In Dallas, Wingspan Portfolio Advisors brought on experienced mortgage vet Meredith McCrory as VP of strategic alliances.

According to J.D. Power, overall satisfaction with servicers has increased to 733 (on a 1,000 point scale) from last year's value of 725. The market research firm attributes the increase to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's release of origination and servicing guidelines, most of which are scheduled to go into effect January 2014. Under the rules, servicers are required to have systems, policies, and procedures in place to ensure customers receive appropriate information and support.

The First Title Radio Show debuted on May 31 and has aired seven episodes so far. In that time, host Doug Dennison--a radio, real estate, and government auction expert--has interviewed more than 15 real estate professionals, including representatives from Sperry Van Ness, Florida Keys Real Estate, Rowell Auctions, Inc., and the Five Star Institute.

According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average 30-year fixed rate was 4.37 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending July 18, down from 4.51 percent last week. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.53 percent. ""Fixed mortgage rates fell as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Bernanke helped ease market concerns about the Fed reducing its bond purchases,"" said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft, referencing remarks Bernanke made earlier in the month.

According to its quarterly earnings report, BofA pulled in approximately $4.0 billion in Q2, an increase of 63 percent over the $2.5 billion recorded for Q2 2012. Last quarter's results ""were driven by year-over-year improvements in net interest income, investment and brokerage income, investment banking fees, sales and trading revenue, equity investment income and credit quality as well as expense reductions,"" the bank said.

Market participants reacting to speculation that the Federal Reserve may taper its bond purchases later this year should refrain from acting too hastily, Freddie Mac says in its U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for July. According to Freddie Mac's metrics, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has jumped a full percentage point since mid-May as ""taper talk"" rules the day. Rates are expected to gradually move higher, closing out 2013 in the range of 4.6 to 4.7 percent.

The new home market in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex continued to see rapid growth in the second quarter, according to a report from Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company.

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). According to the Senate website, Cordray was confirmed in a 66-34 vote. News of the confirmation came hours after an announcement of a 71-29 vote for cloture, effectively putting to an end the debate surrounding Cordray's nomination.

In New York, Accenture announced its acquisition of Mortgage Cadence, a leading provider of loan origination software and e-document management services.

Dykema, a leading law firm with more than a dozen offices across the United States, named Haydn J. Richards as director of its Financial Industry Group. [IMAGE] I am excited to lead the dynamic team of lawyers behind our nationally recognized Financial Industry Group, Richards said.