Relocation in brief

Tristate foreclosure sales trail national average

New York had the second-lowest rate of foreclosure sales in the nation in 2010, according to a new report, as measured as a percentage of houses sold.

Only Iowa had a lower rate of foreclosure sales than New York”™s rate of 7.7 percent as calculated by RealtyTrac, which publishes data on foreclosure sales activity in 38 states, not including Connecticut. New Jersey had nearly twice the foreclosure sale rate as New York.

Foreclosure houses accounted for 26 percent of all U.S. residential sales during 2010, down from 29 percent the year before. The Irvine, Calif.-based company also reported that the number of houses sold under foreclosure dropped 31 percent from 2009.

“Foreclosure sales in the fourth quarter faced the twin headwinds of the expired homebuyer tax credit ”“ which began to stifle sales volume during the third quarter ”“ and the foreclosure documentation controversy, which hit in the fourth quarter and temporarily froze sales of foreclosures from several major lenders,” said James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac, in a prepared statement. “Given those factors, it”™s not surprising that in the fourth quarter foreclosure sales volume hit its lowest level since the first quarter of 2008.”

Wiggin & Dana moves in Stamford

Wiggin and Dana L.L.P. is leasing 23,000 square feet of space at 2 Stamford Plaza, relocating there from 400 Atlantic St. in Stamford.

The law firm took an 11-year lease with RFR Realty, a New York City-based company that owns 2 Stamford Plaza.

Renaissance Capital relocating within Greenwich

IPO analysis company Renaissance Capital is leasing 5,000 square feet of space at 165 Mason St. in Greenwich, moving there from 2 Greenwich Plaza.

Stamford-based Choyce Peterson advised Renaissance Capital in its lease negotiations. The building is owned by Pascarella Mason Street L.L.C.

Former Cartus employee indicted in Microsoft theft

A former Cartus Corp. employee reportedly was charged with embezzling more than $450,000 from a Microsoft Corp. debit card account that supports interns at the high-tech giant.

Danbury-based Cartus helps corporations find homes for employees being relocated, among other services.

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Maryvone Phanhsiry pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and identity theft. Prosecutors allege she completed applications for unauthorized debit cards from a U.S. bank in the name of Microsoft.