Yearly Archives: 2011

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices were unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in October was revised downward to a 0.2 percent increase. For the 12 months ending in November, U.S. prices fell 4.3 percent. The U.S. index is 14.9 percent below its April 2007 peak and roughly the same as the August 2004 index level.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Duke Energy has reached a settlement with the Wyoming Department of Revenue on the company’s 2010 property tax valuation appeal.

BUFFALO, NY - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Steven Carlson, 52, of Jamestown, New York, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to evading the payment of taxes and mortgage fraud. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both

TRENTON, NJ - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a former employee of the Essex County Division of Welfare was sentenced today for falsifying employment records in order to qualify for a $357,050 loan to buy a home in Newark

MADISON, WI - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Scott Walker today announced that 18 Wisconsin communities have been awarded $8.8 million from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program at the Wisconsin Department of Commerce (Commerce) to rehabilitate and expand the supply of safe and sanitary housing for low-to-moderate income households

January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ohio EPA has ordered a Portage County resident to pay a $1,250 civil penalty for repeated illegal open burning. Seth Powers was ordered to pay the penalty after open burning solid waste, wood, brush and other materials on property located at New Milford Road and adjacent to the I-76 overpass in Rootstown Township. Powers has a land contract on the residential property.

BOISE, ID - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Home Partnership Foundation, brought to you by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA), has awarded 24 critical needs grants in the amount of $168,836 to homeless shelters and service providers across Idaho. These funds are intended to support the greatest needs statewide, including shelter operations and capital improvements, funding to help prevent homelessness, and efforts to encourage asset building to enhance client’s self-sufficiency. The Foundation is the state’s only 501(c)(3) housing foundation dedicated to helping those in need

January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded San Francisco $18.7 million in HUD’s Continuum of Care grants to fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The HUD Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients, and this year, 51 San Francisco-based organizations and programs received grant awards.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- David Marshall Crisp, 31; Carlyle Lee Cole, 63; Julie Dianne Farmer, 42; Sneha Ramesh Mohammadi, 49; Jayson Peter Costa, 38; Jeriel Salinas, 29; Robinson Dinh Nguyen, 30; Michael Angelo Munoz, 31; Jennifer Anne Crisp, 29; and Caleb Lee Cole, 35, were charged in a 56-count indictment with conspiracy to commit bank, mail and wire fraud, and with individual counts of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today. Certain of the defendants were also charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money. The indictment was returned Jan. 13 by a federal grand jury in Fresno and unsealed today

SAN MATEO, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Jackie (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and other members of Congress sent a letter (attached) today to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Acting Comptroller of the Currency John Walsh urging them to hold JPMorgan Chase accountable for overcharging thousands of military families on their mortgages and even wrongfully foreclosing on 14 families

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales rose in December, posting their highest level since May, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). The statewide median price increased from November, but was down from a year ago

SACRAMENTO, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California homebuilders put up the second-lowest number of homes for a single year in 2010, posting a modest improvement over the record-low that was set in 2009, the California Building Industry Association announced today

Mt. Laurel, NJ - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MAMCO Property Management, an Associa company, is proud to announce that Samantha Wallace and Linda Schlindwein have earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designations while Natalie Fries has completed her Association Management Specialist (AMS) designation

January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Toll Brothers, the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, and the Franklin Group sales team at Gloria Nilson, REALTORS®, Real Living® in Princeton Junction, are pleased to announce that only two condominiums remain at Toll Brothers’ Cranbury Brook the Highlands. Priced to sell, these two homes are available for immediate move-in. Prospective home buyers interested in moving now should act quickly for unprecedented value at this desirable active-adult community located in Plainsboro, NJ

NEW YORK, NY - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Max Spann Real Estate & Auction Co., the prominent and well established real estate auction house that has seen its business grow nationally from its base in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, is opening an office in New York City

Las Vegas, NV - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Benchmark Association Services, an Associa company, is pleased to announce that a surplus of funds is being returned to the WSCA members by a complete forgiveness of their first quarter dues and a reduction of the dues for the following quarters.

Atlanta, GA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY launches operations in Atlanta, offering listing side commissions as low as 1% while maintaining superior client care. Creating the next generation in real estate, THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY is founded by veteran Realtors, Erik Fortner, Otha Greer, Lee Thornton and Darrin Hunt, who have sales in excess of $200 million.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a January 21 letter to White House policy chiefs, the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign called on the Obama Administration to recommend funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) in its upcoming report on the future of federal housing finance policy.

ANCHORAGE, AK - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $3,420,701 in Continuum of Care renewal grants to support 22 local homeless providers across Alaska in the c...

Chicago, IL - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® who work with buyers now have a new resource available through the ABR® App for the iPhone. Available now through the iTunes store, this new benefit will help Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designees grow their business while also connecting with home buyers

West Hartford, CT - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, is announcing the start of its 3-evening new investor workshop. This program will begin on Thursday, February 3, 2011. Additional dates for the program are Thursday February 10 and Thursday February 17. This workshop will take place at the Comfort Inn, 900 East Main Street, Meriden, CT from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Tuition for this 3-evening program is $140 for CT REIA Members, and $180 for not-yet-members

Destin, FL - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Almost half of U.S. homeowners say they’ll walk away from their mortgages if home prices continue to fall. That’s according to a new survey conducted by online real estate forecasting firm Housing Predictor.

Torrance, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Adrian Tabatabaie joined Keystone Pacific Property Management as a community association manager in its Irvine office

Washington, DC - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Trade Commission has launched the website and blog for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2011, to be held March 6-12. The annual event, now in its 13th year, is hosted by the FTC and nearly 30 other government agencies, consumer groups, and national organizations. The website, www.ncpw.gov, provides information about consumer rights, and promotes free resources to help consumers protect their privacy, manage credit and debt, avoid identity theft, understand mortgages, and recognize frauds and scams.

AUSTIN, TX - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) today announced a $345,000 award to the City of McKinney to assist eligible residents with the purchase of their first home, providing greater stability to area low income families and a shot in the arm to the local economy.City officials estimate that the award will help provide 30 local residents with down payment and closing cost assistance, helping them achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

LINCOLN, NB - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded Wayne Community Housing Development Corporation (WCHDC) in Wayne, Neb., $350,000 in HOME funding earmarked for Community Housing Deve...

January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2011 assessment notices being mailed today reflect the current state of Loudoun County’s real property portfolio, according to Todd Kaufman, Loudoun County Assessor. The assessment notices include a pamphlet summarizing the assessment and taxation processes. Information regarding the review and appeal process is also included. A message from the Loudoun County Assessor explaining the assessment process, the 2011 Automated Application for Review form, answers to frequently asked questions, and other important information is available on the Loudoun County Government Website

New York, NY - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Throughout his career, both in City government and in the nonprofit sector, Rafael has embodied the best of what public service can be. During his five years at the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, he put his unique brand of innovation and pragmatism to work in advancing our mission to strengthen our neighborhoods and create a more affordable and sustainable city for all New Yorkers.

WINDSOR, VT - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced federal funding he secured for a major renovation of a housing complex

Washington, D.C. - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Representatives Mike Honda (D-Campbell) and Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) announced $9,989,955 in Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds will go to local organizations providing a range of assistance to homeless persons and families, including transitional housing, permanent housing, and other supportive services. Local grantees are: