Monthly Archives: July 2010

NEW YORK, NY - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage homeowners who are struggling with their monthly mortgage payments to learn about the Making Home Affordable Program. While over one million homeowners have already received assistance from the program, the national campaign encourages other struggling homeowners who may be eligible for assistance to reach out for the help they need through free resources made available by the Federal Government. The PSAs direct homeowners to visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to see if they may be eligible for assistance to make their mortgage payments more affordable and to understand options they may have to avoid foreclosure.

July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie Santos, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Director Leila Edmonds, and DC Office on Aging (DCOA) Director Clarence Brown joined Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios and Ward 4 residents to break ground on 36 units of affordable senior housing at Vida Senior Residences, 1330 Missouri Avenue, NW

Denver, CO - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct an emergency removal of hazardous substances this week at the 35-acre Elizabeth Mining and Development, Inc.(EMDI) site located at 11948 6300 Road, four miles northwest of Montrose, in Montrose County. EPA estimates that the cleanup will be complete by the end of the week.

Washington D.C. - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy has finalized a $117 million loan guarantee for Kahuku Wind Power, LLC, the owner and operator of the Kahuku Wind Power project. The project includes the development of an innovative 30 megawatt (MW) wind power plant that will supply electricity to approximately 7,700 households per year. According to company estimates, the project, located in Kahuku, Hawaii, will create over 200 jobs on the island of Oahu

Washington, D.C. - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter today announced that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved federal funding for several Pennsylvania transportation projects.

OLYMPIA, WA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is pleased to announce the successful implementation of the new mortgage licensing requirements as required by the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (the “S.A.F.E. Act”).

Atlanta, GA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prudential Georgia Realty is proud to announce Realtor Benita Carswell, former co-owner of Bo Bridgeport Brokers, has joined its award-winning sales team. She is affiliated with Prudential Georgia Realty’s Midtown office, located on Peachtree Street a few blocks from the High Museum. However, Benita is still based in Atlanta’s Kirkwood area, where the old Bo Bridgeport Brokers location at 2033 Hosea L. Williams Drive serves as a satellite office. The 40-agent boutique real estate agency recently merged with Prudential Georgia Realty.

Equity Fund Formed to Acquire and Develop Multifamily Assets in Major Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Markets. CHICAGO and GREENBELT, MD - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pritzker Realty Group, a Chicago-based real estate investment company, and The Bozzuto Group, a Greenbelt, MD-based real estate services company, today announced the creation of a joint venture that has an initial capital commitment of $75 million

WALTHAM, MA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that single-family home sales were up in June, marking the 12th straight month of year-over-year increases. Both single-family and condominium median prices were also up in June and in Q2 compared to the same time last year.

Hong Kong - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a recent interview in the United States, property magnate Donald Trump is quoted as saying: "This is the best time I've ever seen to buy real estate". It appears that Hong Kong investors agree.

Washington, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.91 percent based on loans closed in June. This is a decrease of 0.08 percent from the previous month

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) today announced the inclusion of $11,742,000 for 10 Michigan projects in the FY 2011 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies. The funding was approved last week by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and a House-Senate conference committee before being given final approval by Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to Pike County in Kentucky and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, flooding and mudslides

Leading U.S. brokerage announces franchises in Discovery Bay, Brentwood, San Diego and Minden, NV. CUPERTINO, SILICON VALLEY, USA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Intero Real Estate Services, a leading U.S. real estate brokerage that has recently expanded its brand globally, as a franchisor, through Intero Franchise Services, Inc. and Intero International Franchise Services, LLC, announced its continued expansion with the conversion of a former Alain Pinel brokerage affiliate in Discovery Bay and Brentwood, CA to the Intero Real Estate brand, and the addition of new franchises in San Diego, CA, and Minden, NV.

Washington, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Stan Soloway, Board Member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will meet with Mayor Michael Nutter on Wednesday, July 28, to discuss ways that the federal agency can support Philadelphia's efforts to engage more residents in service that helps solve the city's toughest problems – from homelessness to illiteracy and youth violence

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced that the company, through its lender and housing partners, provided $5.9 billion in investment to the multifamily rental housing market for the first half of 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a post on the White House Blog, Jeffrey A. Goldstein, Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department, outlined the Obama Administration's efforts to date in the area of housing finance reform, as well as the current state of our nation's housing finance system. It also reiterated the Administration's commitment to continued public engagement on this issue, including the hosting of an August 17 "Conference on the Future of Housing Finance" at the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. To read the piece online, visit link. The text of the piece follows:

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Obama Administration announced expanded opportunities for public engagement on the future of our nation's housing finance system, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These events, which will include a major conference in Washington, D.C., will help provide critical public input as the Administration continues its work developing a comprehensive housing finance reform proposal for delivery to Congress by January 2011

LĪHU'E, HI - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The County of Kaua'i was one of six communities nationwide to receive the 2010 John A. Sasso National Community Development Week Award. The award recognizes communities that exemplify the spirit of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program by showcasing its good works through the activities and events held during the National Community Development Week.

EUGENE, OR - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Natalie Klun of Community Best Real Estate Company has adopted the premier IDX Broker software to upgrade her professional website and make Wasatch Front Regional MLS (WFRMLS) listings more accessible to home seekers around Vernal, Utah. The revolutionary IDX Broker software extracts raw listing data directly from the WFRMLS database and seamlessly displays it on the website of Klun, giving her clients thousands of properties to search through online. With the addition of a custom IDX solution to her real estate website, Klun has only reinforced her dedication to her clients and helping to match potential buyers with their dream home.

EUGENE, OR - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. and Florida Global Realtors, Inc. have joined forces to deliver realtor Shobe Barran with the latest Internet Data Exchange (IDX) technology. The IDX Broker software now enabled on the website of Barran extracts raw listings data from Fort Meyers MLS and displays it directly on her website, giving her clients the most comprehensive listings database to search through. Now, Barran and her clients can sit back and relax as they scan thousands of Fort Meyers properties from the comfort of home and the convenience of thewebsite on their iPhone or personal computer.

EUGENE, OR - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. and Chad Brockschmidt Real Estate have teamed up to revolutionize his professional website. The IDX Broker software now enabled on the real estate website of Brockschmidt allows home seekers in Tucson, Arizona to quickly search through thousands of Tucson MLS (TAARMLS) listings, in an effort to match them with the best solution for each buyer. Now, potential buyers have the most detailed home search available online, from the convenience and ease of the website.

BEAVER, WV - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For many West Virginians with property losses from the June storms, a completed U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application is as essential to recovery as a mop.

EUGENE, OR - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Chuck Valenta of Keller Williams as the newest addition of real estate professionals to enable a custom IDX solution on their realty website. With the adoption of IDX Broker software, the website of Valenta has revolutionized the way home seekers find properties online. The upgraded search capabilities on his site now make searching for a home online easier than ever before

Atlanta, GA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressmen John Lewis, David Scott, and Hank Johnson are proud to announce their upcoming event to assist Atlanta area homeowners who may be struggling with their mortgages. The three members are joining forces with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, The Hope Now Alliance and NeighborWorks America for the "Help for Homeowners" project scheduled for Friday, July 30th 1:00PM to 7:30PM and Saturday, July 31st from 8:30AM to 3:00PM, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan will also be in attendance on Saturday, July 31st.

TOPEKA, KS - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Affordable housing advocates, the Kansas Housing Conference Early Bird Deadline is fast approaching! If you want to save $49 off the full-conference registration fee, sign up by Saturday, July 31st. On August 1st, fees increase to $199.

WILTON, CT - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The mortgage industry is going through sweeping change. Now is the time for all mortgage industry participants to gather and discuss new ideas, new automation strategies and new processes to move the mortgage industry forward. PROGRESS in Lending Association fills this void and provides a place for innovation and thought leadership to occur

Lynn, MA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Tierney (D-MA) announced that Bridgewell, a Lynnfield-based nonprofit, received a $1,715,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to build ten units of housing for local seniors and residents with developmental disabilities in Lynn. The program and apartments are designed to allow residents to live independently.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration's Mortgagee Review Board (MRB) today published a notice in the Federal Register to announce dozens of administrative actions against FHA-approved lenders who failed to meet its requirements. This year alone, the MRB took nearly 1,500 administrative sanctions against lenders, including reprimands, probations, suspensions, withdrawals of approval, and civil money penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging a Chicago developer and architect with housing discrimination for designing and constructing apartments that fail to meet the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act. HUD’s charge contends that Hector Castillo, Hector Castillo Architects, Inc., and 914 W. Hubbard, Inc. is inaccessible to persons with disabilities in several ways, including having doorways that are too narrow, and kitchens and bathrooms that do not contain adequate maneuvering space.