Real Estate News – September 21, 2011




All the townhomes on Melanie Gravdal’s street looked similar and she was struggling to get hers to standout.  So she thought maybe “booze” might sweeten the deal (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/oWncll


The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has unveiled a new complaint review process for homeowners who believe that they were the victims of an improper foreclosure (via MortgageOrb.com): http://bit.ly/rdStXa


The Enforcement Division at the Minnesota Department of Commerce recently unveiled an elaborate real estate operation designed to generate funds for a homegrown real estate fraud ring. The investigation spawned charges made public Tuesday by Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, who alleges that Steven Hyland allowed his real estate salespersons to carry out an illegal kickback scheme deliberately intended to defraud lenders (via myfoxtwincities.com): http://bit.ly/qDg7Ag


The regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday said the agency may force more borrowers to obtain private mortgage insurance as he also laid out further details about ideas he is considering to expand an Obama administration mortgage refinance program (via MarketWatch.com): http://bit.ly/nAOaY0


The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will complete work on a rule aimed at ensuring borrowers have the ability to repay their mortgages early by next year, according to Raj Date, the former banker running the new agency (via Bloomberg.com): http://bloom.bg/qr8gXh


A Brighton, Colo., man is trying to sabotage the sale of his neighbor’s home by posting warning signs to potential buyers of what they can expect if they become his neighbor: Loud parties, loud music, and loud cars (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/ntwFZn


HOA feud in DeSoto pits neighbor against neighbor (via wfaa.com): http://bit.ly/oDzEm7