Aspiring Material Girls take note - Madonna's former Beverly Hills residence can be yours for $18.495 million. The recently listed 1940s estate has also played home to mega-watt stars including Betty Grable and Diane Keaton, and we're sure they;re very thankful that the walls of the seven-bedroom pad cannot talk.

Americas Insurance Company is making the grade, earning an A from Demotech, Inc. The company recently announced its decision to award Americas Insurance with the prime financial stability rating.

Radio icon Don Imus and his wife, Dierdre, have listed their Connecticut property for $19.9 million. RealEstalker reports that Imus has taken the waterfront estate on and off the market multiple times, dating from 2009, and when it was originally put up for sale, the Greco-Georgian property carried a much higher price tag of $30 million.

In Mexico City, an architectural masterpiece has hit the market. Equestrian estate Cuadra San Cristobal, which was made famous by its award-winning designer, Luis Barragan, was recently listed for $12.3 million.

Aite Group is speaking out on contemporary issues in the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) marketplace. The company's senior analyst, John Jay, recently released his statements in response to a New York Times article evaluating the potential impact of pre-crisis commercial loans.

MountainSeed Appraisal Management, LLC, is targeting the commercial market with the launch of a new evaluation program. According to MountainSeed, the tool will make it easier for appraisers to extend commercial valuations to smaller lenders.

In Montana, a real estate tycoon is looking to divest himself of a luxury, lakeside estate. Donald G. Abbey has listed his famed Whispering Rock property for $78 million, making it the fifth most expensive home for sale in the U.S.

In Washington, D.C., the Real Estate Roundtable has announced its new roster of directors. The organization recently appointed members of the board for the 2013 fiscal year, and the Roundtable's incoming chairman and 21-person board began their terms on July 1.

The American Guild of Appraisers has officially filed a statement with Congressional legislators as part of a recent hearing titled, Appraisal Oversight: The Regulatory Impact on Consumers and Businesses. Conducted by the Insurance, Housing, and Community Opportunity Committee of the House Finance Sub-Committee, the AGA was asked to submit a statement of record to assist the lawmakers as they proposals directed at improving appraisal regulation, enforcement, and oversight. AGA said that it is also working with consumer organizations to ensure that consumers receive professional appraisals.

The California State Legislature has officially passed the Homeowner Bill of Rights. The proposal was originally put forth by the state's Attorney General Kamala Harris, and the legislation is now in the hands of Governor Jerry Brown, whose signature would finalize the law. According to a recent release from the California State Legislature, the law would "institute sensible reforms to bank's foreclosure practices and create a fairer foreclosure process for California's homeowners." The bill would also end current dual-tracking processes for foreclosures.