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January Home Sales Up Again

Existing-home sales rose in January for the third time in the last four months, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). January sales completed transactions were up 4.3 percent from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million. January sales – completed transactions – were up 4.3 percent from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million. December's total was revised downward to 4.38 million from 4.61 million. The January 2012 sales pace was up 0.7 percent from January 2011.

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Overdue Mortgages Number 6,082,000

New data from Lender Processing Services (LPS) shows that as of the end of January, there were 6,082,000 mortgages in the U.S. going unpaid. That tally includes loans that are 30 or more days delinquent and loans in foreclosure. The national delinquency rate as of January month-end was 7.97 percent. Delinquencies registered a decline, both for the month and the year. The industry's foreclosure inventory, however, rose to 4.15 percent, as newly initiated foreclosures spiked.

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Moderate Growth Projected for 2012

Moderate Growth Projected for the Year Overall, growth is expected to continue for the year, but at a modest rate, according to the Fannie Mae February 2012 Economic Outlook report. Economic growth is projected to be at 2.3 percent for 2012, an increase compared to 1.6 percent last year, according to the report. For the first time in seven years, the housing market is projected to contribute to gross domestic product (GDP, but by a very modest amount.

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Ohio Designates $75M for Demolition; Should It Go to Borrowers?

With more than 100,000 vacant properties in the state, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine designated part of Ohio’s $335 million from the national settlement with the nation’s largest servicers for property demolition. However, not everyone agrees with the decision. ""We would have much rather spent that money helping families and creating homes rather than knocking houses down that we believe are owned by some very well-resourced banks,"" said Chris Warren, Cleveland's chief of regional development, according to the Huffington Post.

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Treasury Hosts Servicer Workshops for Florida Agents and Homeowners

Treasury is heading to the coastal cities of Miami and Tampa, Florida, this week in order to offer assistance to homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments. Treasury will host a ""Help for Homeowners"" outreach event in each of the hard-hit Florida cities where homeowners can meet one-on-one with their servicers. Before the homeowners arrive, though, Treasury has blocked off time for real estate professionals to meet with the servicers on behalf of their clients and to participate in short sale workshops led by the servicers themselves.

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Treasury Increases Incentives for Principal Reductions

A recently released Supplemental Directive from Treasury increases incentives for second lien investors when loans receive principal reductions. The increased incentives apply to permanent HAMP modifications with principal reductions through the government's Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA) that have trial period plans starting March 1 or later. Increased incentives are also available when second liens are completely or partially eliminated through the Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) on loans modified starting June 1.

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Proposed Bill to Speed Up Short Sale Process and Prevent Foreclosure

To avoid losing homes to foreclosure due to long response times for short sale transactions, three senators introduced legislation to speed up the short sale process. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) proposed the bill addressing the issue of short sales time lines on February 17. The legislation, also known as the Prompt Notification of Short Sales Act, will require a written response from a bank no later than 75 days after receipt of the written request from the buyer.

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Connecticut Receives $190M in National Settlement

Connecticut is set to receive more than $190 million from the multi-state settlement with the nation’s largest mortgage servicers. ""There are many reasons why I believe this settlement is good for Connecticut, but the most important reason is this: it provides immediate help to thousands of Connecticut homeowners at a time when they can still use that help to save their homes,"" said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, who served on the negotiating committee that established the settlement with the banks.

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Realtor.com Lists Top 10 Turnaround Towns

Realtor.com released its list of the top ten turnaround towns for the 2011 fourth quarter. While the ten towns listed - eight of which are in Florida - suffered from high foreclosure rates, they are now rebounding. Miami, Florida, at number one, had sales of existing single-family homes shoot up 51 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. The turnaround list was developed based on year-over-year price appreciation, reductions in year-over-year median age of inventory, and declines in inventory levels.

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San Francisco’s Foreclosure Audit Turns Up Irregularities, Illegal Activity

An audit of San Francisco foreclosures conducted by county officials revealed documentation errors were evident in nearly all of the cases examined. Auditors reviewed 382 case files that resulted in a foreclosure sale between January 2009 and October 2011. They identified one or more irregularities in 99 percent of the loans and one or more violations of state law in 84 percent. San Francisco's Office of the Assessor‐Recorder says it hopes to open a dialogue on the importance of compliance with state laws so that corrective action can be taken.

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