ProVest, a legal support services firm specializing in foreclosure services, hired Steve Campbell as chief information officer (CIO).

A recent industry survey found rising home prices are impacting investor activity in a few ways--most notably encouraging them to hold properties longer and to decrease their purchase activity. The survey, conducted by ORC International, revealed more than half of investors plan to keep their investment properties for five years or more. Investors in these categories ""realize the benefits of rising rents and low vacancy rates,"" according to Chris Clothier, a partner at MemphisInvest.com and Premier Property Management Group.

RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation announced the adoption of a Fannie Mae tool designed to help servicers work faster when assisting borrowers with foreclosure prevent efforts.

When it comes to homeownership, the three largest ethnic groups in the nation share similar visions and attitudes, according to a survey from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. The survey included three groups--Caucasians, African-Americans, and Hispanics--with 400 respondents represented for each group. When asked about location, the majority of respondents from each group showed a preference for suburbs, with 59 percent of African Americans in this category, 55 percent of Caucasians, and 50 percent of Hispanic Americans.

The nation's economy grew at a ""modest to moderate pace"" from early April through the end of May, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its periodic Beige Book. From late February through early April, the last Beige Book released described economic growth simply as ""moderate."" The sole bright spot in Wednesday's report was in the Dallas Federal Reserve District, which had ""strong economic growth."" The Beige Book reported slowdowns as a result of federal budget sequestration, which forced a mandatory cutback in spending.

In an effort to speed up the short sale process, Fannie Mae is increasing early communication with real estate agents by asking listing agents to register accepted short sale offers with the GSE. By registering offers, Fannie Mae says there will be greater transparency in the process and it will also allow the GSE to be more proactive when working with servicers to complete short sales. Through Fannie Mae's site Homepathforshortsales.com agents can register their short sale offers.

[ca_audio url_mp3='http://blogtalk.vo.llnwd.net/o23/show/4/942/show_4942139.mp3' css_class='codeart-google-mp3-player' autoplay='false' download='false' html5='false']Join us for the inaugural broadcast of Five Star Radio's Mortgage Markets Today. Ed Delgado, President & CEO of The Five Star Institute discusses the genesis behind Five Star Radio as well as delves into ...

Valuation Vision, LLC (V2) announced the appointment of Diane Swanson as SVP of national sales.

Guardian Mortgage Company, an independent mortgage lender with offices in Texas and Michigan, is seeking help to raise relief funds for Oklahomans affected by the Moore tornado on May 19. Guardian employees have already taken the initiative to help and are now reaching out to their mortgage customers, associations, and lending partners to raise additional funds to help those impacted by the devastating tornado.