Secondary Market

The president and CEO of Ernst Publishing Company, a provider of closing cost data for the real estate and home finance industries, is weighing in on critical challenges--and potential solutions--in the current mortgage marketplace. Participating in The Changemaker, a new podcast series, Ernst's leader, Gregory E. Teal, shed light on initiatives and strategies that have the potential to positively impact the future of housing.

Hammerhouse LLC announced it has expanded its Eastern U.S. headquarters and brought on additional staff in order to meet the increased demands of its growing client base.

Mortgage Marketplace is one of Zillow's app suite that features 15 realestate-related mobile apps across all major platforms. The app provides a transparent lending marketplace where borrowers can connect to reputable lenders to find personalized loan options and get a variety of competitive mortgage rates.

The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (PenFed Foundation) is on track to give away a record number of grants this year through its Dream Makers program.

The GSEs and HUD are rolling out relief strategies for borrowers caught in the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy.

Relisting his pricey pad in the Hamptons, artist Ross Bleckner has put his palatial estate on the market for $15 million. Located in Sagaponack, New York, Bleckner's abode boasts multiple structures, including a main home with an ocean view, a cedar-shingled guest cottage, and an art studio.

In Colorado, Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS), has reached a settlement with the state's attorney general. Concluding the investigation into document execution practices by subsidiaries of LPS, the company has agreed to provide payment and reimbursement fees in exchange for a release of potential liability.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) selected Gail Laster to lead as director of the Office of Consumer Protection, a senior management position within the agency. Laster will begin her position November 19 and succeeds Kent Buckham, who is retiring after more than 35 years of service.

Homeowners with mortgages guaranteed by Freddie Mac may be eligible for payment relief if they are located in an area that has been devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The GSE announced it is encouraging servicers to help borrowers through different forms of assistance such as suspending foreclosure and eviction proceedings for up to a year, waiving penalties or late fees against borrowers with disaster-damaged homes, and not reporting delinquencies caused by the disaster to credit bureaus.

The cumulative default rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) in the U.S. rose over the third quarter, largely due to an increase in defaults among office loans, according to the latest data from Fitch Ratings. The rate rose from 13.2 percent in the second quarter of this year to 13.5 percent in the third quarter, according to Fitch. Office loans made up more than half of both newly defaulted loans in the third quarter and year-to-date defaults, according to the ratings agency.