Consumer advocacy groups are pushing for mortgage servicers to assist more borrowers in an effort to stave off more foreclosures. Inman news has more:

States should require mortgage servicers to negotiate loan terms with borrowers to prevent foreclosure and allow borrowers to pause a foreclosure sale should the servicer violate that requirement, two consumer advocacy groups said in a report released today.

The Center for Responsible Lending and Consumers Union said their recommendations would close gaps in foreclosure safeguards left by new federal mortgage servicing rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and by last year’s national mortgage settlement among 49 state attorneys general, federal officials and the five biggest mortgage servicers.