According to recent analysis released by Subsidyscope , an initiative of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit advocacy group The Pew Charitable Trusts , federal subsidies to the government-controlled housing financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could reach $290 billion in fiscal year 2009.

West Palm Beach, Florida-based OpenClose www.openclose.com recently announced that it has partnered with CCMC Inc. in Altamonte Springs, Florida, to bridge the gap between mortgage lenders’ origination and servicing software.

Timothy M. Morrison, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced late last month that seven Indiana residents have been charged with multiple crimes – including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering – related to an alleged $20 million mortgage fraud scheme.

The number of foreclosure deeds recorded in Massachusetts in March were 18 percent below last year’s level, according to a new report from the Boston-based real estate research firm The Warren Group .

More than 4,000 foreclosures were prevented in Minnesota last year as a result of the state’s nonprofit foreclosure counseling network, according to a study released by the Minnesota Home Ownership Center.

Just as the Great Depression contributed to large-scale migrations from certain parts of the United States, the current recession could be having a similar, historic effect, a new survey from Relocation.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Fidelity National Information Services , a provider of processing and technology solutions for financial institutions worldwide, recently announced that its advanced commercial banking system (ACBS) division has launched its fully functional Distressed Loan Trade Management and Settlement Platform on the ACBS ClearPar syndicated loan operations platform.

The Department of Justice http://www.usdoj.gov recently announced that it has reached a proposed settlement with South Caronlina’s Consolidated Multiple Listing Service Inc. that requires CMLS to change its rules to allow low-priced and innovative brokers to compete with traditional brokers in the Columbia, South Carolina area.

Oklahoma City-based First Mortgage Company recently announced a new program that pays homeowners’ monthly loan payments if the homeowner becomes unemployed within the first two years of the mortgage.

Walnut Creek, California-based National Loan Auditors www.nlaudit.com recently announced strategic alliances with two companies — Rapid Reporting and PLATINUMdata Solutions, Inc. NLA explained that the partnerships will allow it to add key information technology components to its US Court Audit solution, which provides forensic analysis of mortgage loans in the bankruptcy process.