Clear Capital announced the availability of ClearQC, a hosted service to automate the review of BPO and appraisal reports. ClearQC allows loan originators, servicers, and investors to run their valuation reports from any provider through an automated process to highlight complete and well-supported valuations, while also flagging those needing further review.

For 2011, investment purchases increased significantly, according to data from the National Association of Realtors, and with more individual investors absorbing REO properties, the organization thinks it is time to limit bulk REO sales to large institutions. Investment-home sales increased 64.5 percent last year to 1.23 million, NAR reports. In a letter to federal regulators, NAR urged policymakers and lenders to focus on expanding the availability of financing for qualified homebuyers and investors to reduce the number of REOs on the market.

With numbers from a CoreLogic report revealing 22.8 percent of borrowers are underwater, principal reduction has been eyed as a key solution to keep borrowers in their homes. The Center for American Progress has released a report detailing solutions to the ""moral hazard"" issue. One is to make principal reduction a one-time program open to borrowers already delinquent; another is to open the program only to current borrowers who are at-risk of default; and the third is ""shared appreciation"" modifications.

Loan Value Group LLC (LVG) brought on two new directors of sales for its Responsible Homeowner Reward program. As senior sales executives, Kelly Johnson and Kim Schubert will be responsible for the development of strategic relationships with mortgage lenders, insurers, and servicers in the promotion of company’s homeowner reward program.

Still in developing stages, HelpMeRent.com is an online rental directory that specializes in connecting renters to rental property listings nationwide. The website is advocating for the conversion of foreclosed homes as rental properties and is helping to do so through its online services.

In 2011, consumers with at least one open bankcard, auto loan, and mortgage are more likely to try and stay current on their car payment then keep up with their monthly house payment or credit card bills, according to a TransUnion study. Consumers have also been more likely to pay for their credit cards before their mortgages for four consecutive years, according to the study. The TransUnion analysis looked at a sample of approximately 4 million consumers in each quarter of 2011 and found that 39.1 percent were delinquent on a mortgage while current on their auto loans and credit cards.

The number of completed foreclosures in February 2012 was down on a monthly basis and slightly on a year-over-year comparison, but overall, foreclosure inventory has decreased compared to a year ago, according to CoreLogic's National Foreclosure report for February. In February 2012, 65,000 completed foreclosures were reported, compared to 66,000 in February 2011, and 71,000 in January 2012. The number of completed foreclosures over 12 months ending in February was 862,000. From the start of the financial crisis in September 2008, CoreLogic estimates 3.4 million completed foreclosures.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage positioned itself back below 4 percent this week as economic indicators point to a weaker housing market and economy, according to Freddic Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Last week, the 30-year fixed-rate averaged 4.08 percent, above 4 percent for the first time since October 2011. This week ending March 29, the 30-year averaged 3.99 percent (0.7 point), barely below the 4 percent mark. The 30-year is still below last year's average at this time, when it was 4.86 percent.

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to issue new rules on force-placed insurance in the coming year, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) announced that less than 1 percent of its mortgages have needed force-placed insurance. About 0.6 percent of mortgages require force-placed insurance for more than 60 days at the credit union, according to a release.

Desirée Patno, president of the National Association of Women REO Brokers (NAWRB) was a recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. NAWRB also announced the appointment of Elizabeth Goodchild to the national trade group's board of directors.