Monthly Archives: March 2010

BOSTON, MA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has approved $150,000 in funding to help create 11 new units of affordable sober housing for women with children in New Bedford.

WALTHAM, MA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the number of single-family homes put under agreement in February was up 16 percent over the same time last year, while condominiums were up 25 percent. February marks the eighth straight month that the number of both single-family homes and condominiums put under agreement had increased over the year before

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today announced that landlord James Stevens, his company Fountain View Apartments Inc., and his former rental manager, Mildred Chastain, have agreed to pay $415,000 in monetary damages and civil penalties to settle a Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging that they discriminated against African Americans and families with children at Fountain View Apartments, a 42-unit apartment complex in Orange City, Fla.

Washington, DC - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH), with 11 other Members of the Ohio delegation, have sent a letter to President Obama demanding that the administration reassess the criteria used to develop the $1.5 billion “innovation fund” to provide grants to “the states that are the hardest hit by this housing crisis.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a longtime champion of providing assistance to low-income families to heat their homes, today began an effort to request full funding for this critical program for the next fiscal year. Markey joined with other key lawmakers to circulate a letter to all 435 House Members seeking signatures on a joint letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, urging that at least $5.1 billion be provided to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program in 2011, as well as nearly $600 million in additional emergency funds for 2011.“

WASHINGTON, DC - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- An advisory services panel from the Urban Land Institute is visiting Oklahoma City March 1-5, 2010, to provide strategic advice on the redeveloping the “Core to Shore” area of Oklahoma City.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Buyer market conditions remain in most Illinois housing markets as January marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year home sales increases while the statewide median price logged its first uptick since September 2007. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in January 2010 were up 14.0 percent, totaling 5,483 homes sold compared to January 2009 sales of 4,809 homes. The median price in January 2010 was $145,300, up 0.2 percent from $145,000 in January 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

'ELE„ELE, HI - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The County has acquired from Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (A&B) the fee simple title to a 75-acre parcel of land in 'Ele'ele that will provide future affordable housing opportunities for Kaua„i residents.

Tampa, FL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The tragedies of the recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti serve as a reminder that parts of the United States are highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of this unpredictable natural disaster.

ORLANDO, FL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in January, marking 17 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.Existing home sales increased 24 percent last month with a total of 10,465 homes sold statewide compared to 8,444 homes sold in January 2009, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 81 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure

Harrisburg, PA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to provide property tax relief to Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans, Rep. Thomas P. Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia) is joining with Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Lehigh/Berks) to introduce a pair of bills designed to help disabled veterans.

March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Senators Andrew J. McDonald (D-Stamford) and John Kissel (R-Enfield), the Senate Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Judiciary Committee, today unveiled a new legislative proposal designed to make banks and other financial institutions work more closely with homeowners during foreclosure proceedings.

Washington, DC - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, today sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department encouraging them to forbid mortgage providers from initiating or continuing the foreclosure process until they determine whether a homeowner is eligible for mortgage loan assistance through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). The Treasury is reportedly considering this change as part of its loan modification program

Philadelphia, PA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Philadelphia Housing Authority announced today it would begin accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program on-line, through its Web site, pha.phila.gov.

FRANKFORT, KY - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading mortgage regulators, as Gov. Steve Beshear accepted DFI’s certificate of mortgage accreditation.

Houston, TX - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Al Green (TX-09) and His Excellency Raymond Joseph, Haitian Ambassador to the United States, discussed current conditions and humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti, following January's 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the island nation.

Sanford, ME - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reliant Mortgage Company, LLC is proud to announce the opening of its newest branch office located at 909B Main Street (The Garnsey Insurance Building) in downtown Sanford, ME.