Monthly Archives: April 2011

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Wells Fargo Bank was the top commercial/multifamily mortgage originator in 2010, according to a set of listings released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Other originators in the top 10 include HFF, L.P.; Meridian Capital Group, LLC.; CBRE Capital Markets, Inc.; Prudential Mortgage Capital Company; MetLife Real Estate Investments; Deutsche Bank Commercial Real Estate; PNC Real Estate; Northmarq Capital, LLC; and Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC

NAMPA, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homebuyers in Nampa will soon have the opportunity to become more informed about purchasing a home with the help of Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education. The Nampa Association of REALTORS® is a new regional training partner for the program, and regular classes will be offered in Nampa starting April 16th

Washington, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Wells Fargo Securities LLC agreed to settle charges that Wachovia Capital Markets LLC engaged in misconduct in the sale of two collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) tied to the performance of residential mortgage-backed securities as the U.S. housing market was beginning to show signs of distress in late 2006 and early 2007.

EUGENE, OR - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, IDX, Inc. welcome Las Vegas Realtor Joseph Lee to the team of agents and brokers utilizing the amazing IDX Broker software for their professional websites. Now, Greater Las Vegas MLS (GLVAR) listings are seamlessly integrated onto the search page Lee hosts, simplifying the search process for home seekers. Thousands of detailed listings make it easy for potential buyers to scan the GLVAR listings to find properties that match their desires and budgets. Lee can customize his IDX solution to meet the needs of his clients and his real estate business. Never before has it been so simple to participate in the online property search.

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For many people, spring is a time of new life and new possibilities. It is the crack of the bat, the warmth of the sun and the honey-lavender scent of flowers. But for homeowners, spring means strenuous yardwork and weekend afternoons spent cleaning the garage.

MILFORD, CT - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- TMS Funding, the wholesale residential lending channel of Total Mortgage Services, LLC, announced today the hiring of six new Wholesale Account Executives, all with successful track records in developing new business relationships and supporting high quality mortgage brokers.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) was named one of the 10 organizations world-wide to win the latest Gone Google advertising contest. Interested organizations were invited to submit written details about the impact that Google Apps for Business has had on their organization and why they believe that they should be featured in a Gone Google ad.

Destin, FL - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- There’s some good news in the U.S. housing market, and starting this week Housing Predictor is introducing a new real estate index to keep closer track of cities that are about to break into a housing recovery and those that are bottoming out.

IRVINE, CA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today unveiled new site features that help users quickly see the amount of equity — or negative equity — in a property based on its estimated market value and total outstanding loans, along with a simple list showing the position of those loans.

WEEHAWKEN, NJ - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An impressive sales surge since the beginning of the year at The Residences at Henley on Hudson has pushed the luxury condominium community in Weehawken, NJ facing midtown Manhattan beyond the 50% sold mark

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 10,000 homes across the U.S. have earned LEED certification through the LEED for Homes program, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED-certified home projects span the residential market, from multi- and single-family, to market rate and affordable housing.

EUGENE, OR - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The innovative technology of IDX Broker software is now easily accessible on the professional real estate website of broker Scott Schneider, thanks to his partnership with IDX, Inc. Now, Carolina Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) are synced with the website Schneider hosts, integrating thousands of CMLS properties on his search page. The revolutionary IDX Broker software has simplified not only the search capabilities Schneider boasts, but the entire online real estate search process for agents, brokers and potential buyers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While the housing industry celebrates New Homes Month in April, home builders want Americans to know just how much of a positive, direct impact residential construction has on the U.S. economy throughout the entire year."Home building is a key driver of the American economy," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "By generating economic activity including new income and jobs, purchases of goods and services, and revenue for local governments, housing—which has historically accounted for around 17 percent of the GDP—can put America back to work."

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today released Help for Unemployed Borrowers: Lessons from the Pennsylvania Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, the latest article in its Current Issues in Economics and Finance series from the Research and Statistics Group.

Kingston, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced Rural Ulster Preservation Company, Inc. (RUPCO) has been awarded a $91,650 grant from NeighborWorks America, a federally funded program aimed at supporting affordable housing and community development initiatives. The funding will be used to support RUPCO's HomeOwnership center, which offers a comprehensive range of services to help families achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership.

RUTLAND, VT - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An affordable housing revolving loan program in West Rutland that provides Vermonters with services, technical assistance and loans to rehabilitate their homes will receive a $1 million grant from the state, Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today.

New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fried Frank's renowned real estate practice has been shortlisted for The Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2011. Chambers USA Awards for Excellence honor law firms and lawyers for their pre-eminence in key practice areas and the caliber of their achievements over the previous 12 months.

Lincoln, Neb. - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy announced the line-up for the 2011 Nebraska Infrastructure Protection Conference (NIPC). Nebraska businesses and private industry representatives are encouraged to participate ...

Trenton, NJ - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court has granted all the petitions for certification of the October 8, 2010 Appellate Division decision which invalidated COAH’s third round regulations. The League of Municipalities was one of the parties seeking an appeal, as well another group of municipalities which suggested a solution to the Court. The League asked the Court to hear all of the petitions so as to get a comprehensive decision that can provide guidance to municipalities. We are obviously pleased with the Court’s decision

CAMDEN, N.J. - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) is partnering with the City of Camden and a host of government, nonprofit and private organizations to launch a new home rehabilitation program for eligible Camden homeowners. The Camden Program Offering Widespread Energy Recovery (POWER) Residential initiative will provide up to $16,000 in financial assistance per household for essential home repairs and energy efficiency improvements. The announcement took place at Cramer Hill Community Center in Camden.

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that average asking rental rates rose slightly throughout much of Manhattan's office market in the first quarter of 2011. While Midtown South recorded a significant drop in vacancy rates in all property classes, the Midtown submarket posted the first increase in Class A vacancy rates in more than a year.

Washington, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The NAACP will announce the opening of the NAACP Financial Freedom Center, the next phase of an historic agreement with Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) to provide financial education and banking resources to consumers. The Center will be the headquarters of the NAACP Financial Freedom Campaign, an initiative to influence change in the banking industry, prevent unfair mortgage lending practices, protect the community against predatory mortgage lending practices, improve fair credit access, and promote sustainable homeownership, financial education and wealth building strategies in historically disadvantaged communities. The agreement with Wells Fargo and NAACP was initiated last year, and also includes a process for sharing data, assessing Wells Fargo's lending and servicing practices, and shared accountability for progress.

Pacoima, CA - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, recently negotiated the lease of a 113,500-square-foot industrial building located at 12224 Montague St., Pacoima, Calif. for Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., a California-based pet food company. The three-year lease is valued at approximately $1.7 million.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today launched "Las Opciones de los Casas," a teleseries for the Spanish-speaking community designed to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure, empower them to make informed decisions and motivate them to take action and seek help. Through a partnership with Univision, the teleseries debuted as a television broadcast in Miami on March 28, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Fannie Mae's South Florida Mortgage Help Center. Las Opciones de Los Casas, part of the Company's "Know Your Options™" initiative to help struggling homeowners, is now available on www.conozcasusopciones.com.

TOPEKA, KS - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Marking the 43rd anniversary of the signing of the National Fair Housing Law, Governor Sam Brownback joined Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), municipalities and non-profits statewide in proclaiming April Fair Housing Month.

BROOKLYN, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Park Slope’s fast-emerging Fourth Avenue corridor has taken another significant step forward with the grand opening of Arias, a new ultra-chic rental building located in the heart of this vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood.

ATLANTA, GA - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today the openings of three new Staybridge Suites hotels, all featuring the new innovative design created by Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) interior design students. Home to one of the top five interior-design programs in the country, the school partnered with IHG to completely refresh the Staybridge Suites standardized room-décor packages.

ANCHORAGE, AK - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Effective today, the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) will assume administration of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's weatherization program in Anchorage. The Municipality...

ANNAPOLIS, MD - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Martin O’Malley today announced a $40 million program to assist homeowners in addressing back mortgage payments. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the goal of helping homeowners who are facing foreclosure due to job loss or a decrease in wages, including those who lost income due to illness.

MISSION VIEJO, CA - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial service industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, announced today it has expanded its national footprint by opening a new regional office in Chicago, IL. This new office, the company’s third in the U.S., will be managed by John Van Tassel, Vice President Strategic Growth and will work with both national and regional clients to help grow their sales leadership, production teams and branch networks.