Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) offered an early look into delinquency and foreclosure trends for November. The data provider found the delinquency rate increased slightly to 7.12 percent from 7.03 percent in October, representing a 1.2 percent increase. Compared to November 2011, the delinquency rate has fallen by 9.06 percent. The foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate decreased to 3.51 percent, with inventory falling monthly and yearly by 2.84 percent and 16.42 percent, respectively.

Year-to-date, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have refinanced nearly 800,000 loans through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), the Federal Housing Finance Agency reported Thursday. Since HARP's 2009 inception, the program has refinanced 1.8 million loans, with 790,619 of those loans refinanced in 2012 as of October. In October alone, more than 81,613 homeowners were refinanced through the program. Underwater loans continued to find relief through the program, with a little less than half of the loans refinanced in October in negative equity.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris issued a statement Thursday that served as a reminder that the California Homeowner Bill of Rights will soon take effect. The official start date for the landmark bill is January 1, 2013.

As Zillow continues to grow its rental offerings, the company announced it's providing a free service to help rental professionals grow their business. The company added Property Management Websites to Zillow Rentals.

The winter season has not stopped home prices from posting both monthly and yearly gains, according to recent reports, and the Federal Finance Housing Agency's (FHFA) October home price report was no different. According to the agency's Home Price Index (HPI), home prices in October rose 0.5 percent from September and 5.6 percent from October 2011. The index current sits 15.7 percent below the April 2007 peak.

JPMorgan Chase promoted Kevin Watters as CEO of mortgage banking. Watters has been with Chase and its predecessor firms for 13 years. Before becoming CEO of mortgage banking, Watters led mortgage originations and customer experience across mortgage banking, a position he held since 2010.

The largest counties in the country displayed strong home price growth in November, but sales were weak, according DataQuick's most recent Property Intelligence Report (PIR). The company's PIR tracks valuation, REO inventory, and sales trends in the 42 largest counties on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis. Among the findings, DataQuick reported prices grew in 41 of the 42 counties month-over-month in November, and all 42 counties showed quarterly and yearly home price growth. Sales were dismal for the most part, with sales increasing in only 13 of the 42 reported counties month-over-month.

Home values still rose into November, marking more than a year of monthly price gains, while national rents fell flat, according to data from Zillow. On a monthly basis, home values inched up by 0.6 percent from October, with the Zillow Home Value Index at $156,200 for November. For 13 straight months now, prices have displayed monthly gains. As home values rose, national rents averaged a slight 0.1 percent month-over-month drop, falling to a value of $1,278 in November, according to the Zillow Rent Index. Over a one-year period, rents still increased by 4.5 percent.

Short sales continued to increase in October, while foreclosure starts fell, according to data from HOPE NOW. Completed short sales reached 38,518 in October, representing a 13 percent increase from September. Meanwhile, HOPE NOW also reported nearly 6 million struggling homeowners have received a permanent modification since 2007. Among the modifications, 4.8 million were proprietary loan modifications, while 1.1 million mods were through the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

Mortgage Contracting Services LLC (MCS) appointed an industry veteran and former NFL player as VP of business development. Bobby Leopold was named for the position and will focus on creating new business and playing an active role in the company's overall growth and development.