On Tuesday, Field Asset Services (FAS), an Austin, Texas-based provider of field services to the REO industry, released the results of an independent study of foreclosed properties that compared the number of days on market (DOM) for remodeled properties versus those that were not remodeled.

Interthinx, a national provider of proven risk mitigation and regulatory compliance tools, recently launched the Interthinx Conditioned Valuation Model (CVM) - a unique integration of automated valuation technology and analytics tempered by a professional property inspection.

San Diego-based MDA DataQuick, a division of MDA Lending Solutions and a provider of property data to real estate and mortgage professionals, recently announced that Burbank, California-based Lockheed Federal Credit Union (LFCU) has selected MDA DataQuick's collateral validation to help the credit union, which has $2.9 billion in assets, proactively identify and manage loan risk and set loan loss reserves.

Encore Retail, LLC, a privately held real estate development firm and subsidiary of Dallas-based Encore Enterprises, Inc., recently announced the appointment of Michael Nelson as VP and director of leasing for the company. Nelson brings over 25 years' experience in retail, office, medical, and industrial assets to his new position.

Despite current reports of stabilization within the economy, commercial real estate sectors continue to be negatively impacted by fallout from the recession, but according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there is hope for some improvement by next year. Vacancy rates are expected to stay elevated throughout 2010, but NAR says with the job market anticipated to turn for the better later this year, the industry should see rising demand for office and warehouse space in 2011.

New York-based Franklin Credit Management Corporation (FCMC), the mortgage servicing subsidiary of Franklin Credit Holding Corporation, announced Monday that Joseph Prat has re-joined the company's management team as VP of default servicing.

Integrated Mortgage Solution, a Houston-based provider of collateral protection resources for the mortgage servicing sector, recently announced its electronic document retrieval and indexing capabilities, which the company says will help servicers increase permanent loan modifications.

In order to streamline communication between servicer clients and their investors, San Diego-based Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS), a nationwide property preservation and inspection services provider to the financial services industry, recently partnered with HomeTelos, a Dallas-based company that specializes in the development and support of Web-based solutions that support the management and marketing of real estate assets.

The first public edition of the Appraisal Fee Reference (AFR) was recently released by Oklahoma City-based a la mode, inc., a provider of appraisal-related technology and services to the mortgage industry. AFR, which is just one of the monthly data sets published as part of a la mode's appraisal industry analytics practice, is an authoritative national analysis of independent appraiser fees.

In an effort to help Realtors understand the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA) and its guidelines, the national Association of Realtors has released a brochure about the program and is providing additional resources online, including government forms and guidelines, a video explaining the new federal guidelines, and frequently asked questions.