firm has pleaded guilty to separate mortgage and unemployment scams.

Housing counseling agencies have long been known for their ability to provide solid advice on alternatives, rental options, credit repairs and a range of other topics, including reverse mortgages.

Some mortgage technology and software providers are seeing increased demand for Software as a Service solutions in the foreclosure-to-rent marketplace.

The California National Mortgage Settlement Grant Program will provide $9.4 million to 21 organizations to assist state residents affected by the foreclosure crisis.

Technology and education are two components helping Realtors, consumers, and servicers complete more short sales now compared to years ago.

Fitch Ratings is urging publicly traded homebuilders to exercise restraint in grabbing up land for future development.

Fifth Third Mortgage Co. continues to outpace the national average conversion rate of Home Affordable Modification Program loans into permanent modifications.

According to the Visa Inc. global Financial Literacy Barometer, U.S. women rank fourth after Brazil, Australia and Mexico, the top three most financially literate women in the world.

While the Senate Banking Committee has clearly reached consensus on the need for mortgage finance reform, the process remains at a standstill beyond that.

The default legal services firm Clunk, Hoose & Associates announced that it has opened a new office to serve clients in the South Florida market.

Home Loan Servicing Solutions reported net income of $24.8 million in the first quarter.

The New York Department of Financial Services has entered into a second settlement with an insurer over force-placed underwriting practices.

Ally Bank has completed the sales of $115 billion in unpaid principal balance of agency mortgage servicing rights to Ocwen Financial and Quicken Loans.