Monthly Archives: July 2010

Kansas City, MO - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Obama Administration announced July 7 that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is allocating approximately $190 million to more than 550 new projects throughout the United States that will assist thousands of individuals and families who are homeless.

BOSTON, MA - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against Helen M. McCarthy, of Boxford, and her son James F. McCarthy, of Laconia, New Hampshire, alleging that they illegally altered and filled protected wetlands and dumped solid waste throughout a large parcel of land in Saugus.The McCarthys have for at least a decade maintained an illegal dumping ground and permitted ongoing wetlands violations at Pennsylvania Avenue, a property that borders Saugus, Wakefield and Lynnfield, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed yesterday, seeks a permanent injunction requiring the McCarthys to restore and remediate the site. The lawsuit is also asking the court to impose penalties on the defendants for violating state laws designed to protect the environment.

IRVINE, CA - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac® (http://www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today released its Midyear 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows a total of 1,961,894 foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported on 1,654,634 U.S. properties in the first six months of 2010, a 5 percent decrease in total properties from the previous six months but an 8 percent increase in total properties from the first six months of 2009. The report also shows that 1.28 percent of all U.S. housing units (one in 78) received at least one foreclosure filing in the first half of the year.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owner, management company and former manager of Summerhill Place Apartments, a 268-unit apartment complex in Renton, Wash., for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin and familial status in the rental of apartments

McLean, VA - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC:FMCC), real estate auction specialist REDC, and New Vista today announced plans to auction 135 HomeSteps® REO homes to individual homebuyers at the Phoenix Convention Center on August 7, 2010. Almost a third of the homes are being set-aside for an auction to first-time borrowers participating in the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)

McLean, VA - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC:FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®)

NORFOLK, VA - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The changing real estate landscape has consumers rethinking the way they approach the home search process. To accommodate consumers, ForRent.com, anchor website for For Rent Media SolutionsTM, a division of Dominion Enterprises, has announced the launch of its exclusive partnership with newly redesigned Homes.com. Through this partnership, consumers searching for a place to live have more options to review during their online search process.

NEW YORK, NY - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bank of America Merrill Lynch today announced that Steven Kenny has been promoted to Commercial Real Estate Banking (CREB) region executive for the states of New York and New Jersey. In his new role, Kenny is responsible for leading a team of real estate professionals who deliver a full range of comprehensive financial solutions for a broad array of clients, including the real estate development and investment sector. His team operates out of offices in New York City and Cranford, New Jersey. Kenny will continue to be based in New York

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that a HUD Administrative Law Judge has ordered an Iowa landlord to pay $52,150 in damages and civil penalties for retaliating against a single mother of three by threatening to evict her because she filed a housing discrimination complaint

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After conducting a competitive national search for a long-term administrator to lead the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that the current receivership team, Gilmore Kean, LLC will continue to lead the agency from recovery to revitalization over the next three years.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David Stevens today unveiled three specific policy changes to strengthen the FHA’s capital reserves while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission to provide access to homeownership for underserved communities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today published a Notice, seeking public comment on three specific measures to reduce financial risk and preserve affordable mortgage financing for responsible consumers.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has charged a Denver condominium association with violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against families with children under the age of 18. According to HUD's charge, Windsor Gardens Association allegedly maintained discriminatory restrictions and published discriminatory statements and advertisements that limited or denied housing to families with children. One statement read: “Head of household must be 50 years of age; children under the age of 17 are not permitted.”

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Demonstrating the urgency to end housing discrimination, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it will hold a national fair housing conference in New Orleans, starting Monday, July 19. The five-day conference will feature leading scholars, advocates, government officials, and community leaders focused on providing equal housing opportunities, increasing economic opportunities for low-income individuals, and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities

Washington, D.C. - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Goldman, Sachs & Co. will pay $550 million and reform its business practices to settle SEC charges that Goldman misled investors in a subprime mortgage product just as the U.S. housing market was starting to collapse

Washington, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House today approved a flood insurance reform bill that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program to September 30, 2015, a provision strongly supported by the National Association of Realtors

WASHINGTON, DC - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to the cities of Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today announced United Housing in Memphis has been awarded $135,000 from NeighborWorks America to help finance the rehabilitation of affordable housing throughout the city.

Expansion plans in place to originate loans in 35 states by the end of 2010. MILFORD, CT - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total Mortgage Services, LLC, a leading mortgage lender and broker, announced today that it has formally launched its wholesale residential mortgage lending platform, TMS Funding, in 17 states across the United States. TMS Funding, which will compliment Total Mortgage’s successful retail lending platform, will offer mortgage brokers greater choice, service, efficiency and some of the lowest mortgage rates available

New York, N.Y. - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company, the nation’s largest builder of education and sports facilities, has been awarded a $69.9 million contract by Stanford University to provide construction services for Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, Calif. Construction of the Concert Hall is expected to be completed in summer 2012, with the first public performances taking place in January 2013

BEAVER, W. Va.- July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rebuilding specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are offering safe cleanup and rebuilding advice in Wyoming, McDowell and Logan counties this week. The specialists provid...

EUGENE, OR - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and IDX, Inc. have teamed up to revolutionize the way home seekers search for New York City suburb homes. Jill Biggs has adopted a customized IDX solution in an effort to upgrade her online real estate presence and make Hudson County MLS (HCMLS) more accessible to potential buyers online. With the unique technology provided by IDX Broker software, HCMLS raw listing data is extracted from the database and displayed directly on the website of Biggs. Now more than ever before, finding the perfect home online is made easier on her real estate website.

EUGENE, OR - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) listings are now available on the website of Karl Schlehofer, thanks to his partnership with IDX, Inc. and his use of their premier service, IDX Broker software. The benefits of adopting a customized IDX solution include making the buying process simpler and more efficient for brokers, agents buyers and sellers. Never before has it been easier to find a home online than now on his website, thanks to IDX Broker software.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that Las Cruces has been awarded over $1.5 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that Las Cruces has been awarded over $1.5 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Henderson, NV - July 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District continued her efforts to help homeowners in Southern Nevada today at Wells Fargo’s housing workshop that is going on Friday through Sunday in Las Vegas.

Salem, OR - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the state‟s ongoing effort to protect Oregonians from mortgage fraud, the Department of Consumer and Business Services recently took action against three mortgage lending companies and their owners.

BROOKLYN, NY - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) issued the following statement today, applauding Goldman Sachs’ partnership with Mayor Bloomberg, New York City agencies, developers and Carver Bank that will create a 105 unit apartment and retail complex in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn:

CHICAGO, IL - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP), one of the country’s premier shopping mall owners and developers, and Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), the world’s leading integrated financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate, have established a long-term strategic alliance through which Jones Lang LaSalle acquired the management and leasing responsibilities for the properties in GGP’s third-party management division. The portfolio of 18 regional shopping malls and community centers in 11 states adds more than 11 million square feet to Jones Lang LaSalle’s retail portfolio of 84 million square feet in the Americas and 265 million square feet worldwide. In addition, through the strategic alliance, the two firms will work together to pursue opportunities for Jones Lang LaSalle to provide additional third-party services to new and existing clients.

TRENTON, N.J. - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (HMFA) Board approved a financing commitment from the state’s Special Needs Housing Trust Fund

Washington, D.C. - July 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has closed on a sale of 40 percent equity interest in a limited liability company (LLC) created to hold assets with an unpaid principal balance of approximately $1.85 billion from 22 failed bank receiverships.