Single-family home sales in the United States declined 34.4-percent in the month of November when compared to the same period last year, according to a new joint-report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.

With undetected risk in mortgage backed-securities (MBS) remaining a concern nationwide, a company has stepped forward claiming it has the technology to accurately assess these hidden dangers. The company—New York-based Daylight Forensic & Advisory LLC firm specializing in fraud risk management, officially introduced its new proprietary software this week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has released a report saying the number of new mortgage loan and refinancing applications filed in the United States fell during the week ending December 21, 2007. According to the latest MBA Weekly Mortgage Application Survey—which measures the mortgage loan application volume nationwide—the Market Composite Index fell 7.

Waterbury, Connecticut-based Webster Bank, which is a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corp., announced this week that it’s helping the New England state move at-risk borrowers into more stable, fixed-rate mortgages.

NeighborWorks® America national association dedicated to the promotion of homeownership and the creation of affordable housing nationwide—said Thursday that it now has $180 million in appropriated funds for the purpose of preventing foreclosures nationwide.

Standard & Poor’s shared less-than-optimistic news with homeowners this week when the latest S&P/Case-Shiller® Home Price Indices report showed home prices dropping significantly in the company’s latest October report.

Lender Ameriquest Mortgage Co. has paid out $18 million in restitution to New York borrowers in an effort to settle with the New York Attorney General’s Office over allegations that the lender engaged borrowers using unethical lending practices.

Banking platforms-Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Merrill Lynch & Co.- are potentially facing billions of dollars in additional write downs in securities because of troubles associated with the subprime mortgage market, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

Working in the REO-side of the real estate business has its not-so-grand moments. But, luckily, good fortune has a way of making some of the most helpless cases turn into fond memories for agents and homeowners alike.

Five banks are working alongside the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to help subprime borrowers in New England—who have solid mortgage payment histories—but still remain at-risk of losing their homes because of the rising rates on adjustable-rate mortgages.