The number of mortgage fraud cases increased last
year, though the dollar amount held steady, according to MortgageDaily.com's
fourth-quarter 2009 mortgage fraud index. Activity was worst in Florida and
Nevada.
Following a bloodbath last week when the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development announced actions against more than
200 mortgagees, the agency reported five more firms that faced further actions.
Concerns about mortgage fraud was an issue at one of the companies.
New government data indicate that mortgage fraud
activity is beginning to ease.
