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» ULS was ranked No. 41 on the list for adding 482 jobs in the past three years. In the real estate industry category, ULS was ranked No. 2. The Pittsburgh-based company also has offices in Broomfield and Littleton, Colorado. Boulder Daily Camera also ranked ULS No. 14 on its list of the largest full-time employers in the private sector in Broomfield and Boulder counties. To fill a wide range of open positions, ULS held a job fair last month in Westminster, Colorado, seeking people with mortgage industry experience. Salaries ranged from $35,000 to $75,000. RE/MAX Report Shows Prices Continued to Climb in November Even as the market headed into its slow season, sales numbers stood well above their year-ago levels in November, according to RE/MAX's National Housing Report released in mid-December. The report shows home sales were up 15.7 percent year-over-year in November, the second highest annual increase recorded in 2012, bested only by October's 17.8 percent yearly rise. According to Denver-based RE/MAX, November is the 17th consecutive month in which sales have posted year-over-year gains. Of the 52 metros included in RE/MAX's survey, 49 reported higher sales than November 2011, and 37 of those markets saw doubledigit increases, including: Providence, Rhode Island (62.6 percent); Burlington, Vermont (50.8 percent); Manchester, New Hampshire (38.8 percent); Nashville, Tennessee (35.7 percent); Tampa, Florida (35.1 percent); and Boston, Massachusetts (32.0 percent). Prices also rose both on a monthly and yearly basis. The median price for homes sold in November was $163,750, 3.6 percent higher than October and 6.9 percent higher than November 2011. November is the 10th straight month to experience year-over-year price growth. RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly commented, "2012 has been a great turn-around year for housing, with prices and sales moving beyond where we were last year. We're ending the year the way we started it, with better than expected performance. If we can get more reasonable regulation from Washington and if mortgage availability improves, 2013 will see a much stronger housing market." Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to the continued rise in prices is dwindling inventory. The average number of homes for sale in November was about 8.0 percent lower than in October and 29.1 percent lower than the previous year. As of November, month-to-month inventories have fallen for 29 consecutive months. The decline in inventory is something of a double-edged sword: While it boosts prices, it also creates difficulties for potential buyers in dried-up markets. According to RE/ MAX, some areas—including San Francisco and Los Angeles—posted inventory levels as low as 1.1 months' supply in November, well below the national average of 5.6 months. A balanced market will sit somewhere between five and six months' supply. The Castle Law Group Honored with USFN Award of Excellence The Castle Law Group, LLC, was named a recipient of USFN's 2012 Award of Excellence. Based in Denver, Colorado, The Castle Law Group provides legal representation to mortgage lending and servicing firms, focusing on commercial, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and mortgage-related litigation. The Award of Excellence program was initiated in 1993 to recognize and encourage USFN member firms to develop and maintain high standards of service for clients and their communities. The Award of Excellence is given annually to USFN member firms that meet rigorous standards for education, professionalism, industry volunteerism, and community and charitable involvement. "We are honored to be recognized by USFN again this year for our commitment to the industry and the community," said Caren Castle, partner at The Castle Law Group and a board member and immediate past president of USFN. "We are privileged to have such extremely dedicated and generous individuals on the Castle team." Recipients of USFN's Award of Excellence are celebrated each year at the organization's Annual Member Education Retreat. Founded in 1988, USFN is a 50-state trade association serving the mortgage banking industry. Connecticut rank: 8 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate november 2012 3.06% Unemployment Rate 5.04% 8.8% year ago 2.93% 5.11% 8.3% percent point change 4.4% -1.3% 6.0% Top County Windham CounTy 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate november 2012 4.30% 7.86% year ago 4.54% 7.37% percent point change -5.2% 6.6% Top Core-Based Statistical area WillimanTiC, CT 90+ Day Delinquency Rate november 2012 4.30% Foreclosure Rate 7.86% year ago 4.54% 7.37% percent point change -5.2% 6.6% note: The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the November 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary November 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. Delaware rank: 20 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate november 2012 3.97% Unemployment Rate 3.04% 6.7% year ago 3.00% 3.76% 7.2% percent point change 32.4% -19.1% -6.9% Top County KenT CounTy 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate november 2012 5.63% 3.85% year ago 3.92% 4.69% percent point change 43.8% -17.8% Top Core-Based Statistical Area Dover, De 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate november 2012 5.63% 3.85% year ago 3.92% 4.69% percent point change KNOW THIS 43.8% According to Zillow, 18.5% of Denver residents were living mortgage-free at the end of Q3 2012. VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM -17.8% note: The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the November 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary November 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. 105

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