California RealEstateRama

Los Angeles, CA - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has negotiated a 10-year lease for a 15,444-square-foot office space located at 221 S. Figueroa St. in Downtown Los Angeles for The Associated Press. The transaction is valued at $5.5 million.

IRVINE, CA - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Western States Technologies Inc. (www.westernstatestech.com) has signed a five-year lease valued at more than $1.5 million with Graphtec America Inc. for 44,000 square feet of space at 17462 Armstrong Ave. in Irvine, Calif., near John Wayne Airport. Graphtec America (www.graphtecamerica.com) will occupy 100 percent of the space.

Los Angeles, CA - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Los Angeles County Assessor John R. Noguez today reminded property owners who may have been affected by the recent storms to contact his office as soon as possible for information about potential tax relief if rain, mud or related damage amounts to $10,000 or more.

Long Beach, CA - December 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will conduct the fifth biannual homeless count in Long Beach on Thursday, January 27th, 2011.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- San Bernardino County Assessor Dennis Draeger announced today that property tax relief will be available for victims of last week’s devastating floods that have ravaged San Bernardino County. According to news reports, many structures have either been destroyed or suffered extensive damage as a result of flooding in many areas of San Bernardino County

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Villaraigosa joined a news conference call with fellow US Conference of Mayor (USCM) counterparts to discuss the issues of hunger and homelessness in the United States. These issues remain major challenges in U.S. cities according to a USCM report on the status of Hunger and Homelessness in 27 cities in America (listed below) that was released today by the U.S. Conference of Mayors

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced today that Wells Fargo has agreed to provide loan modifications worth more than $2 billion to thousands of California homeowners with "pick-a-pay" loans and to pay an additional $32 million to thousands of borrowers who lost their homes through foreclosure.

San Francisco, CA - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The holiday season is upon us, but there are thousands in our community that are unable to enjoy the season without a little help. Once again this year, Zephyr Real Estate is running a campaign to collect toys and food for people in need

December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), chairwoman of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee, took to the House floor this morning in support of H.R. 5510, the “Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act of 2010,” which would allow states to use their Hardest Hit Funds to provide legal assistance for homeowners facing foreclosure.

Irvine, CA - December 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has directed the sales of three retail properties in Southern California for a combined $4.23 million.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- International real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) today announced that the company’s retail brokerage group completed two major lease transactions in the Los Angeles area. Roger Dunn Golf signed a 12,000 square foot lease at NoHo 14 in North Hollywood and Korea-based Tom N Toms Coffee will establish its flagship U.S. location at Solair in Koreatown. Kennedy Wilson has closed over $11 million of retail leases in the past month, including Sweet Lady Jane’s new Santa Monica location, Americana at Brand’s L.A. Creamery, a new Santa Monica location for BlankSpaces and Want Agency’s Nudie Jeans showroom off of Melrose Avenue.

Oxnard, CA - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has negotiated three industrial leases totaling 68,670 square feet in Oxnard Calif.

Los Angeles, CA - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Saturday, December 4, 2010 was a good day for hundreds of families who waited patiently in search of help to avoid foreclosure. The Los Angeles County NeighborWorks® Center for Foreclosure Solutions (CFS) coalition, civil leaders and local volunteers teamed up at the Help & Hope Fair to assist families navigate their way through the tempestuous foreclosure process. The Help & Hope Fair, held at The Tabernacle in Inglewood, was designed to make it as easy as possible for families to receive assistance whether they need help keeping their home or hope to buy a foreclosed property. Over 1,000 individuals attended the fair and they all received a continental breakfast, beverages and lunch.

Los Angeles, CA - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services firm globally, has completed the sale of a 7,500-square-foot industrial building located at 9356 Remick Ave. in Los Angeles to Total Effects, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company supervising special effects for the motion picture industry. The total transaction is valued at $1.025 million.

Torrance, CA - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Christopher Sheehan, director of industrial services of Colliers International’s Torrance office, has been certified by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).

December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Through a new delivery program, the Office of Sustainability is extending the benefits of mulch to residents throughout the City. Mulch from City tree trimming operations is now available by request to Long Beach homeowners

MISSION VIEJO, CA - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial services industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, announced today that Managing Director, Drew Waterhouse was named to National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s 2010 list of the top “40 Most Influential Mortgage Professionals Under 40.” National Mortgage Professional is one of the mortgage industry’s leading media trade outlets with a monthly print magazine, online news site and daily news distribution services through NMP Daily and Mortgage News Ticker.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a new criminal case being filed this morning, federal authorities have now charged three defendants for their roles in a foreclosure rescue scam that promised the owners of hundreds of distressed properties that they could indefinitely postpone foreclosure sales.

December 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- California's Building Standards Code will change in 2011, and all development project and permit applications that are submitted to the City of Long Beach on or after January 1, 2011 must comply with the updated code.

Kern County, CA - November 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has negotiated the disposition of a 351,723-square-foot single tenant, fulfillment and distribution center at the Tejon Industrial Complex in Kern County, Calif. to a New York City- based institutional group. The transaction is valued at $23.85 million.

Torrance, CA - November 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has recruited Jeff Smart, Josh May, Blake Tippett and Kyle Degener to its Torrance, Calif. office. Specializing in the representation of industrial landlords and tenants throughout the South Bay and Mid-Counties markets, the team will add additional strengths to Colliers’ industrial platform in Greater Los Angeles.

Washington, DC - November 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, released the following statement in response to the announcement today by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issuing a final rule to protect distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams.

Los Angeles, CA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Los Angeles County NeighborWorks® Center for Foreclosure Solutions (CFS) coalition has been helping families facing foreclosure since the beginning of the mortgage crisis. As families head into the holidays, the significance of having a home in which to share holiday dinners with family is more important than other times in the year. As joblessness in Los Angeles remains historically high helping families to stay in their home is critical this holiday season

SAN DIMAS, CA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman David Dreier (R-CA) will participate as a volunteer server at the Los Angeles Mission’s Annual Thanksgiving for the Homeless tomorrow, November 24, 2010. Dreier, a member of the Mission’s Board of Directors, has participated in the event for many years. He said the annual event is an opportunity to help those dealing with these challenging times

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Sherman Oaks woman for her role in a $2 million mortgage fraud scheme in which she allegedly filed fraudulent loan applications that in some cases falsely claimed she and her husband earned nearly $50,000 per month.

Brea, CA - November 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jamboree Housing Corporation announced today that it is breaking ground on the development of Bonterra Apartment Homes, a new neighborhood in Brea, CA, that will provide workforce housing for families who earn between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The official Ground Breaking is Wednesday, December 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Program participants include Mayor Ron Garcia and City Councilmembers, Jamboree executives and partnership representatives. Interview and photo opportunities are available

November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than seventy children at the Sage before and after school daycare center will now be able to enjoy a newly renovated playground thanks to the work of The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

November 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Project Title: Long-Term Therapeutic Homeless Housing, Building 209 Amount Requested: $35,500,000 Location: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Los Angeles, Californi

San Francisco, CA - November 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco has appointed Mark J. Watson as Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit

WASHINGTON, DC - November 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced the opening of a new mortgage help center in Culver City to provide counseling and other services for struggling homeowners in the greater metro area with loans owned by Fannie Mae. The Greater Los Angeles Mortgage Help Center is the fourth facility in a series of nationwide mortgage help centers. Fannie Mae is partnering on this initiative with West Angeles Community Development Corporation, major mortgage servicers, and civic and community leaders from across the region