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Massive Mortgage Servicing Problems Exposed

Washington, D.C. - November 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement Tuesday after the committee’s hearing on the major problems in the national mortgage servicing industry:

Breaking News – MERS documentation fraud by WaMu/Chase Bank and Other Major Lenders

October 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Since I as an Oregonian started investigating my own personal foreclosure and wanting more research and information on the fraud in Oregon regarding false documents and MERS, I decided to expand my research now into investigative journalism for Oregonians. Not one major law firm has yet to be found in any of the major search engines for MERS Fraud perpetrated upon many unsuspecting homeowners in Oregon State.

OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER ANNOUNCES MULTI-STATE INVESTIGATION INTO MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE IRREGULARITIES

October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General John Kroger and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services today announced a multi-state investigation into whether affidavits and other documents have been improperly used as part of the foreclosure process.

Consumers have new tool to check out mortgage lenders

Salem, OR - August 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Starting this week, Oregonians looking to buy a home or refinance their mortgage can go online to see if a mortgage lender has met stringent new licensing standards.

State issues fines, enforcement orders in three mortgage cases

Salem, OR - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the state‟s ongoing effort to protect Oregonians from mortgage fraud, the Department of Consumer and Business Services recently took action against three mortgage lending companies and their owners.

Senate Passes Merkley-Klobuchar Amendment to Protect Homeowners from Deceptive Mortgage Practices

WASHINGTON, DC - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, an amendment put forth by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar to the Wall Street reform bill passed the Senate by a vote of 63-36.

Merkley Introduces Amendment to Protect Homeowners from Deceptive Mortgage Practices

WASHINGTON, DC - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced an amendment to the Wall Street reform bill that will ban one of the most egregious mortgage practices that directly led to millions of families losing their homes.

Mortgage Broker Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Related to Residential Loan Applications

PORTLAND, OR - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joel D. Surprenant, 43, of West Linn, Oregon, pled guilty today to the crime of bank fraud. Surprenant is scheduled to appear again before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones on May 12, 2010, for sentencing on these charges.

Portland Mortgage Company Owner Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Mortgage Fraud

PORTLAND, OR - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senior United States District Judge Robert E. Jones today sentenced Lee Howlett, 46, of Portland, to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Howlett pled guilty in February 2009 to a single count of conspiring to make false statements to financial institutions.

State revokes mortgage broker license

Salem, OR - October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- In its ongoing effort to protect consumers from mortgage lending fraud, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) has revoked the license of Tigard-based Pacific Rim Mortgage, Inc. and issued a cease-and-desist order against its owner, Victoria Bigham.

Home Affordable Modification Program not Meeting Needs of Families Facing Foreclosure

Washington, DC - September 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan Wednesday to implement several improvements to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to make mortgage modifications simpler and speedier for borrowers and counselors.

Public input sought at housing opportunity meetings

Salem, OR - September 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Starting next week, Oregonians will have a chance to help shape how Oregon Housing and Community Services implements funding received from House Bill 2436 at public forums held throughout the state.

State Issues Orders against Mortgage Brokers, Loan Originators

Salem, OR - July 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – The Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) issued cease-and-desist orders against two mortgage brokers and two loan originators in four recent cases

State Revokes Licenses of Two Mortgage Companies

Salem, OR - June 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — In its continuing effort to strengthen enforcement of mortgage lending laws, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services recently issued cease-and-desist orders assessing fines and revoking the licenses of two mortgage brokers: Mountainview Marketing of St. Helens and Sterling Coast to Coast Financial Group Inc. of Irvine, Calif.

State bans Portland-area mortgage loan originator

Salem, OR - April 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — In an ongoing effort to better protect Oregon mortgage borrowers from fraud, the Department of Consumer and Business Services issued a cease-and-desist order permanently barring Larry Jason Somera of West Linn from the mortgage lending industry after he pleaded guilty in Multnomah County Court to one count of forgery.

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Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Vietnamese Neighbors and Interfering with...

John Blayne Vangastel, 37, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, pleaded guilty today in the District of Oregon to one count of using threats of force to injure, intimidate and interfere with his neighbors in the enjoyment of their housing rights because they are a family of Vietnamese descent.

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New Coalition Formed to Advance Zero Energy Buildings in Oregon

A group of Oregon-based organizations is announcing the formation of a coalition to advance the rapid adoption of zero energy building standards in the state of Oregon. A zero energy home or commercial building generates as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year through renewable resources. The founding members of the Oregon Zero Energy Buildings Coalition are Earth Advantage, Climate Solutions, New Buildings Institute, NW Energy Coalition, International Living Future Institute, and the Zero Energy Project.