Illinois RealEstateRama

CHICAGO, IL - April 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today attended the third annual Illinois Warrior Summit resource fair and encouraged Illinois’ veterans to access available state and federal services. The event is a first-of-its-kind welcome home celebration for servicemembers returning from deployment and provides them with information about housing, healthcare, education, jobs and other benefits

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN - April 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On the eve of Earth Day, Governor Pat Quinn today visited the award-winning, solar-powered Gable Home on the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus. The university came in second in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon thanks to the home’s modern design and innovative energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - April 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois housing market posted its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year home sales increases in March as the spring market heats up and the April 30 federal homebuyer tax credit deadline nears. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in March 2010 were up 32.8 percent, totaling 9,487 homes sold compared to March 2009 sales of 7,142 homes. The median price in March 2010 was $148,500, down 0.3 percent from $149,000 in March 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Department of Energy will be awarded to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for energy efficiency building retrofits.

CHICAGO, IL - April 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today launched the final phase of Illinois’ ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program and encouraged residents to take advantage of a 15 percent rebate on energy efficient home appliances during Earth Week.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, United States Senator Roland W. Burris announced that the Department of Veterans of Affairs (VA) is awarding a $585,000 grant from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act for the construction of a new bus and ambulance garage at the Quincy Veterans Home in Quincy, IL

SPRINGFIELD, IL - April 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The popular homebuyer tax credit, which has benefited millions of first-time and move-up buyers purchasing a new home, will soon come to an end. Potential homebuyers need to move quickly if they want to take advantage of the federal tax credit before it expires April 30, 2010

SPRINGFIELD, IL - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois housing market posted its sixth consecutive month of year-over-year home sales increases in February as tax credit and buyer market conditions continue to move the market toward stability. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in February 2010 were up 15.7 percent, totaling 6,068 homes sold compared to February 2009 sales of 5,243 homes. The median price in February 2010 was $135,000, down 3.6 percent from $140,000 in February 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less

March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Working to bring affordable housing options and needed jobs to Kankakee, Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) joined State Senator Toi Hutchinson, State Representative Lisa Dugan, Mayor Samuel Payton, and other local officials and community members at the ground breaking of Sandstone Hills, a single-family rent-to-own community of 29 homes made possible by federal Recovery Act funding."A critical part of the American Dream is the opportunity to have a home our families can call their own," said Halvorson. "The funding provided by the Recovery Act I voted for will offer an opportunity for families to purchase homes they can afford, at a time when they need help the most."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Department of Agriculture are being allocated to Illinois rural communities for water system projects to enhance water quality and improve sanitation services. These projects will provide construction jobs and improve water systems infrastructure in rural areas

Washington, D.C. - March 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On March 12, 2010 Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), along with Representatives Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) introduced, H.R. 4839, a bill that will enhance economic development in underserved areas. The bill will modify Section 118(a) of the federal tax code to reflect the increased use of partnerships or Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs), an exemption already provided to corporations

Foreclosures not limited to predatory lending as more homeowners are “underwater”. CHICAGO, IL - March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- More homeowners across Chicago find themselves at risk of foreclosure as property values drop and families struggle with unemployment, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a news conference to release National People’s Action’s 2009 Chicago Foreclosure Report.

Chicago, IL - March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Richard M. Daley today introduced six ordinances supporting programs that ensure families have access to safe and secure housing and help growing businesses expand their operations. “Chicago’s strength relies on the health and stability of its neighborhoods,” Daley said. “These ordinances will help upgrade housing, enhance commercial growth and bring about positive change to the lives of local residents,

West Chicago, IL - March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2010 Census will document the changes in our nation since the last decennial census in 2000, and tell us how we've evolved as a country. Because census data affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments, the census also will frame the future of our country for the next 10 years. It is vital that everyone in the United States be counted in 2010.

Washington, DC - March 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-14) introduced legislation that will promote neighborhood stabilization by incentivizing short sales as a preferable alternative to foreclosure

SPRINGFIELD, IL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Buyer market conditions remain in most Illinois housing markets as January marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year home sales increases while the statewide median price logged its first uptick since September 2007. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in January 2010 were up 14.0 percent, totaling 5,483 homes sold compared to January 2009 sales of 4,809 homes. The median price in January 2010 was $145,300, up 0.2 percent from $145,000 in January 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

CHICAGO, IL - February 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The final report of the Nursing Home Safety Task Force was presented to Governor Pat Quinn today. The report details recommendations to ensure the safety of nursing home residents and build a better system of treatment for people in need of care for physical or mental illnesses, disorders or disabilities. Governor Quinn formed the Task Force in October of 2009 in response to reports of violence and unsafe, inadequate care for vulnerable nursing home residents. To read the full report, please click on the link below

SPRINGFIELD, IL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fueled by the tax credit incentive, home sales rebounded in the latter half of the year with Illinois buyers gaining some long-awaited confidence bolstered by low mortgage interest rates and moderating home prices. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) fourth quarter 2009 report, Illinois home sales (which include single-family homes and condominiums) totaled 29,822 in the fourth quarter, up 35.6 percent from 21,986 home sales in the same period a year ago. For the year 2009, total sales were down 1.4 percent with 107,613 homes sold compared to 109,195 sales in 2008

Two programs serve low-income residents, create jobs. CHICAGO, IL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new round of $15.4 million in federal affordable housing funds will help low-income residents, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and landlords rehabilitate more than 420 homes across the state, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced today.

CHICAGO, IL - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the approval of 18 new Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) in Illinois. The state’s Supportive Living Program offers an alternative to nursing home care for low income seniors, and people with physical disabilities

More than half of home buyers in the 2009 Profile of Illinois Home Buyers and Sellers were first-time buyers, due in large part to the first-time homebuyer tax credit stimulus and increased affordability in home prices in the last year. The survey results released by the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) found 51% of buyers were first-time buyers, compared to 47% nationwide (a figure which has averaged closer to 40% nationwide since 2001). When asked about the primary reason for timing of the home purchase, 46% of first-time buyers said it was just the right time.

DEKALB, IL - January 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Northern Illinois University (NIU) will get $8 million to renovate Cole Hall, which on Feb. 14, 2008 was the tragic scene of an unprovoked attack where five students were shot and 19 were wounded. An additional $2.3 million will be used to plan for the renovation of Stevens Building.

CHICAGO, IL - January 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) today announced it had indefinitely suspended the licenses of Edward Kent, a Real Estate Broker and Associate Appraiser who had been convicted of a crime that caused his name to be placed in the Illinois Sex Offender Database. After receiving a complaint about Mr. Kent, the Department undertook to compare its more than one million licensees against that database.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - January 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois housing markets show signs of stabilizing as low interest rates and the tax credit stimulus helped to reduce inventories through the end of 2009 while more markets reported median price increases in December. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in December 2009 were up 20.1 percent, totaling 8,197 homes sold compared to December 2008 sales of 6,823 homes, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases statewide. The median price in December 2009 was $152,000 down 1.9 percent from $155,000 in December 2008. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less

CHICAGO, IL - January 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the City of Chicago a Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant in the amount of $98,008,384 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These grants are competitively awarded to local governments and non-profit housing developers to spur economic development and create jobs in hard-hit communities

January 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) today released the following statement praising the Obama Administration for opening a new transitional housing facility in Cocoa, Florida for homeless female veterans. Hare has introduced the Help Our Homeless Veterans Act, legislation that would mandate the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to dedicate funding for a National Media Outreach Campaign on homelessness with a specific focus on women.

OSFM offers safety tips, highlights dangers with furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters. SPRINGFIELD, IL - January 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires and nearly half of all home fires occur during the winter months, according to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM)

Washington, DC - January 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) has co-signed a letter with 112 of his colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to President Obama asking that Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency funds be released

Washington, DC - January 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) joined 132 of his colleagues in writing to President Barack Obama this week, requesting he release emergency funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) will award Illinois a total of $9,000,170 to increase efforts to provide services, food and shelter for the hungry, homeless, and individuals struggling during the economic crisis. The EFSP is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).