Maine RealEstateRama

AUGUSTA, ME - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that third quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing modest increase in home foreclosures in Maine. In general, foreclosure activity at Maine banks and credit unions appears to be lower than in many other states and it does not pose a threat to the stability of Maine-chartered financial institutions.

The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection is proposing a new rule, titled “Adjustment of Non-Bank Mortgage Lender Fees to Fund Investigative and Legal Compliance Personnel.” A copy of that proposed rule is attached. The Bureau will provide an opportunity for public comment on this proposed rule on Wednesday morning, the 9th of December, 2009, at the Department's Gardiner Annex, 76 Northern Avenue, Gardiner, Maine 04345, starting at 8:30 AM.

AUGUSTA, ME - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Janet Mills today joined the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys general of twenty-six other states in a national crackdown against foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification operations. These companies prey on consumers who are desperate to save their homes from foreclosure.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Foreclosure Diversion Program is opening up a limited number of spaces in its loan modification tools training for Foreclosure Diversion Program mediators, attorneys affiliated with Maine Attorneys Saving Homes, and Maine State Housing Authority staff, to interested attorneys. The December 2, 2009, training to be held at the Augusta Civic Center will be focused on various loan modification programs and the FDIC’s mod-in-a-box tool that will be used in the program. The training will start at 9 A.M. and end at 4 P.M. The Foreclosure Diversion Program will seek CLE credit approval for this training. The training will cost $50, which must be received before December 2, 2009. The fee is non-refundable

AUGUSTA, ME - November 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 10,000 apartments, including more than 650 vacancies, are now listed at MaineHousingSearch.org., the new website that matches landlords with apartments to rent with people looking for an apartment. This new rental listing service is free for both landlords and renters.

AUGUSTA, ME - October 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new study reinforces the concept that providing supportive housing to homeless people with disabilities is less costly and better for the individual than providing no assistance

October 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Come join our librarians and others at this year's Juice Conference, connecting leaders of the creative economy to foster growth and prosperity. (November 13 & 14 in Camden, Maine)

October 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Come join our librarians and others at this year's Juice Conference, connecting leaders of the creative economy to foster growth and prosperity. (November 13 & 14 in Camden, Maine)

AUGUSTA, ME - October 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- MaineHousing current popular Gift of Green promotion ends November 30, but the agency will have a new promotion in place to help first-time homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs, MaineHousing Director Dale McCormick said.

AUGUSTA, ME - October 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today delivered opening remarks at the 2009 Maine Affordable Housing Conference at the Augusta Civic Center. The conference, hosted by MaineHousing, highlighted many innovations undertaken at the State level to address housing issues during these challenging economic times.

Inspirational speaker also on agenda; variety of workshops scheduled. AUGUSTA, ME - October 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- One of the nation’s top energy officials and an inspirational speaker will join Governor John E. Baldacci in addressing the state’s housing leaders at Maine’s 2009 Affordable Housing Conference October 19 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Inspirational speaker also on agenda; variety of workshops scheduled. AUGUSTA, ME - October 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- One of the nation’s top energy officials and an inspirational speaker will join Governor John E. Baldacci in addressing the state’s housing leaders at Maine’s 2009 Affordable Housing Conference October 19 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Inspirational speaker also on agenda; variety of workshops scheduled. AUGUSTA, ME - October 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- One of the nation’s top energy officials and an inspirational speaker will join Governor John E. Baldacci in addressing the state’s housing leaders at Maine’s 2009 Affordable Housing Conference October 19 at the Augusta Civic Center.

October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The newly enacted Foreclosure Diversion Program seeks applicants who are interested in being trained as foreclosure mediators in preparation for the program’s state-wide launch in 2010. Professionals trained in the areas of law, accounting, banking, or mediation as well individuals with work experience that includes foreclosures, credit and collections work, or work done on behalf of creditors or debtors in actions to collect on mortgages, notes, or debts are encouraged to apply

AUGUSTA - September 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Groundbreaking ceremonies for the rehab of the Greentree Apartments in Augusta, one of the first housing developments in the country to receive funding under the Exchange portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will occur at 11:30 a.m. Thursday (September 24) at 45 New England Road

September 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe and U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $876,120 in homelessness prevention grant funding to the City of Portland. The funding will be used to help re-house families who have fallen into homelessness in Maine.The funding is being distributed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senators Snowe and Collins worked with a bipartisan group of senators to craft the legislation that became law in February

Professional & Financial Regulation - Financial Institutions. September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that recently completed analysis by the Bureau of Financial Institutions of second quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing modest increase in home foreclosures in Maine.

September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on September 23, 2009 the York County Pilot Project of the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session for homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure. The York County Pilot Project and the Foreclosure Diversion Program are the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court will establish a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine. Although the Act requires that the mediation program be available statewide in 2010, the Court launched the Pilot Project on August 3, 2009, in York County to gain a better understanding before the Diversion Program is offered throughout the State. This first informational session will be held at the District Court in Springvale

Washington, D.C. - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today announced that $4.3 million in federal funding for projects in Maine has been included in the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 73 to 25.

AUGUSTA, ME - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Maine homeowners receiving a recorded phone message from someone telling them to call "Maine Housing Authority" to help with foreclosure or to refinance their mortgage may be victims of a scam, state housing officials warned today