Orlans Associates, PC, a Troy, Michigan-based provider of legal services and legal document processing to the mortgage and banking industries, recently appointed Christine M. Filipowicz as the company's new COO. Filipowicz, who has more than 25 years of corporate experience, will direct collaborative strategic efforts and key operational functions on an enterprise-wide basis for Orlans, Orlans Moran, Atlantic Law Group, and eTitle Agency, Inc.

Mesa Law Group, a California firm with specialty financial services, recently announced the addition of a REST Report to its Loan Modification Preparation Program (LMPP). The new tool will aid clients in the loan modification process without the high cost of direct representation. According to Mesa Law Group, LMPP allows homeowners to organize finances and better navigate the demands of their lenders.

First Preston Housing Solutions, LLC, a nationwide, full-service REO marketing, management, and real estate advisory services company, has named Michele John Kelaart its new company president. Kelaart brings to the company 20 years of experience investing and managing distressed residential mortgages and REO inventories with a large multinational investment firm.

Based on data from six member firms, Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA) reports that the companies accounted for a total of $780.3 billion in primary mortgage insurance in force in August. The private mortgage insurance industry enjoyed its best month of the year for new business. The dollar volume of primary insurance on newly originated conventional mortgages totaled $6.4 billion. MICA's members reported that 32,215 borrowers used private mortgage insurance to buy or refinance a home in August.

Resolute Commercial Services, a Scottsdale-based real estate receivership company, has expanded east with the launch of its new Dallas location. The company says the new office will allow it to connect with the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) marketplace in Texas. Resolute Commercial Services focuses on markets in the Southwest United States but has experience nationally, offering its services to lenders, bankruptcy attorneys, developers, investors, and operators.

Safeguard Properties, the largest privately held mortgage field services company in the country, recently promoted Michael Halpern to director of community initiatives. In this role, Halpern will manage Safeguard's newly created government relations department, which includes working with code enforcement departments, city councils, community organizations, and state entities to establish stronger partnerships on behalf of Safeguard's clients.

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services will begin providing customizable mortgage application and processing kits to lenders. The two kits, which are available in English and Spanish, are designed to educate borrowers on the mortgage process, helping them improve their financial literacy. The company says the kits can also assist lenders in expediting the application process to close more loans, ensuring disclosures are compliant and provided to borrowers as required, and making sure marketing activities are consistent across branches.

IndiSoft, a technology development firm that focuses on systems for the default services industry, recently appointed Vinayak Kulkami VP of the company. Kulkami is responsible for managing system and project development at IndiSoft. The technology veteran will also maintain and update internal systems to meet industry technology trends.

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (M&I), a financial services institution based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has extended its foreclosure moratorium through December 31, 2010. The initial moratorium, which applies to owner-occupied residential loans in all M&I markets for customers who agree to reach a successful repayment agreement, was announced December 18, 2008, as part of the company's Homeowner Assistance Program.

The Wayne County Treasurer in Michigan concluded its September online auction of tax-foreclosed properties by generating more than $4.1 million in tax revenue for the county, an increase of more than 600 percent from last year's live, on site auction. The treasurer tapped Bid4Assets.com to conduct its first online auction due to the record number of tax foreclosed properties available.