Monthly Archives: November 2010

Chicago, IL - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chicago Agent magazine honored 15 exceptional companies and individuals on Nov. 3 in a ceremony celebrating the magazine’s fifth annual Agents’ Choice Awards. The awards ceremony event was held at Aquae Sulis in Lincoln Park. Over 150 guests were in attendance, representing and supporting each of the nominees

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) Councilwoman Jan Perry (9th district) and Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) yesterday joined SRO Housing, new residents and neighbors to celebrate the grand opening of the Renato Apartments located at 531 S. San Julian Street on Skid Row. A $25 million development, the Renato will provide 95 affordable studio apartments for extremely low-income residents.

November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- NARI and CEDIA have formed the Remodeling & Home Technologies Council. The mission statement is “to advance home technology awareness within the remodeling industry and to expand business opportunities via partnership between CEDIA and NARI members.”

New York, NY - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG), New York City's largest owner of commercial office properties, today announced the appointment of James E. Mead to be the Company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective December 1, 2010. He succeeds Gregory Hughes, who is leaving at the end of his current contract on November 30, 2010 to pursue other professional interests

Jackson, MS - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recent weeks inspectors from the Fire Code Enforcement/Factory Built Home Division of the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) have filed charges against 11 individuals in eight counties for violating Mississippi law regarding the installation/transportation of factory built homes. Of those charged, seven have been arrested by local law enforcement authorities. All have been charged with installing a factory built home without a license.

November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) in the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth urges consumers to change batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when changing their clocks to Standard Time (setting clocks back one hour) that officially begins on Sunday, November 7 at 2 am. Having working smoke detectors with fresh batteries can provide a family with crucial extra seconds to escape a burning home.

Washington, D.C. - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Energy announced yesterday that as of September 30, 2010, Massachusetts has weatherized more than 6,900 homes with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Recovery Act, plus more than 2,800 additional homes with annual funding for the weatherization program. In total, the state has already weatherized more than 9,700 homes since the Recovery Act began. As a result of this progress, the state will now have access to an additional $61 million in Recovery Act weatherization funding to continue providing energy efficiency services to Massachusetts’ low-income families.

Louisville, KY - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman John Yarmuth and Governor Steve Beshear are pleased to announce significant, positive progress in the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s application for a $100 million federal loan from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the development of Museum Plaza. Congressman Yarmuth received a letter from HUD Assistant Secretary Mercedes Marquez which states, in part, “HUD is optimistic that a [loan] commitment can be issued.” And, upon receipt of the project receiving a commitment for the remaining $140.5 million construction loan and other administrative requirements, “HUD will move promptly to complete the process for issuance of a Section 108 commitment.”

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to four counties and one tribal area in South Dakota and provide support to ho...

EUGENE, OR - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtor Kathy Sheehan has enabled the IDX, Inc. premier technology, IDX Broker software, onto her real estate website, creating an unparalleled database of Greater Greenville MLS (GGMLS) listings, conveniently on her website. Sheehan has made it so simple for South Carolina home seekers to experience an online property search that is both effective and efficient at matching buyers with their dream home. The IDX solution Sheehan has adopted has forever changed the way she does business online.

EUGENE, OR - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Edward Milan to the growing group of real estate professionals updating their realty websites with the innovative IDX Broker software. This Internet Data Exchange (IDX) technology has revolutionized the way Hinesville MLS (HMLS) listings can be displayed on the website Milan manages. His personalized IDX solution simplifies the online property search by seamlessly integrating HMLS listings onto the search page used by clients of Milan. Now, it is easier than ever to find a home Hinesville, Georgia, thanks to the immensely productive IDX enabled website of Milan

Chantilly, VA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Community Management Corporation, an Associa company, with the help of Associa Cares, recently donated more than $10,000 to families in the Chantilly area who were affected by disasters

GENEVA, CH - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today, with the knowledge that a majority of Americans fear for their ability to pay their mortgage or rent, the United States underwent its first-ever Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UPR was a rigorous examination of U.S. human rights policy, and has demonstrated that the U.S. has a long way to go in order to live up to its human rights obligations

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and other real estate and business interests achieved a significant victory on Tuesday with the defeat of Amendment 4 in Florida. If passed, the amendment would have required the state’s voters to approve all local comprehensive land use plan changes, rather than having those changes approved or rejected by city and county commissions. The amendment needed 60 percent of the vote for approval; however, 67 percent of voters rejected the measure. The outcome of the vote is expected to set a national precedent for other states.

FRESNO, CA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today, charging Brian Keith Cortez, 47, of Fresno, with evading the assessment of income taxes.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Councilwoman Jan Perry were joined by Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing, new residents and neighbors to celebrate the grand opening of the Renato Apartments located at 531 S. San Julian Street on Skid Row. A $25 million development, the Renato will provide 96 affordable studio apartments for extremely low-income residents.

Washington, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) applauded the approval of the Genesis Solar Project by the U.S. Department of Interior, which will be located 25 miles west of Blythe. The Congresswoman has been a leader in Congress on the issues of solar, alternative and renewable energy production, and has worked tirelessly to support the increased use of these technologies throughout the 45th Congressional District. According to Bono Mack, the Genesis Solar Project will produce 250 megawatts of energy, enough to power 75,000 to 187,000 homes with clean energy.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The best and brightest minds in commercial real estate will convene next Tuesday to offer their predictions for the future during 2020: A Vision for Commercial Real Estate, a symposium presented by the BOMA Foundation and the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and its Masters of Professional Studies in Real Estate Program. Featuring a dozen experts from all sectors of the industry, the program will explore where real estate will be ten years from now.“This unique program will provide attendees with an insider look at how real estate will evolve over the next decade and insight into how best to prepare for these changes,” remarked BOMA Foundation Chair Marilyn Wilbarger, director of property management, City of Key West, Fla. “Through lively debate, these thought leaders will explain how we can learn from a down market, create growth and optimize sustainability for future success.”

EUGENE, OR - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The new IDX enabled website of agent Jim Somers, syncs thousands of MLSListings properties with his dynamic website made possible by IDX, Inc. Potential buyers can engage with MLSListings in ways never before available to potential buyers, from the convenience of the search page on Somers site. Redwood City, California homes are now seamlessly integrated, making the online property search simple for both home seekers and real estate professionals, like Somers.

EUGENE, OR - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Lesley Garlock of Naples, Florida to the growing team of real estate professionals revolutionizing the online property search for their clients. Garlock has adopted her own customized IDX solution to enable her website to host Naples MLS listings. Now, her website displays thousands of Naples listings at a time, making it a prime place to begin the online home search for all Florida home seekers.

New Orleans, LA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales retreated after two monthly gains, signaling an uneven recovery entering 2011 with some near-term disruptions from the foreclosure moratorium, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The report was released here at the 2010 Realtors® Conference & Expo

New Orleans, LA - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The impact of homeownership on individuals, communities, and the nation's economy will be front-and-center during the 2010 Realtors® Conference & Expo here this week through November 8.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Especially in today’s housing market, the prospect of buying a home can seem overwhelming for many Americans who may not be aware of how to begin the process of shopping for a home or even a mortgage. To help consumers navigate this process, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) today unveiled three how-to videos to help prospective homeowners find a home they can afford, shop for a mortgage they can sustain, and what to expect when they go to closing.

New York, N.Y. - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Halstead Property Development Marketing today announced that they have signed on to be the exclusive sales and marketing representatives for three prominent new developments, and have also launched sales at an additional five developments in the last four weeks

RICHMOND, VA - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the initiation of a new pilot program to use undeveloped VDOT properties as Truck Safety Rest Areas. The first site, along Interstate 66 in Warren County, will begin to provide additional parking for truckers on November 8^th to get their required rest hours when traveling along the interstate. The pilot location is an unused paved lot along the eastbound lanes which was purchased decades ago for future rest area development and will be temporarily opened as a truck-only rest area

November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The entire 24-acre Capehart Housing Area at Discovery Park became the property of the City on Friday, October 22, 2010. The $11.1 million purchase was funded by a combination of state and county grants, as well as from proceeds from the sale of surplus City property

November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- "One of the great strengths of our Administration is the expertise and insight not only of our Commissioners but also of their deputies. Before joining the New York City Housing Authority, Mike Kelly led the housing authorities of San Francisco, New Orleans and the District of Columbia. When our former City Housing Commissioner and current HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Mayor Nutter asked about the prospect of Mike temporarily leading the Philadelphia Housing Authority through this transition period, I offered my full support.

Alexandria, VA - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest American Bankruptcy Institute podcast features a conversation between ABI Resident Scholar Prof. Laura Bartell and bankruptcy attorney and Clean Slate blog author Andy Winchell discussing the recent mortgage foreclosure documentation crisis. In addition to his own involvement in consumer cases with poor mortgage documentation, Winchell examines issues related to the large-scale mortgage foreclosure documentation problems recently admitted by Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Ally Financial

Alexandria, VA - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Examine the lessons learned in both business and consumer bankruptcy cases over the past year and take a look at what trends may lie ahead in 2010 at the American Bankruptcy Institute’s (ABI) 16th Annual Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference, set to take place on Jan. 27-28, 2011, at the Westin Tabor Center in Denver. The Conference will feature 14 panel sessions, including four as part of a separate workshop geared toward consumer practitioners. Attendees at the Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference have the opportunity to earn 10.75/12.5 hours of CLE/CPE credit and 3/3.5 hours of ethics

CHICAGO, IL - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The office of Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) released the following statement regarding today's Sun-Times article on an alleged lawsuit filed by New City Bank. This amended statement, though given to the reporter after being reached for comment after 8 PM Wednesday, read in part