Mortgage Contracting Services, a provider of property preservation and inspection services to the mortgage industry, yesterday announced that it has named Lorne DeFour director of quality assurance compliance.

RedVision, a national real estate property research organization, yesterday announced the completion of its acquisition of Colorado Record Data and its sister company CRS Title Services. We believe our combined technologies and national service infrastructure will offer all our customers even greater advantages in efficiencies and products, as well as, wider coverage for our national clients, said Brian Twibell, RedVision’s CEO.

RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties nationwide, and First Team Real Estate, the No. 1 independent real estate brokerage in Southern California, announced today a strategic alliance that will allow consumers using the First Team Web site to search for foreclosure properties.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced today an emergency order that will halt naked short selling of the securities of Fannie Mae);/*1216238454051*/, Freddie Mac);/*1216238482054*/, and 17 other companies);/*1216238420774*/.

Just Price SolutionsTM, the nonprofit technology subsidiary of Neighborhood Housing Services of America, today announced a new process to determine workable loss mitigation solutions for borrowers, loan servicers and lenders – BestFITTM.

To the relief of many IndyMac Bancorp Inc.:javascript:void(0);/*1216152087995*/, reopened its doors on Monday, although it has lost its status as a privately funded enterprise and is now operating under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation);/*1216152137365*/.

Lydian Data Services, a provider of end-to-end outsourcing services for mortgage lending operations, announced today the establishment of Lydian Data Government Services, a new subsidiary to provide expert mortgage processing, closing, postclosing, and quality control services for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterens Administration (VA) loans.

The Housing Predictor released an update today to its list of the Worst 25 Market Forecasts, which is traditionally issued at the beginning of each year. The Housing Predictor made this update because their worst 25 markets are experiencing increasingly rapid deflation as foreclosures remain at epidemic levels.

In response to the fact that WaMu shares dropped 35 percent yesterday, to their lowest level in more than 17 years, the Seattle-based  lender released a statement assuring the public that the company currently exceeds all regulatory well capitalized minimums and still has strength in its liquidity.

ProVest, a process server provider for the default servicing industry, announced today the appointment of Jim McDermott as VP of operations. In this position, he will be responsible for managing active clients, employees, and new service processing cases while working with attorneys, mortgage servicers and government personnel to improve efficiencies in the service process.