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STATE OF AFFAIRS: WEST » IN THE NEWS New Mexico raNk: 16 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate october 2013 1.9% Unemployment Rate 2.7% 6.6% year ago 2.1% 3.7% 6.8% year-over-year chaNge -10.2% -25.6% -2.9% Top County 90+ Day Delinquency Rate torraNce couNty Foreclosure Rate october 2013 2.3% 5.3% year ago 2.8% 7.1% year-over-year chaNge -17.5% -26.4% Top Core-Based Statistical Area graNts, NM 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate october 2013 2.0% 4.5% year ago 2.4% 5.4% year-over-year chaNge -16.0% -16.4% note: The 90+ day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the October 2013 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary October 2013 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of LPS Data & Analytics. Oregon rank: 13 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate OctOber 2013 1.6% Unemployment Rate 2.9% 7.7% year agO 2.2% 3.1% 8.5% year-Over-year change -26.3% -8.4% -9.4% Top County 90+ Day Delinquency Rate crOOk cOunty Foreclosure Rate OctOber 2013 1.9% 5.7% year agO 2.5% 6.7% year-Over-year change -24.2% -15.1% Top Core-Based Statistical Area Prineville, Or 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate OctOber 2013 1.9% 5.7% year agO 2.5% 6.7% year-Over-year change -24.2% -15.1% note: The 90+ day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the October 2013 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary October 2013 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of LPS Data & Analytics. 140 Wells Fargo Announces Plan to Assist Portland Homebuyers Portlanders looking to purchase a home during the holidays received some help from Wells Fargo. The San Francisco-based bank, NeighborWorks America, and the Portland Housing Center partnered to establish the $5.15 million Portland NeighborhoodLIFT, a program to help moderate-income residents of Portland, Oregon, purchase a home. "With the holiday shopping season about to start, this program will help Portlanders make one of the most important purchases of their life: a home of their own," said Portland Mayor Charlie Hales. "This public-private partnership has the potential to make a huge difference to Portland residents and neighborhoods." Wells Fargo recognizes that continued consumer education is critical to sustained recovery, so its LIFT programs provide both down payment assistance and homebuyer education in areas most impacted by the financial crisis. Portland is one of 22 housing markets across the country to benefit from the $180 million Wells Fargo has committed through its LIFT programs to support sustainable housing in cities affected by the economic downturn. Since February 2012, LIFT programs have helped create nearly 4,800 homeowners. The Portland NeighborhoodLIFT program kicked off with a free homebuyer event on December 13 and 14 which included a Wells Fargo Affordable Home Tour viewing center where attendees previewed homes available for sale in local neighborhoods. "Portland was impacted by the housing crisis and while mortgages are available at low-interest rates, many families are unable to purchase a home because they struggle with making the down payment," said Don Pearson, community banking regional president for Wells Fargo. "NeighborhoodLIFT program can help local homebuyers realize their dreams of owning a home." Applicants must meet certain criteria including annual income not exceeding 120 percent of the Portland area median income ($83,300 for a family of four; income maximums vary depending on family size and loan product); an eight-hour homebuyer education session with the Portland Housing Center, a member of the NeighborWorks network and HUD-approved counseling agency; a commitment to stay in the home for five years; and qualification for a first mortgage on the property. Participating homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any qualified lender, and Portland Housing Center will determine eligibility and administer the down payment assistance. Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home in Portland in order to receive $15,000 toward their down payment. In addition to providing grants for homebuyers, the Wells Fargo program will also donate a total of $500,000 to Portland nonprofit organizations in support of the local housing market. M&T Bank Takes Action to Help Unemployed Borrowers Who ever heard of banks helping their unemployed borrowers find jobs? Though this may be hard to believe, the concept is becoming a reality thanks to a company in Bend, Oregon, named NextJob. This company's motto is "A job for every person and a person for every job." Realizing that job loss in the current economy is the major reason homeowners default on their mortgages, management of M&T Bank in Buffalo, New York, recently announced it is offering a pilot program of NextJob's services to unemployed borrowers at no cost. Participants work directly with a NextJob coach to develop a detailed job search action plan, create an effective resume and cover letter, and analyze career direction options. They are also trained to identify skills that could transfer to another industry or field, discover "hidden" jobs that are open but never advertised, learn how to effectively use the latest Internet tools, and prepare for successful interviews. "We were impressed with the services offered by NextJob, and as a bank committed to the customers and communities we serve, we felt this would be an effective program to offer our unemployed borrowers," explained Mark Mendel, SVP of customer asset management at M&T Bank.

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