The mortgage default law firm of Potestivo & Associates P.C., based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, announced last week that the firm exceeded its fund-raising goal for the American Cancer Society’s signature event, Relay for Life.

Government officials joined forces with local leaders in Miami on Friday to kick off a nationwide campaign to promote the federal Making Home Affordable program and the options available to struggling homeowners.

Five more regional banks – two in California, two in Georgia, and one in Minnesota – were closed by regulators on Friday. These latest failures bring the total number of shuttered financial institutions in 2009 to 45.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Lender Processing Services (LPS) says foreclosure starts have increased to their second highest level since the company began keeping records in 1992. LPS released its June Mortgage Monitor Report last week, which provides mortgage industry performance indicators based on data collected as of May 31.

Realtors are becoming increasingly vocal about the implementation of the new Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) sent a letter , on behalf of its 1.

A new Indiana law, set to take effect July 1, requires mortgage lenders and servicers to provide homeowners facing foreclosure in the state with a pre-suit notice at least 30 days before a foreclosure action is filed.

After months of plummeting, mortgage and home equity marketing via direct mail campaigns is finally leveling off, and according to the Chicago-based direct marketing firm Mintel Comperemedia, this detail points to a turnaround in the housing industry.

Allonhill, a Denver-based national mortgage due diligence and credit risk management firm, has announced the promotion of Diana Mead to COO. In this newly created role, Mead oversees credit risk management, due diligence, servicer oversight, and the company’s technology department.

Citing signs that the U.S. economy is beginning to show improvement but remains strained, the Federal Reserve Board decided this week to leave its benchmark federal funds rate at a target range of 0 to 0.

Walnut Creek, California-based PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. announced on Thursday that it has expanded the company’s Refinance-to-Modification (RTM) program. The program can now be used with all PMI-insured loans, not just those loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that are eligible for the federal government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).