Real Estate News – July 12, 2011

Fidelity National Financial and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reached a $4.5 million settlement over claims that FNF paid real estate professionals for referring services, such as home warranties and title insurance, that violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, HousingWire reports (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/olUrSO

A Huge Problem for New Federal Foreclosure Prevention Efforts (via theatlantic.com): http://bit.ly/n00EGN

The proposed settlement between Bank of America and investors in troubled mortgage-backed securities just might be the catalyst to end the impasse over foreclosures, that create a logjam in the housing market (via consumeraffairs.com): http://bit.ly/oiGws4

The U.S. housing finance system badly needs an overhaul, but chances for winding down ailing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the near term are remote, the top Republican on the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee said on Tuesday (via Reuters.com): http://reut.rs/p7SP8Z

Why the Real Estate Recession is Halting Divorces (via moneyland.time.com): http://ti.me/prQ9VX

Family fights HOA for their precious pet, Wilbur the pig (via khou.com): http://bit.ly/qpNXL6