ANNAPOLIS, MD - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maryland Association of REALTORS headquarters. The Senator is a strong supporter of the housing industry and recently introduced legislation to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit for another six months, until June 1, 2010.

October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) released a statement regarding the housing crisis in New Orleans. During his first 10 months in office, Congressman Cao has been consistently vocal on this issue

New standard home office tax deduction would help 180,000 Hoosier entrepreneurs claim up to $1,500 in simplified relief. Washington, DC - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seeking to make it easier for Indiana’s 180,000 home-based small businesses to take advantage of an important tax deduction, Senator Evan Bayh today proposed legislation to simplify the federal home office tax deduction and provide small businesses additional help to succeed.

Atlanta, GA - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- the Notice of Intent to Revoke Annual License issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance ("Department") became final against Mortgage Consultant Services, Inc., mortgage broker license number 16862, formerly located at 180 Victoria Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.

Several Arkansas Counties extend October 10 deadline. LITTLE ROCK, AR - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- For residents of 31 Arkansas counties, personal property and real estate taxes can be paid online at http://www.arkansas.gov/ or over the phone, with most counties extending the weekend October 10 deadline to midnight on Tuesday, October 13. Residents should be sure to check the full listing of counties and deadlines available at www.Arkansas.gov.

Several Arkansas Counties extend October 10 deadline. LITTLE ROCK, AR - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- For residents of 31 Arkansas counties, personal property and real estate taxes can be paid online at http://www.arkansas.gov/ or over the phone, with most counties extending the weekend October 10 deadline to midnight on Tuesday, October 13. Residents should be sure to check the full listing of counties and deadlines available at www.Arkansas.gov.

October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Four years after filing a federal lawsuit, the CT Fair Housing Center and the State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities have settled a landmark housing discrimination case with New Horizons Village, an apartment complex which markets itself as providing independent housing for people with severe physical disabilities. Under the consent decree, New Horizons will cease requiring tenants to open their private medical records for review and to show that they can “live independently”.

Washington, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) today announced that 30 low-income families in Hidalgo County are closer to reaching the American dream thanks to $1 million awarded to Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc., by the U.S. Treasury Department.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that solar energy installations in New Jersey increased ten-fold since 2006.

NEW YORK, NY - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Senator Jeff Klein (D-34th Senate District) and Senator Thomas Morahan (R-38th Senate District) presented new data today showing the impact of neglected foreclosed properties in Rockland County.

Boston, MA - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lisa Torres, 40, formerly of Johnston, pleaded guilty today to a $1.7 million mortgage fraud scheme in which she purchased properties that had recently been foreclosed upon, and then used the names of straw purchasers in sham sales to finagle mortgage financing.

Montpelier, Vt. - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jim Douglas today announced the appointment of Tayt Brooks as Commissioner of the Department of Housing, Economic and Community Development.

ST. LOUIS, MO - October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Milton H. Ohlsen III was sentenced to 30 months in prison on bank fraud charges after overstating his income on his home mortgage application, and in a separate case, sentenced to 30 months in prison on a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today. The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition to the prison sentence, Ohlsen was ordered to pay restitution of $99,871

October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Freddie Mac Executive Vice President for Community Relations and Freddie Mac Foundation President and CEO, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., to announce nearly $1 million in grant funding to two Montgomery County organizations serving homeless families. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) will receive $450,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to continue the Partnership for Permanent Housing program, which relocates families directly from homelessness to permanent housing. The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), operators of the Greentree Family Shelter, will receive $425,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to provide intensive services to some of the County’s most vulnerable homeless families --- to move them quickly to permanent housing.

Atlanta, GA - October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Real estate professional Valerie Levin has just been promoted to senior recruiting director at Prudential Georgia Realty. With the firm since the start of 2007, she previously served as assistant broker and part-time recruiter at the firm’s Midtown office. Levin will continue to be based out [...]

October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The newly enacted Foreclosure Diversion Program seeks applicants who are interested in being trained as foreclosure mediators in preparation for the program’s state-wide launch in 2010. Professionals trained in the areas of law, accounting, banking, or mediation as well individuals with work experience that includes foreclosures, credit and collections work, or work done on behalf of creditors or debtors in actions to collect on mortgages, notes, or debts are encouraged to apply

Senator Looney says environmental legislation will boost jobs, economic development in New Haven and across Connecticut. October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A measure included in one of the budget implementer bills passed by the state legislature will help stimulate economic development in New Haven and elsewhere while also preserving the environment, says Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). The legislation establishes a maximum $25 million tax credit for taxpayers who build buildings that meet specific energy and environmental standards.

Minnesota facility awarded LEED EB O&M Silver rating. SHAKOPEE, MN, September 24, 2009 -- The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded a LEED® Silver designation to the BASF Construction Chemicals - Building Systems headquarters and office/research complex located in Shakopee, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. This is the first BASF building to earn LEED Certification and only the third building to earn LEED EB O&M certification in Minnesota

ATLANTA, GA - October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Georgia property owners in flood-prone areas can get free advice on making their structures disaster resistant. Informal workshops are being held at home improvement stores and hardware stores in Cobb, Walker and DeKalb counties

WASHINGTON, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today announced that the House of Representatives voted to approve the final Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which includes $5 million for the purchase of approximately 30 homes in Wayne and Pompton Lakes located in the Passaic River basin.

Salem, OR - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Oregon Housing and Community Services has been awarded $457,390 to support foreclosure prevention counseling throughout the state.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Duke Energy today announced it will purchase “green energy” credits from two North Carolina companies that will use solar power to produce hot water and to heat and cool buildings.

Washington, DC - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded 270 housing choice vouchers to the Dallas Housing Authority. The vouchers are a replacement for units in Rhoads Terrace, a public housing development that the Dallas Housing Authority demolished.

Washington, DC - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- As a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) is usually the one asking the questions – but today, he appeared as a witness in front of the subcommittee, testifying in support of his bill to help prevent veterans from becoming homeless.

Washington, DC - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to address the potential threat to the financial system posed by resecuritization of existing residential mortgage backed securities, informally referred to as ‘re-remic.’

SPRINGFIELD, MO - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Wichita, Kan., man and a Carl Junction, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a $1.2 million mortgage fraud scheme

October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced today that two Connecticut housing counseling organizations will receive $203,950 to assist families facing foreclosure of their homes. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) will receive $85,150 and Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, Inc. will receive $118,800 from the [...]

Money will Help Local Organization Disburse Home Loans to Low-Income Sacramentans. WASHINGTON, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) announced today that the U.S. Treasury Department has released $1,000,000 to Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (SNHS). SNHS is a loan fund that provides gap funding and comprehensive home ownership and foreclosure prevention counseling for local low-income individuals and families. Their work has helped countless families achieve the dream of home ownership, and many more stay in their homes despite the recent economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell and Ken Calvert (R-CA) are inviting their colleagues in the House to join them in support of the bipartisan Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, H.R. 1245, to extend and expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the approval of a grant totaling more than $1.8 million to elevate seven flood-prone homes in West Norriton, Montgomery County