Monthly Archives: May 2011

EUGENE, OR - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With new clients added daily, IDX, Inc. announces the latest real estate professional to adopt the customizable IDX Broker software: Chicago, Illinois Realtor Luke Krysztofiak. Agents and brokers alike can experience an unprecedented level of access to Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) listings with the newly IDX enabled website Krysztofiak hosts. His IDX solution gives Krysztofiak the ability to seamlessly integrate thousands of listings onto his search page, revolutionizing the way potential buyers search for and find properties online

EUGENE, OR - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Matt Gibson has become the latest real estate professional to join the growing network of agents and brokers who have employed the dynamic IDX Broker software. Gibson now makes the Laredo, Texas property search monumentally simpler for area home seekers. As a member of the Laredo MLS (LBRMLS), Gibson has long had access to thousands of detailed property listings. Now, Gibson gives his clients and other potential buyers unprecedented accessibility to the LBRMLS database of homes. Never before have buyers been able to experience such innovative real estate search tools from the convenience of the website of Gibson, or the IDX Broker application for iPhone and iPad.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that special disaster assistance may be available to Veterans with VA-guaranteed home loans who have been affected by recent tornados in the South. Veterans living in the designated disaster areas in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee may receive mortgage assistance through their loan servicers

Washington, DC - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® have been focusing more on training to help them better meet the needs of clients in a housing market with unique challenges, according to the 2011 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile.

Washington, DC - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Realtors® and their clients becoming increasingly more mobile, Realtors® must ensure that buyers and sellers can reach them at a moment’s notice. Ifbyphone, a voice-based marketing automation platform, provides a solution that enhances voice transactions and is now available to members of the National Association of Realtors® through the REALTOR Benefits® Program.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend is just around the corner on June 4-5, but if you’re an Illinois homeowner with a home to sell this spring, there’s still time to jump on the bandwagon and get your home “open house ready” for this high exposure weekend.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts fell 10.6 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 523,000 units as concerns regarding competition from foreclosures, a lack of consumer confidence in the housing market and the inability to secure production credit caused builders to slow production, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department.“While mortgage rates are low and house prices are as affordable as they’ve been in a generation, the decline in April’s housing starts is indicative of the low level of confidence that consumers have in the housing market,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev.

May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been tracking wasteful spending at public housing authorities including those in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. He made the following comment on an audit released today, s...

WASHINGTON, DC - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- All across America, there are homes that can actually harm those who live in them. From lead-based paint that can poison children, to cancer-causing radon, to cockroach and bedbug infestations. Next month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is hosting a National Healthy Homes Conference in Denver that will explore the latest research and interventions from dozens of public health, housing, and environmental experts from more than 200 organizations.

SHELTON, CT - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Early sales success at Shelton’s Cranberry Hill Estates has accelerated the start of Phase 2 construction at the Armstrong Road community, announced John Tarducci, Senior Vice President of the New Homes Division at William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance.

Santa Fe Springs, CA - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, recently negotiated a 45 month 82,080-square-feet industrial lease located at 12991 Leffingwell, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. The transaction is valued at $1.9 million.

CHICAGO, LONDON, SINGAPORE - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s second quarter 2011 Global Market Perspective, which assesses the impact of economic forces on the world’s major real estate markets, predicts this year will be the strongest performance and real estate trade volume since the market height of 2007.

Chino, CA - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, has completed the sale of a 78,021-square-feet industrial building located at 5740 Schaefer Ave., Chino, Calif. to a Massachusetts-based aerosol cans manufacturing and distribution company, Shield Packaging of California. The transaction is valued at $3.9 million.

Florida, USA: - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Legendary boxing promoter Don King has re-listed his Florida property for US$20 million, after removing the house from sale back in June 2010. The three acre, luxury ocean front estate in Manalapan, Florida, USA was first put on sale in 2009 for US$27.5 million. However King received little interest and decided to delist the property in summer last year.

Miami, FL - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fourth straight year. CB Richard Ellis is the only commercial real estate services firm ever to be included in the FORTUNE 500.

ALISO VIEJO, CA - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CT Realty Investors (CTRI) announced today it has completed the process of successfully selling a portfolio of office, warehouse and residential assets located throughout Southern California (Riverside County, Orange County and San Diego County), including some senior mortgage notes for a total of more than $30 million. The portfolio featured multiple residential, industrial and office properties purchased by CT Realty Investors in 2009 and 2010 through several senior loan pool acquisitions. CT Realty has been an active purchaser of distressed debt and maintains an active debt resolution business unit.

Edison, NJ - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. (REMN), a national mortgage lender based in River Edge, N.J., is pleased to announce the launch of Menlo Park Funding, a new branch opportunity for select independent brokers and bankers. Menlo Park Funding will be the fourth business channel in REMN’s existing wholesale, retail and consumer direct divisions.

NEWARK, NJ - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the home improvement season well underway, the State Division of Consumer Affairs last week continued its crackdown on unregistered and non-compliant home improvement contractors, assessing $66,500 in civil penalties against 25 contractors nabbed as part of the Division’s new monitoring and enforcement initiative.

Albany, NY - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today continued his "People First Campaign" at Hofstra University, where he outlined his legislative priorities and told Long Islanders that their voices must be heard in order to get Albany to act on these key reforms.

May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Loudoun County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn Jr. reminds taxpayers that the deadline for payment of the first half real property tax is Monday, June 6, 2011. Payments postmarked after June 6, 2011, will incur a 10% late payment penalty. The penalty date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed

DURHAM, N.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Business owners interested in making signage or building improvements in targeted areas inside the city limits should take note of three grant opportunities now available through the City of Durham.

CHICAGO, LONDON and SINGAPORE - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading global real estate services firm, has been named a lead sponsor to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Cities program to improve environmental sustainability in the world’s largest cities, and thereby enhance their economic viability.

Washington, DC - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) has unveiled legislation to require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to continue paying annual dividends back to the US Treasury to ensure the “ringleaders” of the housing crisis keep paying off their debt to American taxpayers.

BOISE, ID - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --There is still hope for hundreds of homeowners who are struggling to avoid foreclosure. Idaho Housing and Finance Association is still accepting applications for the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the $13 million home saving program on April 1st. Since the announcement, IHFA has sent out more than 700 applications, and only 287 have been returned for review

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- America’s infrastructure investments – levels of which have long trailed behind those of Asia and Europe – will be further stifled this year by pressures to cut federal spending and reduce the deficit, compelling cities to be evermore creative and resourceful in securing partnerships to start or continue infrastructure projects, according to Infrastructure 2011: A Strategic Priority.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- WHAT: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) 1st Quarter 2011 National Delinquency Survey (NDS) Media Conference Call.Conducted quarterly since 1972, MBA's National Delinquency Survey covers more than 40 million loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties, representing more than 80 percent of all first-lien residential mortgage loans outstanding in the United States.

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales declined in April, while home prices increased, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, issued the following statement in reaction to the introduction of bipartisan legislation by Representatives John Campbell (R-CA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) that would reform the secondary mortgage market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Wednesday the House Committee on Appropriations released its draft 302b allocations, the amounts each of the 12 appropriations subcommittees will have available to spend on their respective FY12 funding bills. The allocation for the subcommittee that funds HUD, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) subcommittee, is budgeted $7.7 billion below the FY11 final appropriation, a 14% cut.

Miami, FL - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the ongoing housing crisis, more that 54,000 South Floridians have been faced with foreclosures and have had to make the tough choice as to whether to fight to save their homes or walk away. Residents stuck in upside-down mortgages are often not aware of their available options when faced with foreclosure proceedings and can be more susceptible to loan modification scams; miss out on mortgage aid opportunities and, as consequence, lose their homes which could have been prevented.