Maryland RealEstateRama

August 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eligible Montgomery County residents are encouraged to apply for the Maryland Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit program, which limits the amount of property taxes a homeowner must pay based on income. An additional County supplement and a senior tax credit will automatically apply to eligible County residents. For a senior tax credit, residents must be age 70 or older. No additional application is required for either the County supplement or the senior tax credit. The deadline for the state application submission has been extended to November 1, 2010

August 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eligible Montgomery County residents are encouraged to apply for the Maryland Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit program, which limits the amount of property taxes a homeowner must pay based on income. An additional County supplement and a senior tax credit will automatically apply to eligible County residents. For a senior tax credit, residents must be age 70 or older. No additional application is required for either the County supplement or the senior tax credit. The deadline for the state application submission is September 1, 2010.In order to be eligible, a homeowner must have

August 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Raymond Skinner to tour a Silver Spring small business, Rosta’s--a women’s clothing store-- where a combination of State and County funding has leveraged private investment nearly five times, and resulted in a newly renovated building that is creating jobs and preserving a local small business.“Small business are important to the economic vitality of our community,” said Leggett, “and the investment made by Rosta’s owner Ali Rostai and the State and County is an example of public and private entities working together to sustain our communities.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today announced full Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the fiscal year 2011 CJS funding bill, which includes increased funding and resources to track down and prosecute perpetrators of mortgage fraud.

July 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards hosted two Foreclosure Prevention Workshops and Forums for residents of the 4th Congressional District. Hundreds of homeowners attended and received free consultations with housing counselors, pro bono attorneys, and bank representatives. Residents also attended workshops on predatory lending, working with your bank, and making loans affordable again.

July 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The new and still-emerging face of downtown Silver Spring took on another aspect today with the long-awaited, much-anticipated grand opening of the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.

BALTIMORE, MD - July 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that the Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with Arch Insurance Company, the bonding company for Equity Homes, LLC., to pay $460,000 in consumer claims. Equity Homes was a home builder based in Fairfax, Virginia that went out of business in February 2008. Prior to its closure, Equity Homes accepted deposits from consumers to build new homes but never built the homes or refunded the deposits.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - July 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Maryland’s new Foreclosure Mediation law will take effect, giving mortgage challenged homeowners another tool to help them save their homes. The program aims to give homeowners more time and a better opportunity to work with their lender, help qualified borrowers get relief through a loan modification and provide an independent party to help both sides come to a resolution

BALTIMORE, MD - July 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that the Court of Special Appeals has issued an opinion upholding the Consumer Protection Division’s finding that John P. Seisman and his company, Leedom, Inc., t/a Modular Home Express, violated Maryland’s home builder and consumer protection laws by selling modular homes to consumers without being registered as a home builder.

June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) invites housing providers, businesses, banks, credit unions, realtors, government agencies, community organizations, and nonprofits to be sponsors and exhibitors at the annual Housing Fair. The fair will take place on Saturday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, state and local officials and community leaders, officially launched the process to move the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) into Prince George’s County. Relocating the 330+ employee agency to Prince George’s County serves as a milestone in the Governor’s transit-oriented development vision for state agencies. Further, the move brings an agency dedicated to neighborhood revitalization closer to one of the population centers it serves most, while promoting smart growth and sustainable communities. To date in FY 2010, DHCD invested the largest amount of mortgage financing in Prince George's County.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today issued the following statement on “Operation Stolen Dreams,” a three-and-a-half month operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to target mortgage fraud.

June 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Frank Kratovil backed the Federal Housing Administration Reform Act, a bill that will save taxpayers $2.5 billion over five years and make crucial reforms to strengthen the operation of the Federal Housing Administration, which has helped 37 million Americans buy homes since 1934.“This is a much needed reform bill that will help families realize the American dream of homeownership through responsible lending practices, while curbing some of the unchecked lending that contributed to our recent housing market crisis,” said Rep. Kratovil.

June 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery County’s comprehensive approach to prevent foreclosures today received the Best Government Initiative Award by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). The award was presented at HAND’s 19th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, held in McLean, Virginia.

Silver Spring, MD - June 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), the private nonprofit real estate developer, will hold a Circle of Builders breakfast forum on the Brookings Institution’s findings on the State of Metro America. The event will be held in Bethesda at Chevy Chase Bank, a Division of Capital One, N.A.

June 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Roscoe Bartlett invites you to attend the 2nd Annual Go Green Energy Conference on Monday June 7th at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, Maryland. The Go Green Conference is a free educational community service event to discover practical ways to save money, use less energy, be better stewards of our environment and go green on any size budget. The Go Green Conference from 10am – 3pm on Monday, June 7th is FREE to attend and includes FREE parking. Come for lunch or come for the day, either way, it’s free to attend. Please forward this notice to others you think might be interested in attending

June 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined County Council President Nancy Floreen, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Deputy Secretary Clarence Snuggs, and federal and local housing officials to tour a formerly vacant foreclosed property that is now available for rental through the Housing Opportunities Commission. The acquisition and renovation of this house, as well as 15 others in Germantown and Wheaton, is part of a $7.1 million effort made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Neighborhood Conservation Initiative and a HUD Community Development Block Grant

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is hosting the Second Go Green Energy Conference on Monday, June 7 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the e-ventplex at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, Maryland. The Go Green Energy Conference is a free community service event designed for homeowners, farmers and small business owners to discover practical ways that you can save money, use less energy and go green on any size budget. This year will be bigger and better than the inaugural Go Green Energy Conference in 2009 that was attended by more than 1,000 people. Come see more than 120 indoor and outdoor exhibitors and learn tips from experts in breakout sessions. Congressman Bartlett, Senator Ben Cardin, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Malcolm Woolf, and Frederick Mayor Randy McClement highlight keynote addresses among more than 30 speakers. Go Green 2010 has MORE exhibit space and is still FREE to Exhibit and FREE to Attend with FREE PARKING! Food and beverages will be for sale by two community non-profit organizations raising money for education activities. The Go Green Energy Conference is sponsored by the e-ventplex at the Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick County Office of Economic Development, Frederick City Department of Economic Development, Washington County Economic Development Commission and the Carroll County Department of Economic Development. Please forward this notice to others you think might be interested in attending

ANNAPOLIS, MD - May 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Martin O’Malley joined Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., and House Speaker Michael E. Busch in signing a tough new law bringing mortgage giants to the table when beginning a foreclosure proceeding in Maryland. This morning, Governor O’Malley met over breakfast with more than 200 faith leaders, acknowledging their efforts in foreclosure prevention outreach and their role moving forward under this new legislation.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. House passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (HR 5019) today, legislation that will spur job growth in the construction, manufacturing, and retail industries by giving families incentives to make their homes more energy efficient. The measure is projected to create 168,000 jobs across the U.S. and save 3 million families an estimated $200-$500 per year over the next 10 years ($9.2 billion total) by making their homes more energy efficient.

May 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A variety of issues and programs for Montgomery County seniors are featured in the May edition of “Seniors Today,” now airing on County Cable Montgomery.

May 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger will join Maryland leaders to break ground for a new Trauma and Critical Care Tower at the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The new $160 million, nine-floor tower will substantially boost capacity in the emergency department and intensive care unit. The 140,000 square foot building will house 10 new state-of-the-art operating rooms and 64 new and replacement critical care beds

May 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Frank Kratovil backed the bipartisan Home Star Energy Retrofit Act (HR 5019) to provide immediate incentives for consumers who renovate their homes to become more energy-efficient, rapidly creating jobs here at home, while saving money for American families.

BALTIMORE, MD - May 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that the Securities Division has issued a Summary Order to Cease and Desist against Diversified Marketing Consultants, Inc., d/b/a DMC and ShopD2Z, Lamondes D. Williams, and related entities Digital Zone Electronics Warehouse and Mainline Properties LLC, all operating in the metro-Baltimore area. They have been ordered to cease and desist violating Maryland’s securities laws by operating a fraudulent investment scheme that offered “employment” in a venture to recruit others, with the promise of profit and the use of an apartment for a year

May 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Isiah Leggett today received the first Robert Weaver Housing Champion Award for his longstanding efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing in Montgomery County. Leggett received the award at the 19th Annual Affordable Housing Summit held at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center.

Baltimore, MD - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After the overwhelming success of a foreclosure prevention workshop earlier this week in Overlea, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) announced today his office will host another in Essex on Monday, May 3, 2010. Once again, the workshop will connect major lenders together to Marylanders who are at risk of losing their homes.

BALTIMORE, MD - April 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring Deise Custom Homes, LLC and its principal to pay more than $480,000 to consumers and penalties of $34,000. The Division found that Richard E. Deise, Jr., and his company, Deise Custom Homes, violated Maryland’s Custom Home Protection Act and New Home Deposit Act by failing to place or maintain money paid by consumers into an escrow account or having a surety bond to cover the deposits and payments. The Division also found that Deise and his company violated the Home Builder Registration Act and the Consumer Protection Act by failing to build homes as promised

April 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Frank Kratovil applauded today’s announcement that Maryland has been awarded $20 million in Recovery Act funding to expand energy efficiency building retrofit programs.

BALTIMORE, MD - April 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Securities Division has ordered Montgomery County-based WEI Mortgage Corporation, and its principal, Wesley Yuan, to cease and desist violating Maryland’s securities laws. The order charges WEI Mortgage Corporation and Yuan with engaging in the offer and sale of unregistered, non-exempt securities in the form of “FPP” or “Funding Participation Program” promissory notes, while misrepresenting to investors that the FPP notes were not securities investments, and that the investments involved “little to no risks.”

WASHINGTON, DC - April 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) praised the selection of Maryland to receive $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to help Maryland families and businesses retrofit homes and businesses with clean energy and energy-efficiency technology that will help conserve energy and reduce costs.