Tampa, Florida-based ProVest has partnered with Database Services Inc. company behind the Process Server’s Toolbox—to better deal with rapidly increasing foreclosure volumes through faster technology and technology interfacing.

The New York-based law firm of Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossmann, LLP, announced Monday that it has formed a practice group to protect investors and consumer clients hurt by the subprime fallout.

Chicago-based Excel Investigations), a company that services mortgage companies and banking professionals, is expanding with the opening of a new office in Tampa, Florida. The firm, which provides loss mitigation services like service of process and skip tracing, opened the office to streamline its positioning in a key market like southern Florida.

McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac said Monday that it has changed its standards for purchasing delinquent mortgages that are registered as being delinquent by at least 120 days. According to the government-sponsored enterprise, mortgages that are 120 days past due will only be purchased when the loans have been modified, a foreclosure sale has been completed, the mortgages are delinquent for 24 months, or the cost of guarantee payments to security holders, including advances of interest at the security coupon rate, exceed the expense of holding on to non-performing loans in its portfolio.

A new report says a confluence of factors may contribute to a slew of subprime litigation cases popping up in certain states, while other states facing foreclosure troubles will remain litigation-wary and less likely to experience a surge in error and omissions (E&O) lawsuits related to the subprime lending debacle.

Culver City, California-based ValuFinders Inc., a valuation services provider, has expanded its national database of registered appraisers—which is appropriately titled Appraisal CONCIERGE—to include 9,000 registered appraisal professionals.

Seattle, Washington-based Washington Mutual, Inc.) said Monday that challenging conditions in the home lending market have prompted the company to adjust the size of its home lending platform and eliminate approximately 3,150 jobs.

Never underestimate the perseverance of a buyer who has his or her heart set on a particular property. REO agent Sally Riley with Platinum Realty in Kansas City, Kansas, had to learn the hard way that other agents are not so cautious when it comes to giving potential buyers access to properties in foreclosure.

A day after U.S. President George W. Bush announced his administration’s subprime rescue plan, industry insiders like Gregg Marcus, Managing Director of Long Island-based Somerset Mortgage Bankers, have begun to criticize the plan for either getting too involved or not involved enough in the subprime crisis.

Houston, Texas-based Oxfund Funding Corp., a company that focuses on purchasing performing and underperforming mortgage portfolios, announced Friday that it’s already helping certain borrowers by freezing interest rates and revamping the terms on troubled loans.