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In April, the number of completed foreclosures was 66,000, down 15 percent compared to the same month a year ago when there were 78,000 completed foreclosures. Month-over-month, the number of completed foreclosures remained unchanged. The number of homes in foreclosure inventory as of April 2012 shrank slightly from 1.5 million homes a year ago to 1.4 million. Among the five states with the highest number of completed foreclosures - California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Georgia - only Florida is a judicial state. These states alone account for 48.8 percent of all completed foreclosures nationally.

The stigma associated with foreclosure purchases has apparently faded with interest in foreclosures nearly tripling in the past two years, according to a survey released Wednesday by Realtor.com. The survey, conducted over 1,004 phone interviews at the beginning of May, suggested that homebuyer interest in foreclosures has jumped 159 percent since October 2009, when foreclosures made up 29 percent of all home sales. The vast majority of buyers said they would want to live in their foreclosure purchase, with 92.1 percent looking for a home to live in and only 6.9 percent looking for foreclosure investments.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) gave back its entire March increase in April, falling to 95.5 from 101.1 one month earlier, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday. The March index was revised downward from the originally reported 101.4 adding to the gloomy report. Economist had expected the index to increase 0.5 percent from March.Even with the decline though, the index is up 14.4 percent since April 2011, but is now at its lowest level since December, dampening expectations at the onset of the home-buying season.

In order to better reflect its offerings, Homeward Residential, Inc., a full-service mortgage banking organization, announced Tuesday the official launch of its new brand name and identity in support of its business diversification strategy. Formerly known as American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc.

The MAA, an advocacy branch of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), issued a call in support of the California MBA's efforts to stop legislation it said would cause serious damage to lenders, servicers, and California's economy. The bill in question would amend California's foreclosure laws to implement and permanently set servicing standards and other provisions of the settlement between the country's attorneys general and the five largest mortgage servicers. It is currently under review by the six-member Legislative Conference Committee on the California Foreclosure Crisis.

With foreclosure petitions in Massachusetts the highest in nearly two years, foreclosure activity for the Bay State remained at levels drastically higher than recorded in 2011, according to a report released Tuesday by The Warren Group, a Boston-based real estate data provider.

A foreclosure prevention agency found that the pending expiration of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 200 is prompting struggling homeowners to strategically default on their loan. YouWalkAway.com conducted a national survey and found 34 percent of respondents indicated that the act, which is set to expire December 31, 2012, contributed to their decision to walk away sooner rather than later from their property. The Mortgage Debt Relief Act releases homeowners from the obligation of paying taxes on mortgage debt forgiven from a short sale, foreclosure or modification.

Financial Literary Solutions, LLC (FLS) announced Tuesday the release of a new video solution for lenders hoping to attract borrowers who want to refinance under HARP 2.0.

Move, Inc., operator of online real estate Web site Real.com, and RealBizMedia, a media content provider for the real estate industry, announced a partnership to launch the Realtor.com TV Channel which will provide millions of home listings to approximately 55 million U.S homes. Launching the second half of 2012, the channel will begin airing on the Cox cable network as Video on Demand (VOD). By doing so, Realtor.com will reach potential homeowners on three platforms: computer, mobile, and television.

Following the release of the first quarter 2012 Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, economists from IHS Global Insight and Capital Economics offered their take on whether the data indicates the market is stabilizing or still searching for a bottom. Patrick Newport and Michelle Valverde, U.S. Economists for IHS Global Insight, said it depends on where you are since prices are driven by local forces such as foreclosure rates and job growth.