By JEFF HORWITZ Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Companies overseeing millions of mortgage loans appear to be skirting new federal regulations and legal settlements intended to stop them profiteering at the expense of troubled homeowners.

They are selling or have sold nearly nonexistent insurance agencies - in some cases with no offices, no websites and only a single registered agent - in multi-million dollar deals, as new rules prohibit them from collecting commissions on insurance they force homeowners to buy.

The deals illustrate how regulators are still wrestling with messy banking practices more than six years after the housing market's collapse. They also mean that newly sold insurance agencies have an incentive to compel struggling homeowners to buy costly policies, to justify the high sales prices commanded when the insurance agencies were sold.

The deals involve "force-placed insurance," a type of backup property insurance meant to protect mortgage investors' stake in uninsured properties. Standard mortgages require borrowers to maintain homeowners insurance and authorize the loan's servicer to buy coverage when borrowers don't. If the borrowers don't pay for the new insurance, servicers foreclose on their properties and stick the bill to mortgage investors.

Even before the housing boom, mortgage servicers found ways to profit from buying insurance with other people's money. Insurance carriers paid banks including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup to buy policies at inflated prices, according to an investigation by New York's Department of Financial Services. To hide this "kickback culture," as New York regulators described it, some servicers created virtual insurance agencies and disguised illicit payments as commissions.

New rules by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, investigations by state regulators and class-action settlements now prohibit servicers from collecting commissions on such insurance policies, and the country's biggest brand-name banks have renounced the practice.

But some of the largest subprime mortgage servicers in the country - companies that handle the troubled loans most likely to be subject to the insurance policies - appear to skirt those rules or have already made profitable business arrangements that comply with them.

Because people tend to stop paying insurance when they're struggling to keep up with their mortgage, the collapse of the housing market after 2007 turned the practice into a multi-billion dollar industry. In many ways, force-placed insurance's rise reflected the behavior that fed the housing bubble: After profiting from putting borrowers in homes they couldn't afford, mortgage companies were profiting from inflated insurance bills they assigned to homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

The country's second largest non-bank mortgage servicer, Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc., has been trying to sell an insurance agency for roughly $100 million, according to people familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sale.

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$100 million for firm without offices, 1 agent?

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Marshawn Lynch's holdout is over, ending one distraction so far for the Super Bowl champions.

Lynch arrived at the Seattle Seahawks practice facility on Thursday afternoon following the team's morning practice. The team confirmed Lynch had reported for camp, ending a holdout that spanned a week.

Lynch was caught by television cameras talking on his phone out near the Seahawks practice fields wearing a hooded "Beast Mode" sweatshirt and knit cap on an 85 degree day. He was later hanging out in the lobby of the facility.

ESPN reported earlier Thursday that Lynch was expected to end his holdout. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after practice that he did not know if Lynch was on the verge of reporting.

"Hopefully he's here," quarterback Russell Wilson said after practice. "He's such a good football player we would love to have him here and he's done a tremendous job for us since I've been here. I know that. He's had some unbelievable runs for us."

Lynch must still pass his physical and be added to the active roster. Seattle's roster is currently at the 90-man limit.

Lynch missed the first week of training camp unhappy with his contract status. Lynch is scheduled to make up to $5.5 million this season in base pay and roster bonuses. It's the third year of a four-year deal Lynch signed before the 2012 season.

Seattle made clear on the first day of training camp that it had a plan in place before Lynch signed his extension and it was not inclined to stray from those plans.

"We've had a substantial plan working for us for years now and Marshawn was a big part of this plan," Carroll said on the opening day of camp. "Just a couple of years back we made a big statement and made a big effort for him and we wish that he was with us now."

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Lynch ends holdout, arrives at Seahawks camp

Sapphire Blue - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops

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White Ice - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops

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Statuarietto Venato (Lot 27) - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Marble Countertops

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A friend of mine emailed me today with a question I frequently receive. She wants to know if granite countertops are safe. She has been trying to sell her home for several months without success. Her Realtor told her that replacing the old countertops with the most popular surface, granite, would certainly help to sell the home.

Granite countertops are attractive and high quality. However, a common concern of granite countertops is radon. When concerns about granite countertops and radon arise, misinformation abounds.

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Granite countertops and radon

River White (Thunder White) - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops

By: Dan DiTomaso

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River White (Thunder White) - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops - Video

Submitted

Belle Vintage Park a new active adult community featuring condominiums for lease celebrated its Grand Opening July 24 with the official ribbon cutting by both the Tomball and Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce. The community, located at 15455 Canterbury Forest Drive in North Houston - just 2.5 blocks west of FM 249 off Louetta Road - is a 55+ community with 120 one and two bedroom residences. Already 85 percent leased, residents are enjoying a wealth of amenities including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an expansive two-level private community area with a fitness center, resort-style swimming pool and more. For more information call (281) 379-4000 or visit http://www.BelleVintagePark.com.

Submitted

Belle Vintage Park a new active adult community featuring condominiums for lease celebrated its Grand Opening July 24 with the official ribbon cutting by both the Tomball and Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce. The community, located at 15455 Canterbury Forest Drive in North Houston - just 2.5 blocks west of FM 249 off Louetta Road - is a 55+ community with 120 one and two bedroom residences. Already 85 percent leased, residents are enjoying a wealth of amenities including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an expansive two-level private community area with a fitness center, resort-style swimming pool and more. For more information call (281) 379-4000 or visit http://www.BelleVintagePark.com.

Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2014 10:00 am

Ribbon cutting held for Belle Vintage Park

Posted in News on Sunday, July 27, 2014 10:00 am.

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Ribbon cutting held for Belle Vintage Park

Affordable Silestone, Soapstone, Granite Countertops in Denver
Affordable Silestone, Soapstone, Granite Countertops in Denver Call: 303-884-0439 granite, granite countertops, kitchens, bathrooms, Tile, tile backsplash, c...

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Steel Gray Polished - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops

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Steel Gray Polished - http://www.stonemastersinc.net - Granite Countertops - Video