Washington, DC - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Congressman Al Green (TX-09) called on private mortgage servicers to better address the needs of struggling minority homeowners during a hearing of the House Committee on Financial Services regarding the current foreclosure crisis.

Jackson, MS - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE-EGP) announced today that it is scheduled to present at the Wells Fargo 13th Annual Global Real Estate Securities Conference. EastGroup's presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:05 a.m., EST. The presentation will be live via web cast and is accessible at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/wa58/egp/ the day of the conference and will be archived at the same URL for 90 days.

Columbia, MD - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, the Pollin family and representatives from Enterprise Homes, Inc. today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Linda Joy and Kenneth Jay Pollin Memorial Community Development in northeast Washington.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Hawai‘i will be eligible to apply for more than $21 million in grants distributed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 2010. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano released the application guidance for the DHS grants programs today.

Washington, DC - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colorado homebuyers will be able to take advantage of the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit for an additional three months, Congresswoman Betsy Markey announced today

Washington, DC - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Baron Hill has successfully ensured that his property tax relief language included in the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 will be incorporated into the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, H.R. 4213. The bill, which is scheduled for a vote tomorrow, would extend Hill’s property tax relief for another year.

December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A 27-year-old Webster man pleaded guilty today in federal court to bilking more than $7 million from at least 15 real estate mortgage lending companies between 2005 and 2008. Appearing before United States District Court Judge Richard Kyle in St. Paul, Dustin LaFavre pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this crime. LaFavre was charged on November 5, 2009

Washington, D.C. - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) today participated in a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee seeking solutions to the current mortgage crisis. Klein described the serious problems in the South Florida housing market for the Committee and witnesses, and said that it “is essential for banks and the federal government to implement effective programs to increase loan modifications and prevent foreclosures. It is simply not acceptable to watch responsible families in our community lose the homes they have worked so hard for.”

December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAUL MAYOTTE, 69, of Brookfield, the CFO of Girouard Associates, Inc. and RRG Investments, LLC, both of which are owned by Connecticut real estate developer Richard Girouard, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to one count of an indictment charging MAYOTTE with conspiring with Girouard to commit wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud an investor out of money.

Albany, NY - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Deborah VanAmerongen, commissioner of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced $32 million in grants that will help to build or rehabilitate 755 affordable homes for low-income families, frail elderly and people with disabilities.

Dallas, TX - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Equity Based Services, Inc. (“EBS”) announced today that it has acquired Advantage Self Storage in Plano, Texas, located at 3900 McDermott Road.

Washington, DC - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is introducing legislation to help provide more affordable housing options for military service members.

Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families in 37 counties WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to counties in Arkansas and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that it is immediately suspending Equitable Trust Mortgage Corporation (ETM) of Baltimore, Maryland, thereby preventing the Company from originating and underwriting new FHA-insured mortgages. FHA is imposing this action because ETM improperly overcharged 37 borrowers for broker and loan origination fees in excess of what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development currently allows. HUD discovered that these unauthorized fees were charged to a substantially greater percentage of minority borrowers (68 percent) than non-minorities.

AUGUSTA, ME - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that third quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing modest increase in home foreclosures in Maine. In general, foreclosure activity at Maine banks and credit unions appears to be lower than in many other states and it does not pose a threat to the stability of Maine-chartered financial institutions.

Topeka, KS - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has launched a new appliance rebate program that rewards low-income households for replacing old, electricity-guzzling household appliances with new energy efficient models. The State Energy Efficient Appliance Replacement Program, or SEEARP, provides rebates to consumers who purchase ENERGY STAR® refrigerators, clothes washers, freezers, dishwashers and window air conditioners. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, SEEARP will provide $2.6 million for the replacement of an estimated 4800 appliances

DES MOINES, DC - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved nearly $13 million in federal resources to finance the development of The Rose of Council Bluffs, a 76 unit affordable housing development for older residents

December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To safeguard, it is recommended that individuals supply their own medium-sized garbage bags double bagged and their own shovels.

Dundalk, MD - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will host a Congressional Forum on “Opportunities for Home Ownership.” Maryland has the 9th highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to Realty Trac Inc., a California-based research firm. The homes of more than 6,600 families in Maryland went into foreclosure in October 2009 alone. Thousands more Marylanders face mortgage scams. Many others are considering refinancing or purchasing a new home.

CHICAGO, IL - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) and his staff recently volunteered with the Young Leaders of Korean American Community Services (KACS) at an event to weatherize over a hundred living units for local senior residents

Atlanta, GA - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On December 4, 2009, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to Groupers Property Management Associates located at 1050 E. Piedmont Road, Suite E-167, Marietta, Georgia 30062 became final.

TAMPA, FL - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced a change of leadership as the organization looks toward 2010. Kevin Kelso, chief marketing officer and executive vice president of the Farmers Group, will become IBHS chairman at the end of this year. In addition, Carl Hedde, vice president of Munich Re America, will become IBHS vice chairman. Both appointments were lauded during the Dec. 4 IBHS board of directors meeting.

PIERRE, S.D. - December 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A recent homeless count and survey conducted by South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC) indicates that the economy has impacted the number of homeless individuals and families in South Dakota.

December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eight Delaware emergency and transitional shelters for the homeless received a financial boost from the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) to continue to bring needed services to the homeless in lower Delaware. A total of $100,233 in federal funds was awarded to homeless providers through a competitive application process in which DSHA has participated for twenty-one consecutive years.

December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continuing his commitment to California’s veterans, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) Secretary Roger Brautigan and commanding officer of the Naval Base Ventura County Captain James McHugh to celebrate the grand opening of California Veterans Home, Ventura (CVH-Ventura), the newest state veterans home which will provide housing and long-term care for many of California’s veterans

WASHINGTON, DC - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it is charging an Andover, Massachusetts, condominium association, a property management company, and two individuals with discriminating against families with children. HUD accuses Property Management of Andover, Inc., and its property manager, and Stonecleave Village Association, and its president, with unlawfully charging fees to parents for allowing their children to play in the common area

Watch Robert Shemin's personal invitation to you for this event: http://www.ctreia.com/events.php?a=v&i=222 West Hartford, CT - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Once considered "least likely to succeed," Robert overcame severe learning disabilities and seemingly insurmountable odds to become a real estate millionaire and one of the most charismatic and sought-after lecturers and motivational speakers in the country. He's helped thousands of hardworking Americans of all different backgrounds attain total financial freedom for life even though most of his proteges had no investment experience, no financial savvy, and zero money in the bank. Robert will share the wealth lessons he's learned in nearly 20 years of successful real estate investing. Robert Shemin has been featured in dozens of national magazines and TV shows, and is the author of ten best-selling books on real estate and wealth-building.

Albany, NY - December 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor David A. Paterson today announced that nearly $25 million has been awarded to fund homeless housing projects and related support services throughout the State.

STILLWATER, Okla. - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you are a looking to purchase a home and qualify for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, you are in luck – the tax credit has been extended.

NEW YORK, NY - December 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Board of Directors voted today to approve $850 million in tax-exempt and taxable Multi-Family Housing Revenue Bonds for the construction and permanent financing for affordable housing developments in New York City.