The Federal Housing Administration and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency recently reached a first-of-its-kind agreement to promote safer, affordable government-insured mortgages. The memorandum of understanding that the agencies signed forges a working relationship and commitment by the federal and state governments to help Minnesotans continue to access safer and more secure FHA-insured mortgages. As the housing and credit markets change, the understanding will establish a partnership committed to increasing access to FHA-insured mortgages throughout the state.

A California-based U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week when it reinstated an insider trading case against a former director at FNF.

Fidelity National Information Services recently completed the spin-off of Lender Processing Services. Shareholders received one share of LPS common stock for every two shares of FIS they stock owned.

TheHomeBuyingCenter.com continues to connect sellers eager to sell their properties with investors and recently expanded its service offerings to help consumers find and buy foreclosure homes.

The operator of Flagler Title's fears mounted as each month brought less and less business to the title company due to the weakened housing market and tightening credit crunch.

Mortgage rates were lower across the board, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling to 6.53 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly survey of large lenders.

Fortes Financial debuted Fortes Residential Mortgage, an independent mortgage banking enterprise, comprised of regional wholesale operations centers, retail banking offices and reverse mortgage branches.

LandAmerica Financial Group announced that it will release operating results for the second quarter 2008 after the market closes on July 29, 2008.

In collaboration with the Corcoran Group, PropertyShark.com audited and supplemented data for the firm's first quarterly report examining Manhattan's residential property sales.

The Lucas County Courthouse is no longer permitting visitors to carry their cell phones into the building after participants in criminal trials were being recorded and photographed.

First American CoreLogic released its April 2008 LoanPerformance Home Price Index; the data indicated that 33 states posted declines in the past 12 months.

A Genola town councilman and his son recently reached a settlement with Old Republic over a lawsuit that accused them of fraudulently hiding personal assets. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.