Foreclosure.com, based on Boca Raton, Florida, announced that it has doubled the size of its agent services department in response to high volume and demand for programs that help connect buyers and sellers in the distressed real estate marketplace.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Mortgage Delinquency Survey for 2008 on Thursday, which showed that Americans fell behind on their mortgages and banks seized homes at a record pace in the fourth quarter of last year.

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) on Thursday, showing increases in mortgage interest rates for all types of loan products covered in the study. Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s VP and chief economist, attributed the rise in mortgage rates to higher bond yields this week, amid reports of continuing record jobless claims and a downward revision of economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2008.

According to a report issued Wednesday by two nonprofit organizations, the financial sector invested more than $5 billion in political influence over the past decade, with as many as 3,000 lobbyists winning deregulation and other policy decisions that led directly to the current financial collapse.

Despite still-low interest rates and recently announced tax incentives for home buyers, mortgage applications for all types of loan products decreased for the week ending February 27, 2009, according to a report released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Amidst the announcement of President Barack Obama’s housing plan, and with mortgage rates reaching historic lows, Seattle-based real estate web site Zillow.com reports record-breaking traffic and loan request activity within its free marketplace for custom mortgage quotes.

As part of the administration’s Financial Stability Plan, on Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board announced the launch of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF).

In an effort to help reduce the surplus of vacant homes sitting on the market, Hudson & Marshall has developed the Alliance Network Program to attract more buyers and tenants in search of affordable housing to its auctions.

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services announced today that it has named Fran Sullivan to the newly-created position of chief information officer (CIO) within the company. Sullivan will be responsible for the overall leadership of processes and practices supporting the flow of technology information across Wolters Kluwer Financial Services’ different business lines.

The Treasury Department released guidelines on Wednesday that will enable servicers to begin modifications of eligible mortgages under the administration’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan – announced by President Barack Obama just two weeks ago.