Govberg Jewelers joins exclusive Walnut Street retail row. Philadelphia, PA - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Metro Commercial, one of the region’s largest full-service retail real estate firms, announced today that it has negotiated a lease for Govberg Jewelers to locate its flagship store at 1521 Walnut Street in the heart of Philadelphia’s “Rittenhouse Row”

Cleveland, OH - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Cleveland Area Board of Realtors (CABOR) has launched a speakers bureau to talk about the shape of local real estate with Northeast Ohio community and business groups. According to CABOR Speakers Bureau Chair and 2010 CABOR Affiliate Council chair, Dave Iammarino, CABOR is currently seeking presentation engagements for its six speakers with chambers of commerce, and public organizations including Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, parent-teacher groups and other organizations

Saint Paul, MN - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies will increase an average of 3.5 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted later this year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today. This compares to last year’s increase of 5.6 percent and an average increase of 6.9 percent during the past three years.

New York, NY - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Robert V. Hess today announced that the eighth annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE 2010), a survey of individuals living on New York City streets, parks and other public spaces, will be held on the night of Monday, January 25, 2010.

COLUMBUS, OH - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board today approved the issuance of up to $28 million in Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bonds.

Raleigh, NC - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- An elaborate scheme deceived consumers into buying overpriced manufactured homes and agreeing to loans they couldn’t afford, Attorney General Roy Cooper says in a lawsuit filed this week.

Funding approved for North St. Paul, Roseville and St. Paul Port Authority. ST. PAUL, MN - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three projects in the Twin Cities area received a total of $1.8 million in grants to help offset the cost of reclaiming and redeveloping blighted property.

November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging THOMAS PRESTON, 49, of Norwalk, with one count of making a false statement on a mortgage loan application.

Partners Include Denver OED, Colorado DOL, SkillBuild Colorado, Namaste Solar, Homebuilders Institute and Red Rocks Community College. Washington, D.C. - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today highlighted how nearly $100,000 in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will expand Mile High Youth Corps' (MHYC) capacity to prepare young adults in Colorado for new jobs in clean energy, energy efficiency and natural resource restoration.

Washington, DC - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- NeighborWorks America today announced that it awarded a special $100,000 grant to Syracuse-based Home HeadQuarters, Inc., a member of the national NeighborWorks network, to help the organization expand its community stabilization work to the Auburn and Binghamton communities.

November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal funds continue to create jobs and reduce energy use in Phoenix. Nearly 400 homes are being “weatherized” using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), with many more to follow. The city of Phoenix received $7.2 million federal dollars to fund this program, administered by the city’s Neighborhood Services Department.

Lansing, MI - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homelessness ends with a place to live. That is the message the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) in partnership with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) wants to drive home this week during Homeless Awareness Week in Michigan. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has issued a proclamation designating November 15-21 as the official week for this year's homeless awareness activities.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sioux City Economic Development Department is continuing its campaign inviting former residents to move back to Sioux City this holiday season. Initially launched late last year, the “Home Again” marketing initiative will utilize local media including print, tv, bus signage, banners and electronic billboards to target parents and families who want to see their children move back to Sioux City.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Recently President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which: - Provides a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the sales price of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000.

SPRING VALLEY, NY - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The first phase of a comprehensive urban renewal plan to revitalize downtown Spring Valley took a big step forward today as Village, County, Town and State officials joined with representatives of CPC Resources, Inc. and Rockland Housing Action Coalition to celebrate the grand opening of the Spring Valley Senior Apartments.

Washington D.C. - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Enphront Veteran Services $347,215 to add 145 beds for homeless veterans in the Bronx.

Washington, DC - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Senate passed legislation that will increase funding for housing and supportive services for veterans.

Virginia Beach, VA - November 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- When Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) opted to decline his annual pay raise, that was good news for one local veterans' charity.

Redmond, OR - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the continuing unprecedented need for housing assistance in Central Oregon, Housing Works will begin processing the first fifty Mainstream Voucher applicants from the current waiting list.

Washington, D.C. - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representatives including Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, introduced bipartisan legislation to boost solar panel manufacturing in the United States.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Foreclosure Diversion Program is opening up a limited number of spaces in its loan modification tools training for Foreclosure Diversion Program mediators, attorneys affiliated with Maine Attorneys Saving Homes, and Maine State Housing Authority staff, to interested attorneys. The December 2, 2009, training to be held at the Augusta Civic Center will be focused on various loan modification programs and the FDIC’s mod-in-a-box tool that will be used in the program. The training will start at 9 A.M. and end at 4 P.M. The Foreclosure Diversion Program will seek CLE credit approval for this training. The training will cost $50, which must be received before December 2, 2009. The fee is non-refundable

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Scott Perez, an experienced architect, is Indiana's new building code compliance officer. He will oversee building construction and fire code enforcement, elevator and amusement ride inspections, review of construction plans and boiler and pressure vessel inspections for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS).

CHICAGO, IL - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thirty-four Illinois homeowners were made whole this month when the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) repaid all the money lost from their escrow funds earlier this year. The homeowners were in default for taxes and insurance coverage after Chicago-based American Escrow, LLC went out of business without making the obligatory property tax and insurance payments from their escrow accounts.

Atlanta, GA - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On November 16, 2009, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to Mortgage Help Solutions d/b/a www.mortgagehelpsolutions.com located at 160 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 268, Decatur, Georgia 30030 became final.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today praised the release of $129,827 to two Connecticut corporations to help individuals acquire the skills needed to enter and advance in a clean energy economy. The grants will be used for green building training programs in Hartford and Bridgeport. The funds were released by the U.S. Department of Labor as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Senator Eileen M. Daily (D-Westbrook), Senate Chair of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, took part in an East Haddam groundbreaking ceremony today to formally begin construction of a new Goodspeed Musicals initiative. The $5.5 million project represents significant economic development for the town and region.

RALEIGH, NC - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery & Investment (OERI) Director Dempsey Benton, Wilson Mayor Bruce Rose and Bob Kucab, Executive Director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for affordable apartments at the Springbrook Apartments construction site in Wilson on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 11:00 a.m. The site is located on Cresent Drive, off Forest Hills Road.

RALEIGH, NC - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery & Investment (OERI) Director Dempsey Benton, Wilson Mayor Bruce Rose and Bob Kucab, Executive Director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for affordable apartments at the Springbrook Apartments construction site in Wilson on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 11:00 a.m. The site is located on Cresent Drive, off Forest Hills Road.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today reported that the U.S. Senate has approved an amendment they introduced that would increase funding to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans.

COLUMBUS, OH - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hundreds of developers, real estate agents, lenders, property managers and other affordable housing stakeholders are meeting in Columbus this week to discuss issues impacting the housing industry both locally and nationally.