Urban Lending Solutions (ULS) announced two recognitions in June for its work in the mortgage industry.

Two products from Interthinx earned a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certification recommendation from SecureInfo.

Despite Walmart's ubiquity and popularity, the retailer faces local opposition when attempting to build a new store because opponents argue that the store, known for low prices, also lowers home prices in the area. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) explored the question of Walmart's impact on home prices and found that the opposite appears to be true. For the study, which was authored by Devin G. Pope and Jaren C. Pope, NBER assessed over one million housing transactions located near 159 Walmarts that opened between 2000 and 2006 to test the assumption that opening a Walmart lowers home prices.

For the first quarter of 2012, the Census Bureau reported the homeownership rate dropped to 65.4 percent, which was a yearly (66.4 percent) and quarterly drop (66.0 percent). Even more significant was the fact that rate had never seen such a low since the first quarter of 1997 when the rate was also 65.4 percent. In a report, Paul Diggle of Capital Economics wrote, ""it's plausible that tight credit, subdued confidence and many more foreclosures will drive the homeownership rate down to 64%.""

The AmeriCatalyst Idea Lab, an Austin-based nonprofit, was named executive secretariat for Single Family Rental Strategies (SFRS), according to a release.

Home prices are increasing, but one of the main drivers behind the boost in home values is also weighing on supply and demand. According to a report from CoreLogic, negative equity is helping to drive up home prices because it also keeps homeowners from listing their property, which keeps inventory low. Of the largest 100 markets, the five markets where prices are accelerating the fastest also have the highest share of negative equity and high demand for distressed properties.

With the help of record-low mortgage rates, HARP refinances surged in May, accounting for 20 percent of all loans refinanced by the GSEs, FHFA announced Monday. The one in five ratio of loans refinanced through HARP is the largest increase since the program's 2009 inception. The number of underwater borrowers who found relief through HARP also saw a significant increase. Year-to-date through May, 78,273 refinances were completed for underwater borrowers compared to 59,991 refinances for the entire year of 2011.

ServiceLink announced the acquisition of DRI Management Systems(DRI) Tuesday. Alongside the acquisition, ServiceLink also announced the launch of ServiceLink Fusion(SM), the company's new servicing workflow platform.

Improvements in mortgage banking and credit quality helped Wells Fargo see income gains for the second quarter of 2012. On Friday, Wells Fargo reported a net income of $4.6 billion, or $0.82 per share. The reported earnings for the most recent quarter was an 18 percent increase from the same quarter a year ago, when net income was $3.9 billion, or $0.70 per share.

In a commentary, Fitch stated the proposed uses of eminent domain in California could negatively affect private label RMBS performance. Recently, the board of supervisors of San Bernardino County voted to form a joint powers authority with California cities Fontana and Ontario to look into the option of using eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages. Fitch said one proposal, which is of particular concern, indicates that only current and delinquent mortgages, not those in foreclosure, would be eligible. Thus, borrowers who would have stayed current on their payments could have their mortgage seized by the local, state, or county government. If eminent domain was to be used in such a way, then holders of the seized homes could experience losses, Fitch said.