:http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.ptxPennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell:http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.ptx signed five mortgage reform bills into law on Tuesday, representing an effort on the part of the Pennsylvania state government to protect homebuyers from practices which could put them at a higher risk of foreclosure, such as buying a mortgage from someone who is not licensed within the state.

David A. Trott, the managing partner for Farmington Hills, Michigan-based Trott & Trott, P.C., will be serving on the public affairs committee for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he will have a role in the Chamber’s involvement in federal elections, among other duties.

Kyle Ransom, president of Ransom Enterprizes, LLC, a company which specializes in providing training services in real estate development, acquisitions, and foreclosure prevention, said in a company statement on Monday that using Internet networking is a growing tool in reaching homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is exploring new options to help stave off the nation’s growing foreclosure problem. The agency’s pilot foreclosure prevention initiative, which was announced by the new HUD secretary yesterday, will be providing assistance to homeowners, starting with the Detroit area.

Foreclosure filings nationwide, which include default notices, auction sale notices, and bank repossessions, fell 3 percent in June from the previous month, according to RealtyTrac);/*1215698196295*/’s latest U.

In a teleconference call on Tuesday, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston discussed the next phase of FHASecure, a President Bush-backed initiative created in August 2007 to help troubled borrowers refinance into more secured loans.

Integrated Mortgage Solutions (IMS), a company which provides collateral protection for the mortgage servicing industry, announced the launch of their new Web site on Wednesday. The site coincides with IMS’ overall rebranding in light of their new focus on loss mitigation.

First American Title Insurance Company announced today that it will be partnering with the Federal Housing Administration to educate real estate professionals on how to help multicultural homeowners understand their new conforming loan limits, instituted in April.

Parsippany, New Jersey based mortgage broker FHM Mortgage Group, LLC, announced today that they will be partnering with collection agencies to help homeowners who are past due on their mortgages repay their debts.

Existing home sales are expected to see modest near-term movement, with a spot of recovery in sales in the second half of the year, according to the National Association of Realtor’s latest forecast.