Auction.com and loan sale advisor Archetype Advisors will auction $1 billion of Nevada commercial REO properties and non-performing notes May 17-19 in Las Vegas. It is the largest commercial real estate (CRE) and note auction of its kind in U.S. history, according to a statement from Auction.com says the unprecedented volume of distressed real estate to be featured represents the bottom of the market for Nevada, and in particular, Las Vegas.

Robert J. Hopp & Associates, LLC, a national provider of legal, default, disposition, and title services, welcomed Marty G. Baker, Esq., to its Arizona and Nevada legal team as senior associate attorney. With 16 years' experience, Baker brings with him knowledge of real estate, mortgage banking law, commercial litigation, creditors' rights, lender liability, collections bankruptcy, and construction law.

In a move to increase vendor communication and provide higher quality services to customers, Field Asset Services, whose business is tailored to the REO industry, has announced several organizational changes. The company says the restructuring will allow FAS to bring greater efficiencies and savings to its clients, while increasing scalability, reducing turn-times, and solidifying long-term relationships with its vendor network.

CoreLogic recently released Vector Securities, a platform to enable transparent and dynamic loan-level analysis of non-agency residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS). The company says the transparency at both the deal- and loan-level provided by the new technology is key to enabling a new era of confident securitizations and reestablishing the RMBS market as private liquidity returns.

North Dakota is the 27th state to restrict home resale fees, also known as ""private transfer fees."" Governor Jack Dalrymple recently signed bill SB 2149 to ban them. Private transfer fees require that a private third party receive a percentage of the final sale price of a home every time the property is sold, typically for 99 years.

iPad is the latest mobile device with access to a Realtor.com app, according to details released Tuesday by Move, Inc., operator of the official site of the National Association of Realtors. Compatible with iPad iOS 4.0 or higher, the free app provides property listings with maps and GPS directions, among other features. Realtor.com mobile apps have been downloaded 3.6 million times with active users increasing by 79 percent in four months.

Denver-based RE/MAX, LLC recently promoted company executive Mike Ryan to EVP of global communications and branding. Ryan will lead the company's expansion into distressed property projects, oversee government relations efforts, and continue to supervise brand marketing, RE/MAX University, event management, and corporate communications.

The Loan Post, Inc. has introduced a new do-it-yourself private label short sales system. ShortSales360 produces e-signature-ready documents for the federal Home Affordable Foreclosures Alternatives (HAFA) short sale initiative. It also calculates probable lender losses if a foreclosure is executed and the net investor benefit in a short sale transaction, so lenders and investors can determine if a short sale makes financial sense.

In a joint announcement from JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jonathon Rowles, the financial services firm revealed it will provide $27 million in benefits to its military customers. The funds are part of a settlement to a class action lawsuit over financial protections due to military customers under the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA). JP Morgan admitted to violating the SCRA after the company wrongfully foreclosed on military families and overcharged thousands.

Vendor Resource Management (VRM), a nationwide REO asset disposition firm headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, recently announced several staff promotions and appointments for senior executive positions. Altogether, the company has filled seven roles across various departments, including strategic development, human resources, federal practices, operations, training, and accounting.