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Senate Bill 1150, a bill to protect widows, widowers and other heirs from unnecessary foreclosures, passed a key hurdle today when it was voted out of the Senate on a vote that was not without drama. Amidst intense industry lobbying pressure and after appearing to go down to defeat for failing to secure sufficient votes yesterday, the bill secured the needed 21 votes today.

Earlier today, the California Reinvestment Coalition called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to impose a moratorium on any additional reverse mortgage foreclosures by CIT Group and its subsidiary, Financial Freedom. The call for a moratorium is based in part on new data (see fact sheet here) that CRC obtained from HUD, indicating that Financial Freedom/CIT Group’s share of reverse mortgage foreclosures (39%) since April 2009 is more than two times greater than the company’s estimated market share (17%).

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) today announced a $2,438,681 Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment which will support roadway and infrastructure improvements to the Green Island Industrial District (GRID) in American Canyon. The funds will be used to help reconstruct Green Island Road, a goods movement corridor for the GRID. In August, 2014 Thompson urged Northern California’s EDA representative to support the City of American Canyon’s application for federal funding.

Two Northern California real estate investors pleaded guilty for their role in bid-rigging conspiracies and mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced today.

With an improving economy and job market over the past year, home buyers have started forming households again, and buyers who previously experienced a foreclosure or short sale are back in the housing market, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2015 Survey of California Home Buyers.”

The California Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual “Capitol Summit” meeting this week, and two statewide nonprofits are calling on the Chamber to reverse its position on legislation that would protect widowed homeowners from unnecessary foreclosures

A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced

Two Northern California real estate investors have agreed to plead guilty for their role in bid rigging and fraud conspiracies at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California in Oakland against Ramin Yeganeh of San Mateo, California.

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) today announced that it will receive more than $450,000 in additional federal dollars to provide free counseling to homeowners struggling to avoid foreclosure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two Northern California real estate investors have agreed to plead guilty for their role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced

San Francisco - October 17, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of a five-day awareness campaign about the potential impacts of a new, Too Big To Fail bank merger, a nonprofit bank advocacy coalition raised questions today about OneWest’s track record of helping (or not helping) distressed homeowners.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 18, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) introduced the Fast Help For Homeowners Act, to help speed up the short sale process and aid homeowners who may otherwise be facing foreclosure

San Francisco, CA: - May 20, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new survey of housing counselors and attorneys finds homeowners are facing unreasonable delays, numerous obstacles, and servicer run-arounds in seeking help from their mortgage servicers, despite new laws, programs, and settlements intended to protect homeowners

La Jolla, CA. - April 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the third consecutive quarter California foreclosure starts remained little changed at a level last seen in early 2006, the result of steady economic growth and higher home values. Foreclosure processors are still mostly plowing through a pool of toxic subprime mortgages originated back in mid-to-late 2006, a real estate information service reported.

La Jolla, CA. - January 21, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of California homeowners pulled into the formal foreclosure process dropped to an eight-year low last quarter, the result of an improving economy, foreclosure prevention efforts and higher home prices, a real estate information service reported.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three Northern California real estate investors have agreed to plead guilty for their roles in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- An Eastern California real estate investor pleaded guilty today to conspiring to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Eastern California, the Department of Justice announced.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, in San Francisco, against Florence Fung of Sacramento, Calif, and Michael Navone of San Rafael, Calif. Fung and Navone are the 39th and 40th individuals to plead guilty or agree to plead guilty as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Northern California real estate investor pleaded guilty today for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced