Monthly Archives: April 2011

EUGENE, OR - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Alfonso Torres of Re/Max Olympic Realty to the growing network of real estate agents and brokers who have chosen to revolutionize the online property search for their clients and countless other area home seekers. As a Manassas, Virginia Realtor, Torres has long had access to all of the detailed property listings the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) hosts. Now, clients of Torres can experience the same level of accessibility to thousands of MRIS listings that was once reserved solely for agents and brokers, thanks to the IDX enabled page Torres hosts. His customizable IDX solution gives Torres the ability to seamlessly integrate MRIS properties instantly, simplifying his management of the MRIS listing database and making easier than ever for potential Virginia buyers to find their dream home online.

EUGENE, OR - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce the latest real estate professional who has chosen to integrate an IDX solution onto their website and dynamic search page: San Fransisco Bay Realtor Alessandra Imanabadi. As a full time agent, Imanabadi is continuously demonstrating her professionalism and dedication to serving her clients and their every real estate need. Now, her IDX-synced website reflects these mentalities. A member of the East Bayl MLS (MAX/EBRD), Imanabadi can integrate thousands of area listings directly onto her search page efficiently, effectively and effortlessly, suppling home seekers with a unique online real estate search experience daily.

Boston, MA - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A group of major national and local philanthropies today announced the creation of a nonprofit organization to engage, educate, and support funders committed to ending homelessness in America. Funders Together to End Homelessness, started in 2004 as an affinity group of foundation and corporate funders, is now an independent organization of private philanthropies whose mission is to increase funders’ investments in solutions proven to end homelessness. The national organization’s Board of Directors includes representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Fannie Mae, the Melville Charitable Trust, and seven other foundations active in ending homelessness in communities across the country.

WEST ORANGE, N.J. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prism Capital Partners has named Newmark Associates as exclusive agents for 475 Prospect Avenue, a 38,000-square-foot, three-story class A asset that formerly served as part of prescription drug maker Organon USA's headquarters campus. For the Whippany, N.J.-based Newmark Associates, Judith Tell Feldman and Nancy Glick are heading the assignment.

CHICAGO, IL - April 6, 2011 — Jones Lang LaSalle today unveiled the first app for iPhone® to provide easily searchable access to global commercial real estate research, as well as a range of social media channels for users to interact with Jones Lang LaSalle experts locally or around the world. The app, also available for iPad®, is free to download from the App StoreSM .

NEWARK, NJ - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the arrival of the spring home improvement season, the State Division of Consumer Affairs intensified efforts against unregistered home improvement contractors with an undercover operation at a vacant Gloucester County home.

Atlantic City, NJ - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) honored the industry’s most creative, skillful and successful projects at the 24th< Annual Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards Banquet, kicking-off the 62nd Atlantic Builders Convention on April 5, 2011. Each year, the SAM Awards recognizes excellence in residential design and marketing programs within New Jersey; this year was no exception. Builders, as well as companies that supply products and services to the building industry are eligible for a SAM Award.

April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) and Councilmember Robert Garcia, 1st District, today demolished a check cashing facility that had long been a public nuisance for area residents and businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) WHAT: The 50+ housing market does not always mirror the overall housing industry. Panelists on the call will provide an overview of the 50+ industry and discuss how it is performing compared to the rest of the industry, as well as provide an analysis of emerging trends and growth opportunities.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of Fair Housing month, the Sioux City Human Rights Commission, Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and the Midtown Community Center will host the symposium “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20th at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sioux City Fire Rescue is pleased to announce a new residential Safe Home Program. This program has three components:

Deerfield, IL - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you have not already heard Fannie Mae is in the process of changing their loan documents. This is the first major rewrite of Fannie docs in about 10 years and this is a substantial change from previous documents, both in form and content. Since Fannie is one of the largest multifamily lenders and anyone financing a property is, or should be, getting a Fannie quote, you need to understand these changes.

Denver, CO - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The RE/MAX network continues to expand its reach around the world, announcing five new offices in four countries in the Caribbean and Central America. RE/MAX is now in more than 80 countries, after increasing franchise sales nearly 30 percent in 2010 and outdistancing all competitors.

Phoenix, AZ - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage REALTORS® Wendy Walker and Virginia Gee were each named Best of the Valley-2011 in this month’s Arizona Foothills Magazine for their dedication to Arizona’s real estate work — Walker in Phoenix and Gee in Scottsdale. Sponsored by the magazine, more than one million people participated in this year’s annual ranking of their favorite services and products in the Valley of the Sun

NEW YORK, NY - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a 30-year track record of success and such current notable sales achievements as The Sheffield and Linden 78 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, The Marketing Directors, Inc. has been brought on to oversee the marketing, sales and leasing of four new residential buildings throughout New York City.

IRVINE, CA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Manny Gonzalez, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CAASH and principal of KTGY Group is a keynote speaker on the Multifamily Conference CEO Series on MultifamilyBiz.com, "Designed For Success: Today's 50+ Apartment Communities," which went live on April 5, 2011. This lively, fast-paced 60-minute FREE On-Demand Digital Media Webcast brings to focus what you need to know about the growing 50+ market. Property management expert Ernest F. Oriente of PowerHour® and multifamily technology innovator Kerry W. Kirby, CEO of 365 Connect and MultifamilyBiz.com are the moderators during this free MultifamilyBiz.com + PowerHour Webcast

West Hartford, CT - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, in association with Robert Shemin, is announcing a new all-day weekend seminar for real estate investors. This event will take place on Saturday April 16, 2011, from 9:00am to 4:30pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, CT. Pricing for this event varies and is dependent on which ticket option is chosen

TOWN OF WALLKILL, N.Y. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Baker Residential will welcome interested homebuyers to Woodside Knolls on Saturday, April 16th to participate in one of the final “Homebuyer Seminars” to be offered at Orange County’s fastest-selling new residential community

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 2.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 1, 2011.

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) wrote to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chairman, Todd Snitchler, calling upon him to reject two separate proposals by FirstEnergy and the PUCO staff that would discontinue the all-electric home rate created by FirstEnergy in the 1970’s. FirstEnergy created that rate to encourage builders to build homes, and consumers to purchase homes that used electric heating, rather than cheaper gas heating alternatives. When that rate no longer served FirstEnergy’s interest, it attempted to eliminate that rate without any concern for the impact it would have on those homeowners. “The elimination of the all-electric rate would cause the heating costs of all-electric homes to soar and their values to plummet,” wrote Kucinich in the letter.

Harrisburg, PA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $105 million to aid homeowners facing foreclosure through the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program.

TRENTON, NJ - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Commissioner Tom Considine today reminded consumers that most homeowners or renter’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Homeowners or renters can purchase flood insurance provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program which is the primary provider of flood insurance, through their insurance broker or carrier.

COLUMBIA, MO - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) today unveiled and demonstrated his first prototype Unclaimed Property Search Kiosk at the Department of Revenue Columbia License Office. The kiosk, developed by Treasurer Zweifel, makes Missouri one of the first states in the nation with the tool. Individuals are able to quickly search for and claim Unclaimed Property while at the license office through the kiosk.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is launching a national media campaign to kick off Fair Housing Month, celebrated across the country each April to commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act. The "Live Free" campaign will use newspaper and magazine ads, as well as the latest digital media, including social networking sites, to increase the Department’s efforts to educate the public and housing providers about their fair housing rights and responsibilities

Torrance, CA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lee & Associates Multi-Housing Investments Group transacted the sale of Montierra Apartments, a 240-unit apartment complex at 1701 E. D St. in Ontario, CA for $35 million in a transaction that further demonstrates that investor confidence has returned to the Inland Empire

MORRISTOWN, N.J. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joan Verplanck, former New Jersey Chamber of Commerce president, will be joining Cushman & Wakefield, in Morristown as senior director. She brings with her 24 years of experience guiding economic development initiatives and job creation in New Jersey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced the promotion of Jim Gross to Vice President of Financial Accounting and Public Policy. In this capacity, he will advise Steve O’Connor, MBA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations on emerging industry policy issues and assist in setting strategic priorities.

BOISE, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Help is on the way for hundreds of unemployed Idaho homeowners who are in jeopardy of losing their homes. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the State of Idaho’s bid to administer its Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP), and Idaho Housing and Finance Association is accepting applications for the $13 million program effective immediately.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Senate today approved legislation supported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to repeal a burdensome tax paperwork requirement that could cost small businesses thousands of dollars each year. The bill now goes to President Obama for his approval.“During the past several months, NAHB has led the effort along with other industry groups to strike all new expanded IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements for small businesses and owners of rental real estate,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “In testimony before Congress and in ‘key vote’ letters to House and Senate leaders, we have spelled out how failing to overturn these rules would kill jobs and place a major paperwork and cost burden on home builders. We applaud Congress for acting to rectify this situation and urge the President to quickly sign this measure into law.”

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has leased 14,000 square feet of office space at 101 Hudson Street in Jersey City, announced commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. The biopharmaceutical company recently opened its first East Coast office at the property.