Real Estate News – December 20, 2011

Despite a seasonal slowdown in overall foreclosure activity, and a process still bogged down and backed up by the “robo-signing” processing scandal, the U.S real estate market is about to be hit by another surge of bank repossessions, according to a new report from the online foreclosure sale site RealtyTrac (via CNBC.com): http://bit.ly/vvtzNM

Nevada has filed suit against a major player in the foreclosure business, Lender Processing Services, claiming the company is responsible for perpetrating widespread consumer fraud in the Silver State (via latimesblogs.latimes.com): http://lat.ms/tSWF59

Three California Real Estate Agents Arrested in Stockton Foreclosure Scam (via LoanSafe.org): http://bit.ly/vEhs4A

Regulators have accused the former chief executives of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac of misleading investors about their firms’ exposure to risky mortgages, one of the most significant federal actions taken against those at the center of the housing bust (via dealbook.nytimes.com): http://nyti.ms/rJeaWq

An Ocean Township, New Jersey woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $400,000 from the homeowners association at the condominium complex where she once worked (via app.com): http://on.app.com/rBBR1Y

Family set to be evicted before Christmas (via abclocal.go.com): http://bit.ly/u32E1b

Mortgage Fees Would Rise Under Payroll Tax Cut Deal (via FoxNews.com): http://fxn.ws/vmhhBY

Terminally ill woman to stay in foreclosed home until she dies (via sacbee.com): http://bit.ly/vkUcvn

Real estate woes may have led to Deion Sanders’ divorce (via pegasusnews.com): http://bit.ly/ujbvxT

Beware of Down Payment Gift-Giving Rules (via REALTORMag): http://bit.ly/uA1gsQ

Former Iowa real estate agent sentenced for fraud (via sacbee.com): http://bit.ly/v1LAdk

A Kentucky state legislator plans to file legislation that would make homeowners associations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (via Kentucky.com):
http://bit.ly/uFNLlh