The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Deborah Holston will serve as the new director of policy and management. In her new position, Holston will be responsible for all of the department’s programs in the Washington, D.

Freddie Mac estimates to have lost $550 million in the third quarter of 2006 as a result of losses on derivatives and credit guarantee assets and obligations. Losses are also expected to be reported for the fourth quarter.

There’s something to say for the truism, watch your step, especially for Colleen McGlynn, a broker for Johnson & Sons, Inc., in Boone, Iowa. When McGlynn left her office for an initial listing inspection, she didn’t bother to inform her busy coworkers with her whereabouts.

Home foreclosures increased significantly in some states across the country in 2006, according to a report released by Default Research, Inc. Nevada showed the greatest increase for the year, climbing to 166 percent, and was immediately followed by Florida (143.

Trott & Trott announced today that legislation changes in Michigan will now allow shorter time periods for the redemption of abandoned houses. The act was signed into law January 4 by Governor Jennifer Granholm and will immediately take effect.

The first two Five Star Institute Build Your Business™ courses have been approved for continuing education (CE) credit in both Texas and Colorado. BYB:101—Build Your Business by Learning REO from A to Z will provide 15 hours of CE credit, and BYB:102—Build Your Business with Government-Owned Real Estate will provide 8 hours.

Jeffrey B. Fisher, founding member of The Fisher Law Group, PLLC, has been selected for the 2007 Maryland and District of Columbia editions of Super Lawyers magazine. The list includes only 5 percent of lawyers within the state.

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation and the Urban League of Philadelphia are teaming up to help educate African-American’s on foreclosure prevention. A press conference will be held in the Mayor’s Reception Room of City Hall at noon on January 9th to kick off the program.

Stewart Title announced today its acquisition of Border Title Group of Laredo, Texas. The company will continue to operate as Border Title Group. Former owner and chief executive officer Evan Quiros will now serve as president, and all employees will retain their positions for the newly named Stewart Border Title, LLC.

Fishers, Indiana- based Irwin Mortgage Corporation announced Wednesday that it has completed the sale of certain servicing platform assets to New Century Mortgage Corporation, a subsidiary of New Century Financial Corporation.