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LOS ANGELES, CA - February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced a $6.5 million settlement of a predatory lending case against Angelo Mozilo and David Sambol, former officers of Countrywide Financial Corporation. Attorney General Harris announced the settlement money will be used to establish an innovative statewide California Foreclosure Crisis Relief Fund to combat the effects of California's high rates of foreclosure and mortgage delinquency

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The recent launch of Brookstone Law PC’s Emergency Extension Department (EED) (www.brookstone-law.com), a new resource to help homeowners facing foreclosure keep their homes, achieved timely results for two local seniors by stopping the sale of their home the day before it was scheduled to be sold

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Tacoma, Washington man has been found guilty of federal fraud charges for running a scheme that defrauded the owners of distressed homes by promising to delay or prevent foreclosure through a program that supposedly used notes backed by Treasury bonds to pay off mortgages.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced today that Wells Fargo has agreed to provide loan modifications worth more than $2 billion to thousands of California homeowners with "pick-a-pay" loans and to pay an additional $32 million to thousands of borrowers who lost their homes through foreclosure.

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Melissa Villegas, 31, of Sacramento, the last defendant in a mortgage fraud scheme, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Rick Villegas, 33, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on December 15, 2010; Kathleen DeLapp, 47, of Auburn, pleaded guilty to misprision of felony on December 9, 2010; and Robert Martinson, 48, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on January 8, 2010

MISSION VIEJO, CA - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial services industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, announced today that Managing Director, Drew Waterhouse was named to National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s 2010 list of the top “40 Most Influential Mortgage Professionals Under 40.” National Mortgage Professional is one of the mortgage industry’s leading media trade outlets with a monthly print magazine, online news site and daily news distribution services through NMP Daily and Mortgage News Ticker.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a new criminal case being filed this morning, federal authorities have now charged three defendants for their roles in a foreclosure rescue scam that promised the owners of hundreds of distressed properties that they could indefinitely postpone foreclosure sales.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to recommendations in the Deficit Reduction Commission report released today, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said it strongly opposes any changes that would modify or reduce the mortgage interest deduction.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Sherman Oaks woman for her role in a $2 million mortgage fraud scheme in which she allegedly filed fraudulent loan applications that in some cases falsely claimed she and her husband earned nearly $50,000 per month.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 5,500 first-time home buyers were approved for the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Housing Affordability Fund (C.A.R.H.A.F.) Mortgage Protection Program (MPP), which provides mortgage payment assistance in the event of a job layoff

WASHINGTON, DC - November 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced the opening of a new mortgage help center in Culver City to provide counseling and other services for struggling homeowners in the greater metro area with loans owned by Fannie Mae. The Greater Los Angeles Mortgage Help Center is the fourth facility in a series of nationwide mortgage help centers. Fannie Mae is partnering on this initiative with West Angeles Community Development Corporation, major mortgage servicers, and civic and community leaders from across the region

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Downey man has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges, admitting that he ran two fraudulent operations—a Ponzi scheme that took in $30 million from more than 300 victims and a mortgage fraud scheme that preyed on homeowners by stealing the equity from their homes and secretly taking title to their properties

SANTA ANA, CA - October 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- An Orange County attorney has been indicted on charges related to a mortgage fraud scheme in which 30 homes were purchased at inflated prices, with the excess proceeds going to the lawyer and other members of the conspiracy.

Washington, D.C. - October 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, and 30 other members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation sent a letter Tuesday to the Attorney General, Federal Reserve Chairman, and the Comptroller of the Currency requesting investigations into possible systemic wrongdoing by financial institutions in their handling of delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures.

Washington, DC - October 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard joined 30 other Members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Attorney General Holder, Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke, and Comptroller of the Currency Dugan requesting investigations into systemic wrongdoing by financial institutions in their handling of delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Downey man on a series of fraud charges for allegedly running two related fraud schemes—a Ponzi scheme that took more than $11 million from more than 300 victims, and a mortgage fraud scheme that preyed on homeowners by stealing the equity from their homes and secretly taking title to their properties.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force met in Los Angeles today for the latest in a series of Mortgage Fraud Summits. The task force—established by President Barack Obama in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes—is comprised of representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement agencies.

Los Angeles, CA - October 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Councilmember Alarcon will attend to help kick-off the event. Additional organizations supporting the fair include Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services (LA NHS), City of Los Angeles, FDIC, Keep Your Home Foundation, Bet Tzedek, Legal Aid Foundation-Los Angeles and Public Counsel. The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(r) is working in conjunction with the partnership as well

SACRAMENTO, CA - September 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that John B. Ngo, 29, of San Ramon, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William B. Shubb to nine months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Ngo pleaded guilty on December 17, 2007 to one count of making a false declaration before the grand jury.

SACRAMENTO, CA - September 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that John B. Ngo, 29, of San Ramon, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William B. Shubb to nine months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Ngo pleaded guilty on December 17, 2007 to one count of making a false declaration before the grand jury.