Origination

Data from CoreLogic shows nearly 284,000 properties (representing almost $88 billion) located in the coastal Mid-Atlantic states may be at risk of storm-surge damage from Hurricane Sandy. Based on early projections of Sandy's path, eight major metro areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, are at risk.

Though a few recent U.S. real estate listings have promised royal living in oversized stateside mansions, a sprawling home in France has hit the market, giving potential buyers the opportunity to purchase an authentic castle that's truly worth of a fairytale.

Wells Fargo has issued thousands of refund checks to customers who paid unnecessary mortgage fees, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The FDIC closed another Pennsylvania institution Friday, bringing the state's year-to-date tally to two and the national tally to 47. The FDIC approved the payout of the insured deposits of NOVA Bank in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, after the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities closed the institution.

Global Markets Intelligence suggests the Fed is turning to the housing market "as the last, best hope" for strengthening the economy.

A massive mortgage fraud investigation led to 17 defendants being charged with crimes ranging from mortgage fraud to money laundering, according to a release from the Justice Department. An additional 14 defendants have also agreed to plead guilty in connection with the investigation, bringing the total number of defendants to 81. A federal indictment unsealed in late October charges the 17 defendants with a number of crimes stemming from their alleged involvement in a criminal organization simply called the "Enterprise."

Ally Bank announced it has launched a "process to explore strategic alternatives for its agency mortgage servicing rights (MSR) portfolio and its business lending operations." The announcement signals another step in Ally's shift away from the housing market. In November 2011, the bank began to reduce its correspondent originations business to focus on a smaller group of strategic clients, and in July 2012, it announced its intent to exit the warehouse lending business by the end of the year.

When famed news anchor and 60 Minutes star Mike Wallace passed away earlier this year, the nation mourned the loss of the media legend. However, Wallace's many fans recently got the opportunity to learn more about his life off camera, when his Manhattan duplex hit the open market for a lofty $20 million earlier this month.

As the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) makes declarations of intentions of "establishing a path for shifting mortgage credit risk from the Enterprises (and, thereby, taxpayers) to private investors," one company in its infancy plans to take advantage of this opening for private mortgage insurers.

Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC and Walter Investment Management Corp. outbid Nationstar Mortgage Holdings and received preliminary approval for the purchase of Residential Capital's mortgage servicing and origination assets. Ocwen's $3 billion was the highest bid for the assets, which went to auction Tuesday.