According to a report released Tuesday by The Warren Group, a Boston-based provider of New England real estate data, single-family home and condo sales surged by more than 50 percent in November 2009 compared to the same month last year.

According to Remington Financial Group, a capital services company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, a lack of bank liquidity poses a severe threat to the commercial real estate market.

As the nation's real estate markets moves closer to stabilization, more housing markets are forecast to experience appreciation in 2010, according to Destin, Florida-based Housing Predictor's Best 25 Market Forecast in 2010.

Elk Software, a software development company, recently announced the release of Short Sale Commander 3.0, an upgrade to its web-based management and processing software.

As part of its foreclosure learning center, Bellevue, Washington-based USA-Foreclosure.com has expanded its coverage of state laws and foreclosure process to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In an announcement Friday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. has completed an initial closing of a Public-Private Investment Fund (PPIF) established under the Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program (PPIP).

As part of a continuing effort to ensure integrity in the relationship between lenders and appraisers, The Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Appraiser Independence and Appraiser Engagement regulations are set to take effect January 1, 2010.

While several recent reports have projected a glimmer of hope for the future of the commercial real estate market, some industry experts aren't convinced and are saying the market is due to suffer the same fate as the recent collapse of the housing market, only worse.

Advanced Financial Services (AFS), a mortgage lender based in Newport, Rhode Island, recently announced it has changed its name to Embrace Home Loans.

President Barak Obama made an announcement Thursday stating his intent to nominate Theodore (Ted) W. Pozer as president of the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae/GNMA).