Monthly Archives: July 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development today released the Obama Administration's first annual report on the state of fair housing in America. HUD's Fiscal Year 2009 annual State of Fair Housing Report highlights the agency's progress in enforcing the Fair Housing Act, identifies challenges that remain, and demonstrates its commitment to acting now to end housing discrimination

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- We are honored to announce that the Fall 2010 Luxury Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Patricia Choi of Choi International in Honolulu , Hawaii . This prestigious award is given twice annually to the Luxury Real Estate member who has set an example for the real estate industry, displayed excellence throughout their career and is truly a legend.

EMERYVILLE, CA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite slowdowns in home sales across the country, California is still the nation’s hottest spot for home buying activity, with homes fetching multiple offers and selling above list price, according to the Q2 2010 Home Hunter report released today by ZipRealty (ZIPR).

SACRAMENTO, CA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total housing starts in California continued to gain ground in June and posted the largest monthly total since December of 2008, the California Building Industry Association announced today

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Fenty Administration celebrated a major milestone in its Housing First initiative with the placement of the District’s 1,000th household in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Mayor Fenty, Department of Human Service (DHS) Director Carter, DC Housing Authority Director Adrianne Todman, Councilmember Tommy Wells and a host of advocates and community members gathered at the apartment of a United States veteran and 22-year District resident to celebrate her new life and home. The 1,000 households include individuals, families and veterans.

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eight marketers are banned from selling mortgage modification or foreclosure relief services under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC alleged that the marketers charged homeowners up-front fees and falsely claimed they could get their mortgage loans modified or prevent foreclosure on their homes. The settlements in three separate actions are part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts against scams that target financially distressed consumers.

McLean, VA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today announced the appointment of Deborah Jenkins to vice president and national head of Multifamily Underwriting and Credit. In this position, Jenkins is responsible for managing the underwriting and credit approvals of all Multifamily debt investments for Freddie Mac, and managing the underwriting and credit staff at Freddie Mac offices across the country.

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- What: The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on how energy efficiency legislation can make new homes more affordable

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coming off an historic low in May, sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 23.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 330,000 units in June, according to U.S. Commerce Department data released today.

Leesburg, VA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Loudoun County is pleased to announce a new free “Post-Purchase Counseling” seminar to give recent homebuyers and prospective home purchasers an opportunity to explore topics often not covered by their lender or realtor. Administered by the Department of Family Services and held quarterly, topics include:

Jackson, MI - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Tropical Storm Bonnie, though not predicted to make direct landfall in Mississippi, can still cause damage with heavy rains, high winds and storm surge expected along the coast this weekend. The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) reminds everyone that preparation in advance of a storm can help save lives and property and can prevent unpleasant insurance surprises

EUGENE, OR - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Orlando, Florida Realtor Brady Pevehouse and IDX, Inc. have updated the website of Perrone Realty by syncing each page with Mid Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) listings. Now, the clients of Pevehouse can search through thousands of property listings from the convenience of his website. The unprecedented listing information on the MFRMLS database gives potential buyers the most thorough background of a property available during the online property search

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home sales decreased 4.2 percent in June in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home rose 13.6 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today

July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE) selected Calera Corporation of Los Gatos, CA as one of six recipients to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to convert captured CO₂ emissions from industrial sources into useful products:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today announced full Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the fiscal year 2011 CJS funding bill, which includes increased funding and resources to track down and prosecute perpetrators of mortgage fraud.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home prices in Illinois are showing signs of stabilizing with continued positive year-over-year median price growth and 10 straight months of mostly double-digit sales increases; the Chicago region marked a year of positive sales activity in June. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in June 2010 were up 18.3 percent, totaling 13,072 homes sold compared to June 2009 sales of 11,048 homes. The median price in June 2010 was $170,000, up 2.5 percent from $165,825 in June 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

Tampa, FL - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Tropical Storm Bonnie approaches South Florida, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) urges residents to take steps to minimize wind and water damage from the storm.

ORLANDO, FL - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 15 percent in June, marking 22 consecutive months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.A total of 18,038 single-family existing homes sold statewide last month compared to 15,732 homes sold in June 2009, according to Florida Realtors. June’s statewide existing home sales increased 7.7 percent over statewide sales activity in May. Meanwhile, last month’s statewide existing-home median price of $143,400 was 2.1 percent higher than May’s statewide existing-home median price of $140,400. It marks the fourth month in a row that the statewide existing-home median price has increased over the previous month’s median.

Washington, DC - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last summer, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced its Building Performance Partnership (BPP), a program to engage owners and managers of commercial and residential LEED-certified green buildings, optimizing the performance of buildings through data collection, analysis and action. Starting this summer, USGBC has opened the program to all current whole-building LEED-certified commercial and residential projects. BPP will further the efforts to understand how buildings perform from the moment of LEED certification and years beyond.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury has indicted DERRICK REUBEN SMITH, MICHAEL GIPSON, and TRINA TAHIR on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with fraudulent mortgages, announce...

Washington, DC - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, July 19, the Clean Energy Ministerial Stakeholder Meeting brought together over 150 clean energy leaders from technology companies, financial services, professional services, academia, associations, non-profits and others to discuss the policies and mechanisms necessary for the acceleration of worldwide clean energy deployment.

Washington, D.C. - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) said in a comment letter to the Treasury Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development that the nation's housing finance system must continue to be sufficiently flexible so it provides a variety of finance options to meet the needs of different consumers, housing types and locations. ICBA outlined its key principles for the reform of the housing finance system that is now under debate.

NORFOLK, VA - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to comScore Media Metrix, 177 million U.S. Internet users watched online video during June, supporting the recent addition of online, customized video to the ForRent.com home page. With the launch of Featured Community, the site’s newest online feature, property managers with front cover placement in For Rent Magazine® now receive prime placement of their Community TheaterTM video on the geo-targeted ForRent.com home page, increasing exposure to apartment seekers. ForRent.com is owned by For Rent Media SolutionsTM, a division of Dominion Enterprises.

New Haven, CT - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senator Toni Harp (D-New Haven) joined New Haven Mayor John DeStefano; State Rep. Juan Candelaria; representatives from the ROOF (Real Options Overcoming Foreclosure) Project, and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and residents who have faced foreclosure for a news conference in New Haven today to announce that the state’s landmark foreclosure mediation program is being extended for another two years.

New Haven, CT - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senator Toni Harp (D-New Haven) joined New Haven Mayor John DeStefano; State Rep. Juan Candelaria; representatives from the ROOF (Real Options Overcoming Foreclosure) Project, and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and residents who have faced foreclosure for a news conference in New Haven today to announce that the state’s landmark foreclosure mediation program is being extended for another two years.

July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford) joined a Hartford homeowner today as she took part in a $75 “Home Energy Solutions” energy audit that could save her several hundred dollars a year in heating, cooling and electricity costs

Tampa, Fla. (July 22, 2010) – The summer edition of Disaster Safety Review, a publication of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), sheds new light on coastal property risks as the Gulf and Atlantic coasts prepare to enter the height of what is forecast to be an active hurricane season.

Tampa, FL - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today released its latest research study, “Surviving Nature’s Fury: Performance of Asphalt Shingle Roofs in the Real World,” which investigated damage from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

WICHITA, KS - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Shane Pluimer, 31, is charged with two counts of bank robbery. The indictment alleges that July 9, 2010, he robbed the Conway Bank at 11122 E. Central in Wichita, and July 10, 2010, he robbed the Emprise Bank at 2323 S. Hydraulic in Wichita

SIOUX CITY, IA - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sioux City Housing Authority (SCHA) is pleased to announce in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that the VA will be hosting an informational meeting and accepting applications for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Voucher Program on Friday, July 23, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mid-town Community Center at 525 14th Street.