Monthly Archives: July 2010

HOUSTON, TX - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Obama Administration’s “Recovery Summer” initiative, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan will travel to Houston, TX on Monday, August 2 to tour Kennedy Park Place, a new affordable housing redevelopment that is currently under construction using $7.8 million in HUD Recovery Act funds.

EUGENE, OR - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ikem Chukumerije of Westside Premier Estates has adopted the dynamic IDX Broker software, upgrading his real estate website by enabling Combined L.A.-Westside MLS (CLAW) listings to be displayed directly on his search page. The additional benefits of adopting a customized IDX solution are monumental for both real estate professionals, like Chukumerije, and their clients. With IDX Broker software, the website of Chukumerije is now ready to assist home seekers in finding the perfect property without ever leaving their computer

EUGENE, OR - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce the latest addition to the growing group of real estate professionals updating their websites, Pat Carroll of Century 21 Premier. As a member of RealTracs MLS (RTMLS), Carroll has long had access to thousands of area property listings. But now, thanks to IDX Broker software, the benefits of searching RTMLS are available to home seekers on the website of Carroll. Goodlettsville, Tennessee homes are now easier to search for than ever before, with the IDX enabled website hosted by Carroll

July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, tonight voted for the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act which included $1 million for the I-74 Bridge. This is in addition to the $1.2 million he secured last year.

ORLANDO, FL - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets and gizmos, motivating advice from leading real estate trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Realtors’® 2010 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new practices, gain fresh approaches and boost business.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that the fiscal year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives Thursday, includes over $1 million in funding secured by Rep. Matsui for important local transportation and housing development initiatives. Beneficiaries include the County of Sacramento, the City of Sacramento, and My Sister’s House domestic violence shelter. “The appropriations bill passed by the House will invest significantly in our nation’s infrastructure while also spurring our country’s economic growth,” stated Congresswoman Matsui. “New jobs will be created by this legislation by making our roads safer and our public transit more secure.”

July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The city of Phoenix will accept donated items through Sept. 30 for the many homeless people who have no shelter and are in need of a few basic items that will keep them safe during the hot summer days

Washington, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) voted for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for FY 2011 today, which will create an estimated 160,000 new jobs and increase investments in our roads, bridges and homes. This critical legislation will provide assistance to American families who have been hurt by the recession in recent years, as well as strengthening our economy by making key investments in improving our nation's infrastructure.

July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Hancock County Superior Court jury convicted Eric S. Murphy, Jr. of Ellsworth on Wednesday in connection with an investment scam Murphy ran in conjunction with his residential construction loan business. Murphy, a former mortgage loan broker whose license was revoked by the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection in April, 2009, was found guilty of taking approximately $450,000 from 4 investors under false pretenses during the period October, 2006 through April, 2008. Instead of using funds received from investors to fund mortgage loans for consumers, Murphy used the bulk of the proceeds for his own business and personal purposes.

LANSING, MI - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the filing of 19 criminal complaints and a total of 69 charges against illegal advanced fee "foreclosure rescue" operations accused of defrauding Michigan families of thousands of dollars. Nine Michigan mortgage companies are accused of illegally charging homeowners facing foreclosure upfront fees for mortgage modification assistance. The defendants claimed they would help homeowners by working with their lenders in an attempt to modify the borrower's mortgage. After paying the upfront fee, borrowers found that the companies made no real attempt to secure a modification and were subsequently unable to get their money back. Many of the victims lost their homes to foreclosure.

LEXINGTON, KY - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation specialists are offering Kentuckians free advice on making their homes more disaster-resistant

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that $1.4 million is being awarded for cleanup efforts at contaminated California sites known as brownfields. Both the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and City of Sacramento were chosen to receive the grant funds. A brownfield is a parcel of land where hazardous substances or pollutants are a barrier to its successful redevelopment or reuse.

Nine of Top 10 Most Severely Affected Metros Post Year-Over-Year Declines in Foreclosure Activity, but Rates Remain 3 to 5 Times Higher than National Average IRVINE, Calif. - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac® (realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today released its Midyear 2010 Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report, which shows 154 of the 206 U.S. metropolitan areas with a population of 200,000 or more posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity even while foreclosure activity decreased in nine of the 10 metros with the highest foreclosure rates.

Washington, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Corporation for National and Community Service announced grants totaling $1.4 million to help local organizations in 14 states establish new RSVP projects for communities previously not served. The grants will engage more than 4,200 new RSVP volunteers to increase student achievement, support independent living for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans, and promote energy efficiency.

Top Mortgage Loan Fraud SARs by Metropolitan Statistical Areas, County, State. VIENNA, VA - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), today released its 2009 Mortgage Loan Fraud (MLF) study which found the number of mortgage fraud suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed in 2009 grew 4 percent compared with the number of mortgage fraud SARs filed in 2008. FinCEN also reported today that just looking at the fourth quarter of 2009, mortgage fraud SAR filings increased 6 percent over the same period in 2008

Washington, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The restoration of the single-family rural housing program that would guarantee home loans for rural buyers was passed by the Senate today and is on its way to President Obama.

Washington, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Testifying before a House panel today, Jim Helsel, treasurer of the National Association of Realtors® and commercial real estate specialist, told members that a strong commercial real estate sector is vital to millions of U.S. jobs and helps keep the national economy afloat.

Washington, D.C. - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Citigroup Inc. with misleading investors about the company's exposure to subprime mortgage-related assets. The SEC also charged one current and one former executive for their roles in causing Citigroup to make the misleading statements in an SEC filing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The remodeling market slid backward during the second quarter, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The RMI (combining current and future market indicators) sunk to 40.7 from 43.8 in the first quarter. Current market conditions slid back to 42.6 from 44.5 in the previous quarter. Future indicators of remodeling business declined to 38.9 from 43.1 in the last quarter.

July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A company that deceived consumers with promises it could save their homes from foreclosure will pay $2.4 million to victims as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The case is part of the agency’s continuing crackdown on scams that prey on financially distressed homeowners.

TRENTON, NJ - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Commissioner Tom Considine today alerted consumers that he has ordered Hawthorne Capital Corp.

Washington, D.C. - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Marti Rodamaker, president of First Citizens National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, testified today on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) before the House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee.

EUGENE, OR - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Connecticut Statewide MLS (CTStatewide) listings just got easier to search for, thanks to the partnership between broker Brian Corson and IDX, Inc. Now, Advanced Real Estate listings can be synced with CTStatewide listings to display the most comprehensive database of properties online. Home seekers in Newtown, Connecticut can now easily and quickly scan thousands of properties virtually, without ever having to leave the website of Corson. IDX Broker software has revolutionized the way people search for and buy homes online

EUGENE, OR - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Casey Dunn, of the Fearann Group, has teamed with IDX, Inc. to develop a comprehensive real estate search website for Denver, Colorado home seekers. The custom IDX solution now employed on the website of Dunn presents Metrolist Denver (MTOMLS) listings conveniently on his website. With the extreme flexibility of the IDX Broker software, Dunn is able to create a custom search process to best suit his clients needs, while still simplifying the entire online property search.

EUGENE, OR - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- David Evich of Real Estate One has joined with IDX, Inc. to incorporate their dynamic MLS search tool, IDX Broker, on to his real estate website. Traverse City, Michigan is host to many lake front properties, now home seekers can find these homes conveniently by searching on his Traverse MLS (TRVMLS) synced website. The unique technology provided by the IDX Broker software pulls raw listing data from the TRVMLS database and displays it on the search pages. The adoption of such a revolutionary tool demonstrates on his website shows the dedication of Evich to his clients and home seekers around Traverse City

Washington, DC - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) called for action to stabilize the commercial real estate market in order to help small businesses grow and create jobs. At the hearing, entitled ‘Alternatives for Promoting Liquidity in the Commercial Real Estate Markets, Supporting Small Businesses and Increasing Job Growth,’ Kosmas addressed the need to help small businesses who are facing a lack of available credit and are being denied the ability to renew the commercial real estate loans that are critical to their operations.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today issued the following statement after meeting with Kenneth Feinberg, the independent administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, about the lost-income claims process for small businesses and real estate professionals.

Washington, DC - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On the heels of Michael Bennet’s call to Senate Appropriations leaders to provide increased resources for housing counselors who are helping struggling homeowners stay in their homes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it will make $79 million available for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. The available funding is an increase of $21 million, or 27 percent, over last year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a longtime champion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), today received an award from the National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN), a national organization representing local non-profit community action agencies, fuel providers, utilities and local government agencies. The NFFN presented Rep. Markey with their 2010 Extra Mile Award at the annual LIHEAP Action Day for his continued advocacy for increased funding for LIHEAP and for his call for the expansion of LIHEAP to include more American families who may find themselves in need of home heating assistance.

NEW BEDFORD, MA - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A consent judgment has been obtained against a South Dartmouth landlord resolving allegations that he made discriminatory statements in rental advertisements posted on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org (“Craigslist”), Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today