According to SIGTARP, Zherka secured the loans for the purchase and refinance of apartment complexes across the country, lying all the while about the purchase prices of the real estate, the amount of the down payments he was making, and his assets, income, and tax returns. He also misrepresented the circumstances of a court judgment made against him in 2000 for assault and breach of contract, the special inspector general's office said.

Despite the currently slower environment, RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly is keeping a positive view on recent figures, noting that August sales were still more than 10 percent higher than in 2012 and 17.8 percent higher than in 2008, when the company began reporting on monthly activity.

More than two years after the central bank kick off its latest economic stimulus program, policymakers at the Federal Reserve once again voted this week to scale down monthly asset purchases—and hinted that the end is in sight.

That gain in younger household formations is expected to translate to $1.6 trillion spent on home purchases and $600 billion spent on rent in the next few years—more on a per-person basis than any other generation.

The national credit default rate, which includes bank cards, auto loans, and both first and second mortgages, edged up to 1.03 percent in August from July's historical low of 1.01 percent, according to data compiled by S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian. The monthly increase was fueled by a rise in first mortgage default rates, which were up to 0.91 percent from 0.88 percent the month prior, ending a nine-month declining streak.

The total number of homeowners receiving permanent loan modifications declined in July, as did the number of modifications made under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), according to figures released this week by HOPE NOW. Meanwhile, foreclosure starts rose a little more than 1,000 from June to settle at 70,401.

U.S. Bank has reached a settlement with a housing regulator over allegations the bank discriminated against a Native American couple in denying them a refinance. In a complaint filed with HUD, the couple alleged U.S. Bank and its appraiser, Red Sky Risk Services, turned down their refinance application last year, informing them that the bank couldn't make the loan because their property was located on a reservation and could not be appraised.

Valuations and asset management solutions provider LRES has added Emeka Madu to its team as manager of compliance, according to a company announcement.

Even as the aftermath of the housing crisis continues to show in the market, a new survey shows the vast majority of Americans still regard homeownership as a "highly desirable goal." In findings released Tuesday, COUNTRY Financial revealed 89 percent of Americans in its most recent Security Index survey feel that buying a home is a key part of achieving the American Dream despite their recent memories of the crash.

While nearly seven in 10 Americans agree that now is a good time to become a homeowner, a large number remain reluctant due to their own misconceptions of the financing process, according to survey results. For example, Wells Fargo reported, 30 percent of respondents expressed belief that only people with high incomes can obtain a mortgage at this point, and 64 percent said they believe only those with a "very good"” credit score can buy a home right now.