Technology

As Zillow continues to grow its rental offerings, the company announced it's providing a free service to help rental professionals grow their business.

In Bethany, Missouri, AmeriBid LLC is preparing to preside over the bank-ordered sale of a very unusual property--a medium security prison. Recently announcing plans for a sealed-bid auction in 2013, AmeriBid's regional director Don Gabriel put a positive spin on the proceedings, noting that the 14.56-acre spread was "a great opportunity to own a multi-use property between Kansas City and Des Moines."

ClosingCorp, a leading provider of residential real estate closing cost data and technologies for mortgage and real estate professionals, announced Mark Nogaki has joined the company as SVP of sales.

Collecting data from the company's 45-member Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), FMI released the results of its most recent study on the sector.

RES.NET is expanding beyond the world of defaults and into the realm of traditional real estate, the company announced. Originally introduced in 2004 as a technology solution for the default space, the California-based firm has evolved its platform to enhance retail (or traditional) real estate transactions.

In the Sunshine State, economists have revealed projections for 2013, and their outlook presents a positive, if somewhat sluggish, forecast for the region's housing market. According to experts from Florida Realtors and Fannie Mae, upward trends are set to continue in Florida, while the state's pace of recovery is expected to fall behind the national average.

In Houston, Texas, Southwest Securities, Inc., has added a new senior leader for the firm's taxable fixed income unit. Appointing Bob Anderson as an SVP, Southwest Securities hopes to utilize the housing finance industry veteran's extensive experience to enhance its institutional sales operations.

In Los Angeles, California, the Pacific Palisades home once belonging to the nation's fortieth president, Ronald Reagan, has hit the market for $4.999 million. Built in 1956, the property's environmentally-friendly design may be its most famous feature, as the luxurious estate has long been lauded as a forerunner of contemporary green housing concepts.

The American Legal and Financial Network (ALFN) is expanding its leadership lineup. Adding a new executive position and naming two new appointees, the national mortgage banking trade group announced Christina Danovsky's promotion to SVP of business development, as well as the hiring of Cade Holleman to the recently-created role of assistant VP of government affairs and communications.

A study commissioned by Ellie Mae shows lenders using Encompass360 can see vast improvements in compliance and productivity.