Green River Capital (GRC), an REO asset management and loss mitigation provider for mortgage servicers, investment firms, and banking institutions, has named Joseph D'Urso company president. D'Urso brings more than 20 years of financial industry experience to the company. He is the former CEO of GC Mortgage Advisors LLC, was also head of the residential loan businesses at Merrill Lynch, and spent a decade with Goldman Sachs in various roles.

According to the Texas Quarterly Housing Report released earlier this month, real estate sales in the Lone Star State decreased 20 percent in the third quarter of 2010 compared to a year earlier, but were essentially flat year-to-date. The Texas Association of Realtors attributes the statistics to an early peak in the market due to the federal homebuyer tax credits. The median home price in Texas remained virtually unchanged at $152,000.

Embrace Home Loans, a direct lender for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has met the licensing requirements of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing (SAFE) Act. The company said it has been preparing for the SAFE Act for more than a year and consequently has invested thousands of man-hours and millions of dollars in resources to ensure all of its loan officers are ready to meet the requirements of the SAFE Act for originating loans in multiple states.

Jones Lang LaSalle recently hired Jon Goldstein as SVP of the firm's real estate investment banking practice in Washington, D.C. The company says a marked increase in the level of liquidity and record low interest rates has resulted in a surge of financing activity in the D.C. market. Goldstein brings more than 17 years' experience in the financial services industry to the firm, and will be responsible for debt and equity placement for all commercial property types.

The board of directors of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) has elected John G. Taft, CEO of RBC Wealth Management, as the association's 2011 chairman. The organization also elected 17 new board members, including representatives from such financial market bastions as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse Securities, and PIMCO.

Counseling and foreclosure prevention services are now available for free to struggling homeowners with Fannie Mae loans in Phoenix. Fannie Mae's fifth facility in a series of nationwide help centers, the Phoenix Mortgage Help Center allows borrowers to meet with on-site English- and Spanish-speaking staff and experienced housing counselors to discuss their mortgage situations.

Green River Capital, a West Valley City, Utah-based REO asset management and loss mitigation provider, was ranked the third fastest growing company in Utah by MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN), the state's largest business networking organization. MWCN annually identifies the state's fastest growing companies in its Utah 100, determined by the percentage of revenue increase from 2005 to 2009.

Fannie Mae announced the opening of a new mortgage help center in Culver City, California, this week to provide counseling and other services for struggling homeowners in the greater metro area with loans owned by the GSE. The fourth facility in a series of nationwide mortgage help centers, the Greater Los Angeles Mortgage Help Center is a joint partnership between Fannie Mae and West Angeles Community Development Corporation, major mortgage servicers, and civic and community leaders.

Total Mortgage Services, LLC, a national mortgage lender and broker headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, recently received its state of New York Mortgage Banker License from the State of New York Banking Department, making the company a licensed mortgage lender in New York State. Total Mortgage currently conducts business in 21 states, but the lender plans to originate loans in 45 states by the end of 2011.

Keystone Asset Management recently promoted its director of operations, Thomas Driver, to SVP of operations. Driver has more than 14 years of industry experience, including tenures with such companies as Citigroup, GMAC, and the Associates. The company has also named Ryan Hennessy as its new business integration manager. Hennessy will lead business development and new initiatives while maintaining his previous obligations in vendor management.