Mortgage Industry News for the Week Ending Feb. 29, 2008 http://www.mortgagedaily.com/Podcasts/MortgageDailyPodcast022908.mp3

A New Jersey defense attorney has been named the central figure in a 14-count indictment with three others who are accused of racketeering, murder and $1.1 million in mortgage fraud. http://www.fraudblogger.com/PRNJATTYARRESTED052909.asp

Mortgage rates have held fairly steady since the middle of last week. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/story_content.asp?story_uid=28669&prodtype=mtg

Don't give out personal data to a middleman, and make sure a dealer isn't sneaking in unwanted fees. http://ep.bankrate.com/hlink_redirects/hlink_redirects.aspx?link_address=http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/car-advice/20090731-DFD-cash-clunkers-scams-a1.asp&ht=9&suid=28537&web=brm

The commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration gave testimony before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. The commissioner highlighted suggestions by some to raise the minimum downpayment on all FHA loans to 5 percent. "Such a policy change would reduce the volume of loans endorsed by FHA by more than 40 percent," he said. http://www.mortgagedaily.com/FhaLtv031110.asp?spcode=rss