CoreLogic has announced the introduction of Verification of Military Status (VOMS), a compliance and loan portfolio due diligence solution. VOMS allows mortgage servicers to identify borrowers protected under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which bans foreclosures and caps interest rate increases for those on active duty and up to 90 days following discharge.

Asset management and loss mitigation provider Green River Capital is expanding its REO services to the commercial mortgage industry. The new services include the disposition of assets, property maintenance, lease verification, and property valuation. Focusing its commercial REO efforts on small balance properties, the firm will also handle evictions and repairs and offer full title services.

Commercial real estate prices (CRE) in the U.S. declined in April by 3.7 percent, according to a new report from Moody's Investors Service. It marked the index's lowest level since its inception, but Moody's says the price recovery that began a year ago among ""trophy properties"" in the largest markets is still evident and continuing. However, this decrease is the index's fifth consecutive decline with distressed prices negating the price recovery seen in larger, higher quality assets.

DebtX, a loan sale advisor for commercial, consumer, and specialty finance debt, says it is working with a number of financial institutions to provide loan portfolio due diligence services to evaluate merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions. The company's M&A advisory service offers asset evaluation, loss forecasting, and cash flow analysis for buying and selling institutions considering strategic transactions.

The delinquency rate on loans included in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) fell four basis points in May to 9.18 percent, according to Moody's. The dollar balance of past due loans was approximately $56 billion. While loans totaling $3.4 billion became newly delinquent, previously delinquent loans totaling $4.1 billion became current, worked out, or were disposed. The top 25 metros continue to outperform the broader market with a delinquency rate of 8.48 percent, 70 basis points below the national average.

Wells Fargo will host a home preservation workshop in Irvine, California, this week to assist Wells Fargo and Wachovia customers in Southern California who are facing financial hardships. The two-day event begins Wednesday. Borrowers attending the event will meet with home retention team members to obtain loan modifications or pursue other foreclosure prevention options. Bilingual representatives are also available to assist borrowers.

Kentucky-based PBI Bank expects to enter into a consent order with the FDIC and the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, according to the bank's parent company, Porter Bancorp, Inc. The move will create benchmarks for the bank to improve its business, including enhancing asset quality, reducing loan concentrations, and maintaining capital levels.

Delinquencies on U.S. commercial real estate loan collateralized debt obligations (CREL CDOs) decreased last month, reversing the previous month's increase, according to the latest index results from Fitch Ratings. From March to April, the delinquency rate rose from 14.1 percent to 14.8 percent. But by the end of May, Fitch says it had fallen back to 14.1 percent. Last month's late-pays dropped as nine new delinquencies were offset by the resolution of 18 formerly delinquent assets.

Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C., a Michigan law firm serving the mortgage industry, recently appointed Dennis J. Dlugokinski as managing attorney of the firm's litigation practice and Natalie Zemgulis as its new vendor manager. Schneiderman & Sherman has processed foreclosures, evictions, bankruptcies, default litigation, and REO transactions throughout Michigan for over 35 years.

Oklahoma-based a la mode announced this week that CoreLogic chose to connect its ValuEdge platform with Mercury Network for receipt of the Native XML appraisal data needed for compliance with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's jointly established Uniform Mortgage Data Program (UMDP). A custom plugin will connect CoreLogic with the Mercury Network of real estate appraisers. The plugin will run an extensive set of quality control rules against the report prior to delivery.