While 38 states and 40 out of 50 metro areas showed an improving three-month trend in MiMi value for December, those numbers are down from December 2013. For that month, 47 states plus the District of Columbia and 47 of 50 metro areas showed an improving three-month trend.

Increased litigation expenses at a few larger banks caused the Q4 aggregate net income for commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC Chairman was still encouraged by the numbers, however.

Foreclosure inventory was way down nationwide year-over-year in January despite a 5.5 percent month-over-month increase in foreclosure starts, according to Black Knight Financial Services' First Look at January Mortgage Data. Foreclosure starts totaled 94,300 for January, which was the highest number since December 2013. January's total was a 5.5 percent increase from December and a slight increase of 0.2 percent from January 2014.

CoreLogic's announcement comes just two weeks after five of the nation's largest mortgage servicers – JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, GMAC Mortgage, and BAC Home Loans Servicing – were penalized a combined total of $123 million by the U.S. Department of Justice over non-judicial foreclosures that violated the SCRA.

While legal processes vary among states, property owners who are behind on their mortgage payment can use the short sale guide as a resource to explore their options and prevent a foreclosure on their home. Information provided by JWB can help rental home owners find alternative solutions to their housing problems.

The delinquency rate on residential mortgage loans backed by Fannie Mae declined across the board in 2014 due to a number of reasons that include foreclosure alternatives, home retention solutions, completed foreclosures, improved loan payment performance, and acquisitions of loans with stronger credit profiles, according to Fannie Mae's recently released annual report.

The nation's leading online real estate marketplace, Auction.com, has recently moved two individuals up within the company – Lee Leslie has been named EVP and chief legal officer, and EVP Gordon Smith has been tapped for the position of general manager in the company's commercial real estate division.

Real estate auction company Hudson & Marshall announced today that it would be embarking on a joint venture with Genesis Auctions to create a “technology driven auction powerhouse.” The new company plans to grow by providing clients with a full suite of online, ballroom, and onsite auction solutions.

Ocwen Loan Servicing, a subsidiary of Ocwen Financial Corporation, intends to sell the mortgage servicing rights (MSR) on a portfolio of performing loans owned by Freddie Mac with a total principal balance of about $9.8 billion to Nationstar Mortgage, a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, according to an announcement from Ocwen Financial on Monday morning. There are approximately 81,000 loans in the portfolio involved in the transaction, according to Ocwen's announcement.

The second in a series of hearings to examine the financial health of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will take place next week in Washington, D.C., according to an announcement on Friday from the chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).