Attorneys representing creditors in the state of New Jersey should be advised that the New Jersey Office of Foreclosure, beginning on Thursday, May 1, 2008, will no longer accept or file a complaint unless the creditor’s attorney includes an assignment of mortgage into the plaintiff or the date that the loan was acquired by the plaintiff, according to attorneys who have been following the guideline adjustments.

Lenders One Mortgage Cooperative, an association that serves as a national alliance for mortgage banking professionals, has hired Amy Klassen to oversee its training and development system%{=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.

The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) told a U.S. Senate Committee this week that the FTC is currently investigating the advertising practices of dozens of mortgage companies, according to a transcript of the hearing.

Richmond, Virginia-based LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc., reported this week that the company experienced a net income loss of $24.2 million during the first quarter of 2008, compared to earnings of $4.

Bellevue, Washington-based trustee services provider Northwest Trustee Services announced the launch of a new and improved user friendly, Web site this week. The company, which provides services to lenders working along the West coast, said it now boasts of a Web site that includes easy-to-navigate selections and fast and easy user-interactivy.

Tampa, Florida-based Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS), a strategic provider of inspection and property preservation services, says an updated technology platform, new staff hires and restructuring helped the company grow significantly in the first quarter of this year.

Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace, has released its Quarter One 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which says foreclosure filings were issued against 649,917 properties during the first quarter—a 23-percent increase from the last quarter of 2007 and a 112-percent increase from the first quarter of last year.

AmeriBid, a new platform that aims to help institutional investors find profitable and efficient exit strategies, has named Fran Weichsel, a former sales manager with Fannie Mae’s National Property Disposition Center (NPDC) to the newly-created position of vice president.

New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr., reported on Tuesday that 3,129 citizens have called his Foreclosure Prevention Helpline in the past year to seek advice on preventing a looming foreclosure.

President George W. Bush criticized Congress during a press briefing on Tuesday, saying the legislative branch has failed to pass legislation that would help combat escalating energy prices, record home foreclosures and soaring food expenses across the nation.