Courtesy: reader Randall Marquis Federal and local law enforcement agencies raided the United Law Group’s offices in Irvine today, as part of a loan modification fraud investigation, The Register’s Irvine reporter Sean Emery writes. Officials shut the office at 2525 Campus Drive … Read More

First, in recent foreclosure news: Appraisers: Obama plan encourages fraud Foreclosures are still ‘the hot ticket’ Which ZIP has biggest foreclosures hike? Every week, homes throughout Orange County go to foreclosure auctions. The owners can be millions of dollars in … Read More

Real estate appraisers today announced their opposition to part of an Obama administration plan to pay homeowners in trouble to move if they agree to a short sale, saying the program will lead to mortgage fraud. . Under the plan, which takes effect April 5, … Read More

Homeowners who are in over their heads but have been unsuccessful at getting a loan modification may get some different help from Uncle Sam — $1,500 to move if they sell for less than they paid for the house, reports … Read More

The expected market time for foreclosures in Orange County is ”a mind numbing 1.14 months, a deep seller’s market,” says Steve Thomas of Altera Real Estate in his bi-weekly analysis of  local real estate. Foreclosures make up 33% of the housing inventory in … Read More

Here’s how foreclosures in Orange County compare from Q4 of 2009 with the previous quarter and the previous year, according to an analysis by DataQuick. Countywide, foreclosures are up 0.1% from the previous quarter and  5.1% year over year.  ZIP codes are ranked in … Read More

First, in recent foreclosure news: Which ZIP has biggest hike in mortgage defaults? Foreclosures now are just ‘tip of the iceberg’ Every week, homes throughout Orange County go to foreclosure auctions. The owners can be millions of dollars in debt, … Read More

Here’s how filings of notices of default — the first step in the foreclosure process — compare from Q4 of 2009 with the previous quarter and the previous year, according to an analysis by DataQuick. It’s a mixed bag: Countywide, … Read More

Randy Johnson, president of Independence Mortgage Co. in Newport Beach, author of “How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Home Mortgage” and a mortgage broker since 1983, answers questions… Q. My wife and I purchased a one-bedroom condo in … Read More

Our periodic recap of who got nabbed breaking mortgages laws! Disgraced realtor charged in murder plot (Toronto Sun) Massive Florida Mortgage Fraud Case Unfolding (UPI.com) Ala. woman pleads guilty in $580K bank and mortgage fraud (WHNT) Merced County law enforcement … Read More