The government-insured share of mortgage applications more than tripled in the past year, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), released today. Of all mortgage applications accepted during the month of July, 29.

RedVision, a provider of property research solutions, announced last week that it has bolstered it customer service center and its national expansion efforts with the addition of two key players. Margaret Colloton has been named VP of the company’s customer service operations and Justin Rhoades has been hired as head of its Arizona state team.

David Trott, managing partner of Trott & Trott, P.C., announced this week that Jeffrey Raff has been named partner at the Farmington Hills, Michigan-based firm. Raff serves as supervising attorney of the firm’s litigation group.

The HOPE NOW Alliance and NeighborWorks America, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, brought their national foreclosure prevention campaign to the Boston area this week.

Wilson & Associates, PLLC yesterday announced the promotion of J. Skipper Ray as supervising attorney for the firm’s closing commitment and curative, title policy, and eviction departments. Ray is an associate partner within the firm, focusing on the practice of foreclosure and eviction law.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Wall Street lobbyist and successor to the Bond Market Association, has announced relaxed restrictions that will permit larger loans financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be accepted into the main mortgage bond market.

According to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties, national foreclosure activity for the month of July was up eight percent from the previous month and 55 percent compared to a year ago.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has begun an informal investigation into National City Corporation relating to the sale of its former subprime mortgage unit, the bank said in its quarterly financial report filed with the agency.

Second quarter existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors, released today. NAR said the increase is largely due to buyers’ strong response to discounted home prices.

Freddie Mac released the results of its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) today, in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.52 percent, a figure that has remained unchanged for three weeks now.