Mortgage Specialist International L.L.C. (MSI) has named Stacey Baumann VP of new business development.

Potestivo & Associates, P.C., a provider of legal services to the default servicing industry,announced Friday the hiring of a new associate attorney, Dennis J. Kamph.

Conditions in financial markets have improved and economic activity is leveling out, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his fellow central bankers said at the conclusion of their regular monetary policy meeting on Wednesday.

Across the country,municipalities are tackling the housing crisis head-on by purchasing local foreclosed homes, rehabbing them into affordable housing, and selling them as part of community programs to revitalize neighborhoods.

Florida-based Ocwen Financial's loan servicing arm has inked a deal with mortgage giant Freddie Mac to service nonperforming single-family mortgages.

Last week's release of July's employment report showed a slight improvement in the declining labor market, with the smallest job loss since August 2008.

Denver-based National Default Servicing, LLC (NDS), an established provider of default- and servicing-related solutions for the real estate industry, announced Thursday the integration of its mortgage service operations under a new parent name, The National Groups.

Real property and title research firm RedVision announced Tuesday that it has hired Marianne DeAngelis as director of the company's Integrated Services Group.

In a clear sign that more distressed homeowners are seeking help to save their homes, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta has reported that its foreclosure prevention counseling sessions more than doubled in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Florida-based Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) announced Tuesday that it has acquired Verification Bureau, Inc., a developer of fraud prevention and Web-based verification solutions.