State and federal regulators have closed the doors on two more community-based lenders in Nebraska and Utah, bringing this year's tally of failed banks to 87. Mid City Bank, Inc. in Omaha has been acquired by Purdum State Bank, which is now operating under the name Premier Bank. Utah's SunFirst Bank has been largely absorbed by Cache Valley Bank. However, the FDIC says it is retaining $15 million in deposits that may be subject to external litigation involving SunFirst Bank, along with $20.8 million of its assets which Cache Valley Bank elected not to acquire.

Private investors in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) comprised of jumbo mortgage loans are dealing with a greater risk of strategic defaults, according to Moody's Investors Service. The company's analysts base this assumption on the fact that jumbo RMBS have large populations of current borrowers with high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. In contrast, the subprime sector faces the lowest potential for future performance deterioration because its weaker borrowers are already delinquent or have defaulted.

Econohomes has launched a new website aimed at redefining the online experience for real estate investors and homebuyers as they shop for foreclosed REO homes. The company buys residential properties in volume at discounted prices from mortgage lenders and servicers. Its online inventory comprises REO homes in more than 40 states, including properties that have been renovated.

Recording a slight decrease in delinquencies in its preliminary third quarter estimate, Trepp predicts full market recovery will not occur for years. Residential mortgage delinquencies fell 0.3 percent in the third quarter to 12 percent, according to Trepp's preliminary data. This is down 1.1 percent from last year. The research firm says the slow rate of improvement reflects the high volume of foreclosures and weak price trends that still plague the nation's housing markets.

Temperatures are falling, and so are home prices in most local markets. Clear Capital says it's expecting another long winter as the housing industry tries to cope with the downward forces of weak demand, record-low consumer confidence, and distressed inventory. The company says the seasonal gains seen during the stronger spring and summer months have not been enough to push year-over-year home prices into the black. Clear Capital's October index puts national home prices 2.8 percent below a year ago.

The Occupy Oakland group is starting a new wave of occupations. They intend to occupy vacant properties. Occupy Oakland announced on Twitter that its general assembly has passed a proposal to encourage the occupation of bank-owned foreclosed and abandoned properties across the city. Members took a first step in this direction by entering a vacant building formerly used by the Traveler's Aid Society. It ended in violence as protestors broke windows and set fires, and resulted in about 100 arrests.

Hudson & Marshall has once again been selected to partner with HUD to auction over 100 foreclosed homes located in Nevada and Arizona. The auction will take place this Saturday, November 5th at the JW Marriott in Las Vegas. There will be two separate auction events on that day - one strictly for owner occupants and the second open to all bidders, including investors. HUD will pay a 3 percent selling agent commission to qualified brokers who are registered with HUD.

The board of directors of Stewart Information Services Corp. announced this week that Matt Morris has been elected CEO of the company with responsibility for all operations. Matt Morris succeeds Malcolm Morris and Stewart Morris, Jr., who had served as co-CEOs, and who will assume positions as vice chairmen of the board. The company also announced that its lead director, Dr. Edward Douglas Hodo, has been elected chairman of the board.

The nation's unemployment rate slipped to 9.0 percent in October, as employers added 80,000 new jobs to their payrolls, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Officials called the rate ""little changed,"" down from 9.1 percent the month before. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range from 9.0 to 9.2 percent since April. Government data shows that there are 13.9 million people out of work in the United States. Extended unemployment has become the biggest driver of mortgage delinquencies.

CredAbility has announced the launch of its 2012 ""Reconstruye tu Futuro"" campaign, which will leverage grassroots efforts, social media networks, and traditional media communication to reach those in the Hispanic community who are at risk of foreclosure. With more than 50 million Hispanics in the United States and a downturn economy, CredAbility says Latino individuals and families have been more deeply impacted than other minority populations. By leveraging key financial tools, CredAbility aims to help Latino individuals, families, and communities recapture their American Dream.