A Cook County, Illinois sheriff is refusing to evict what he calls innocent renters from foreclosed homes in his jurisdiction, which includes the city of Chicago. Last week, Cook Country Sheriff Thomas J.

Stick People Books has released The Skinny on the Housing Crisis – What Every Homeowner and Homebuyer Needs to Know!!!:http://www.jimrandel.com (September 2008), offering readers an insider’s look into the story that has led to the fall of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.

HomeVestors of America Inc., the company famous for its We Buy Ugly Houses billboards, released a list of the top 10 markets for real estate investing in the third quarter of 2008:   1. Dallas, Texas   2.

Citigroup has walked away from its fight with Wells Fargo to purchase Wachovia. Citi announced last night that it had ended talks to acquire parts of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank, opening up the way for Wells Fargo to proceed with its recently announced plans to buy the struggling Wachovia in an all-company, all-stock $15.

Rochester Hills, Michigan-based Potestivo & Associates P.C., a legal services provider to the default servicing industry, has hired a new associate attorney, Danielle D. Jackson. Jackson joins the firm’s litigation department.

The U.S. Treasury is considering taking an ownership stake in financial institutions as the next step to stabilize the country’s economy and resolve its crippling credit crunch. Secretary Henry Paulson hinted at the idea when he spoke to reporters in Washington yesterday, saying that the recently signed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) gives him broad authority that he intends to use.

On Monday, the Treasury Department called for proposals from private sector asset management firms and financial institutions to help implement the government’s $700 billion financial sector rescue package.

A Reno lawyer, Bob Hager, said he plans to challenge a multi-state settlement put forth by Bank of America earlier this week to settle allegations that Countrywide used abusive and deceptive mortgage lending practices during the recent subprime boom.

Wachovia, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo have extended their agreement to suspend all litigation activities until 8 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, October 10. The decision was made in consult with the Federal Reserve to give the companies more time to resolve their dispute over who will acquire the troubled Charlotte, North Carolina-based Wachovia.

Citigroup Inc. announced yesterday that it is cutting back its wholesale mortgage business. The institution said it will reduce the number of independent mortgage brokers it works with by 90 percent. Citi also plans to eliminate 500 mortgage sales and support jobs, representing about five percent of the company’s mortgage-related staff in the United States.