Monthly Archives: July 2011

Los Angeles, CA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Marking its entrance into the Los Angeles market, national landscape services provider The Brickman Group has acquired Dworsky Cos., one of L.A.’s leading commercial landscape services firms. The acquisition of Dworsky, a family-owned company founded in 2002, gives Brickman a stronger foothold in the Southern California market — with more than 1,000 employees — as it builds upon its nationwide expansion. Dworsky is headed by Founder Dave Dworsky, who in his 20 years in the industry has stamped an expansive mark servicing the Greater Los Angeles area. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Washington, DC - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales increased in June following a wide swing down in April and then up in May, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Activity increased in the West and South but declined in the Midwest and Northeast; all regions show strong double-digit gains from a year ago.

EUGENE, OR - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce IDX Broker has been enabled on the professional real estate website of Naples, Florida Broker Daniel Baber of Baber Realty. By adopting a customizable IDX solution, Baber has synced his website to the Sunshine MLS database, extracting raw listing data and seamlessly integrating it onto the search page he hosts. With IDX Broker software, Baber has created a dynamic online property search for his clients and other Naples area home seekers.

DENVER, CO - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Results from the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, recognize RE/MAX for providing the highest overall consumer satisfaction for both home buyers and home sellers. In last year’s study, two different companies ranked the highest in each category, but this year home buyers and sellers both rated RE/MAX the highest.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The remodeling market slipped under pressure from a sluggish economy according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI), which dipped during the second quarter to 43.9 from the first quarter result of 46.5. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity, like calls for bids. Current market conditions for the second quarter of 2011 fell to 44.8 from 46.1 in the first quarter. Future market indications dropped to 43.0 from 46.8 in the previous quarter.

Los Angeles, CA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) has been awarded the architectural contract for the College of the Desert’s new Palm Springs West Valley Campus, which sets new benchmarks for integrating sustainable design and high-performance building technologies into the academic curriculum. HGA is directing master planning, programming, design and sustainability of the multi-phase campus.

Torrance, CA - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Keystone Pacific Property Management, a California-based community association management company, welcomes Kara Gonzalez as its newest community association manager. Gonzalez joins the firm with 15 years of management experience.

NEW YORK, NY - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle has completed a new direct lease for building owner Eastgate Realty with Cerberus Capital Management LP at 875 Third Avenue. The private investment firm signed a 10-year lease for 110,000 square feet at the Class A, 720,000-square-foot office building.

BOSTON, MA - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boston area is bucking a national trend of falling home prices, meaning many metro residents cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. Solving this issue tops the agenda at a regional forum on Thursday, July 28, in Boston. The Bring Workers Home forum, sponsored by the National Housing Conference (NHC) and National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) brings together national, state, and local leaders to explore the issues and identify effective housing strategies.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Vincent C. Gray and D.C. Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) Director Matt Cary today announced a furniture-donation program for homeless veterans and their families who live in the District.

Rio Rancho, NM - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Canyon Gate Real Estate Services, an Associa company, is pleased to announce it has expanded its client portfolio. Canyon Gate is pleased to announce its recent partnership with The Islands at Rio Rancho.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of Congress will today consider proposals to suspend or eliminate a federal program that provides services to more than 2 million homeless persons each year at a time when homelessness is rising dramatically.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced that in the first half of 2011, the company issued $10.3 billion in MBS backed by new multifamily acquisitions delivered by our lenders, and sold $5.3 billion in MBS pools and GeMSTM structured transactions, enhancing tradable float and supporting liquidity in the multifamily MBS market.

Chicago, IL - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boulder Group, a national single tenant net lease investment brokerage firm, has been selected as the exclusive advisor for the sale of a Walgreens portfolio consisting of four properties. Three of the properties are located within the Chicago MSA and the remaining asset is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Torrance, CA - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lee & Associates, the nation’s largest broker-owned commercial real estate provider, has promoted Marshal J. Vogt to principal. Vogt joined Lee & Associates Orange as a runner/associate in August 2006 and has been a significant contributor to the company’s revenue since his arrival. He is an office broker specializing in representing landlords and tenants with the selling and leasing of office properties.

EUGENE, OR - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With new accounts being added daily, IDX, Inc. announces the latest addition to the growing network of agents and brokers utilizing the dynamic IDX Broker software: San Luis Obispo County real estate pro...

NEW YORK, NY - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Company LLP signed a 15-year renewal for 44,851 square feet at the Class A, 457,250-square-foot office building.

Washington, DC - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.62 percent based on loans closed in June. This is a decrease of 0.12 percent from the previous month.

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J. - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thirteen new members representing a broad range of commercial real estate-related professions have been accepted as members of the Industrial and Office Brokers Association of the New York Metropolitan Area (IOREBA). Dating back more than eight decades, IOREBA now has members in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Los Angeles, CA - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kitty Wallace, Executive Vice President of Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, just listed The Brockman Lofts, a mixed-use property with 80 residential loft condominiums and 9,968 square feet of retail space. The retail space is currently occupied by Bottega Louie, one of the highest grossing restaurants in the City. The property is located on 7th Street Restaurant Row at 520 W. 7th Street in Downtown Los Angeles, California. It is being offered un-priced.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 5.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 22, 2011.

HILLSIDE, N.J. - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the second year in a row, the Community Action Committee of NAIOP New Jersey conducted a food drive and volunteer day to benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. More than 50 members, friends and staff of the commercial real estate association spent a full day transporting and unloading food donations, packing pasta and preparing food bags for seniors at the Hillside, N.J. headquarters of CFB, which provides food for 1,500 non-profit groups across New Jersey. NAIOP New Jersey members collected more than 450 pounds of food at their companies' workplaces, as well as cash donations at industry events and through a Virtual Food Drive

CLEVELAND, OH - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the wake of reports that banks and mortgage processors have continued a practice known as “robo-signing”—forging signatures and submitting false affidavits—U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. in Cleveland has received federal resources to prevent homelessness among at-risk Cuyahog...

ST. PAUL, MI - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer announced recently that applications are being accepted for grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes.

BOLTON, MS - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Suppo...

Joppa, MD - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the nation’s foreclosure crisis persists, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) announced today his office will host a foreclosure prevention workshop in Joppa on Thursday, July 28, 2011. The workshop will give Maryland homeowners a chance to meet one-on-one with their mortgage lender, servicers and counselors. This is the fourth such workshop Congressman Ruppersberger has hosted since 2010, helping more than 100 families facing foreclosure.

July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — Hillsborough County Affordable Housing and the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) are considering a merger of their Section 8 programs - the housing assistance program for low-income families. Following are answers to some questions that are important in the decision.

San Francisco, CA - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco has appointed Elena Andreadakis as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Mt. Laurel, NJ - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MAMCO Property Management, an Associa company, is excited to announce that is has added to its diverse New Jersey client base and will offer management services to Knightsbridge Community Association.