LOS Provider Moving
A rich pool of technology talent, lower license rates and the local lifestyle convinced the founders of a mortgage technology provider to move its headquarters to a South Carolina community. Around 700,000 transactions are handled through the firm's loan origination system each year.

Fast Growing Fraud Detection Firm Adding 200
Rapid growth at a technology firm that helps lenders identify potential mortgage fraud has it expanding by 200 employees in Florida. The company has doubled in size each of the past three years and expects to do so again this year.

Fannie Updates Servicing Guidelines
Fannie Mae addressed a host of issues, including vendors used by attorneys and trustees and fees charged, in a communication to mortgage servicers. A clarification was issued on foreclosure actions in the name of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems.

Appraisal Services Offered, Expanded
Warranties offered with some appraisals promise to shield lenders from the liability of bad valuations and from repurchases. One recent offering enables lenders to apply the cost of a desktop appraisal to a full appraisal, and a recently launched valuation service reportedly costs less than a full appraisal but is more comprehensive than a broker price opinion.

Appraisal Industry Evolves
As states step up their regulation of appraisal management companies, a federal regulator is stepping up the quality of required appraisal data. One mega-lender has reportedly abandoned outside AMCs in favor of in-house services, two firms have initiated an alliance that will enhance technology and several AMCs touted new customers.

IBM Changes Plans on Mortgage Hirings
IBM has abandoned plans to add 600 mortgage employees in Charlotte, N.C., though it still expects to add the jobs at another location.

Several Sources for Mortgage Leads
Loan originators can generate mortgage leads through e-mail marketing, their own Web sites and paid lead generation services. One lead provider only charges for leads after an application is generated, while another is training loan officers how to get more out of the leads it sells. A Minnesota firm said it helps mortgage Web sites land on the first page of search engine results, and a reverse mortgage lead provider is touting a recent move that increased the quality of its leads.

Support Services Shuffle Execs
A team was assembled for a new fixed-income unit in New York, a mortgage technology firm picked up the founder of another company and the former commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration found a spot on one corporation's board of directors.

600 Mortgage-Related Jobs Coming to Oregon
A subprime mortgage servicer is expanding a servicing center in Oregon in a move that is expected to bring 600 jobs to the state.