California:

Inman: State bans advance fees for loan mod help
10/19/2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Oct. 11 signed into law a bill, SB 94, that prohibits any person from demanding or collecting an advance fee from a consumer for loan modification or mortgage loan forbearance services. 

National:

Government unveils new mortgage help
By Martin Crutsinger
10/19/2009
The Obama administration is unveiling a new program to provide support to state and local housing agencies to provide help to thousands of home buyers and renters.