Technology

According to figures released Tuesday morning, home values are still in the tank, with three key S&P price indices sinking in the fourth quarter to their lowest level since the housing crisis began seven years ago.

Tree.com lost $1.1 million in the fourth quarter, after experiencing reduced revenue from its lead generation business. It also took a $5.6 million impairment charge on intangible assets.

An index from the National Association of Realtors that tracks pending home sales edged up 2% in January to the highest level since April 2010 when the government was still handing out homebuyer tax credits.

The same benefits and legal foundation that guide mortgage lenders' paperless origination capabilities are now being applied by servicers performing loss mitigation, according to a panel at this week's Mortgage Bankers Association servicing conference.

Servicing regulations and oversight aren't new concepts for mortgage bankers, but the motivation and processes are evolving to meet the demands of current market conditions.

First off, I'd like to thank the crew at Bank of America for continually giving mortgage reporters and editors something to write about. Don't get me wrong--there's plenty of good stories out there. And let's face it--and you read it here first: What happens regulatory and legislatively over the next three to four years should shape the future of this industry for the next 50 years.

Maryland is developing a pilot program to take its mandatory foreclosure mediation process paperless.

Home prices rose in 27 states during the fourth quarter as home values increased on GSE-related transactions during the final two months of 2011.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose eight basis points to 3.95% for the week ending Feb. 23, reflecting both an improving economy and housing market, according to new figures compiled by Freddie Mac.

Even though the short sale market was slow to develop in 2011, there are many people within the mortgage industry that think 2012 could be the year of the short sale as delinquencies and foreclosures continue to be a major problem throughout the country.