Maryland RealEstateRama

April 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- To help raise awareness of building safety, Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services is celebrating Building Safety Month May 3 through 31. Each week of the month will address a different subject, with communities across the country promoting Energy and Green Building, Disaster Safety and Mitigation, Fire Safety and Awareness, and Backyard Safety. This year’s theme is “Building Safety: Commemorating a 30-year Legacy of Leadership.

Baltimore, MD - April 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will hold a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop in Overlea on April 26, 2010. Home foreclosures in Maryland and are up 80 percent from last year, while foreclosures in the rest of the country have stabilized, according to Realty Trac, Inc.,a California-based research firm.“This struggling economy has been tough on Maryland families. If you are in danger of losing your home, we can help. Please join me at my Foreclosure Prevention Workshop where you will have the chance to sit down, one-on-one, with housing counselors, mortgage lenders and other experts to discuss your options to keep you in your home,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger.

April 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights will host an educational forum on Friday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Building 2 at the University of Maryland at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville

March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite the economic turmoil of the past two years, the newly released Housing Initiative Fund Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009 Report illustrates that the County’s commitment to increasing the stock of affordable housing in Montgomery County has resulted in an increase in funding over the past two years and an addition to the inventory of affordable housing units in the county

ELLICOTT CITY, MD - March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Howard County Housing will host the “Come Home to Howard County” Housing Fair on Saturday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia. The event is free and open to the public.

March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined County Councilmember George Leventhal, chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee; Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) Executive Director Sharan London and others to welcome new residents to the Lockney Avenue Apartments, a Takoma Park property purchased by Coalition Homes (part of MCCH) to provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families.

COLUMBIA, MD - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise commends the United States Senate for passing the Tax Extenders Act (H.R. 4213) on March 10. The bill, which will now return to the House for a final vote, includes legislation critical to the affordable housing industry

March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the filing date for federal and state income taxes one month away, Montgomery County’s Community Action Board recommends that consumers avoid Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs). These highly advertised loans can subject consumers to high interest rates, additional fees and repayment risks.

March 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2010 U.S. Census Survey questionnaires will be mailed to every household beginning next week. Residents should watch for their questionnaire in the mail, fill it out with information on every person living in their residence, and return it by April 1

BALTIMORE, MD - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Just as sharks smell blood in the water, foreclosure rescue scammers can pick out desperate homeowners on the brink of foreclosure. Many homeowners are unaware of their options and panic. In the latest issue of The Consumer’s Edge, Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler warns homeowners and consumers of foreclosure rescue scams, and offers tips on how to avoid them.

February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Frank Kratovil today backed legislation to protect returning veterans and surviving spouses from the threat of home foreclosure and to promote opportunities for returning service members to transition into careers in education, after discussing the proposals in recent meetings with his Veterans Advisory Committee and other local veterans groups.

Washington, DC - February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Sarbanes was honored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in its Top 10 List of legislation that is helping to advance green building and the economic activity and jobs that come with it. Congressman Sarbanes was included in the list as author of H.R. 4155, the Property Assessed Clean Energy Tax Benefits Act of 2009

BALTIMORE, MD - February 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring Home at Last, LLC and its principal to refund payments of $211,076.20 collected from consumers to construct homes in Prince George’s County and to pay penalties of $75,200. The Division found that Jacquelyn Willis, and her company, Home at Last, violated Maryland’s Custom Home Protection 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 made. The Division also found that Willis and her company violated the Home Builder Registration Act and the Consumer Protection Act by failing to build homes as promised.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Testifying before members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the House Environmental Matters Committee, Governor Martin O’Malley and Congressman Elijah Cummings, today called for the passage of a foreclosure mediation bill that protects Maryland homeowners. In his 2010 legislative package, Governor O’Malley has introduced the emergency legislation that would give every Maryland family facing foreclosure the legal right to mediation with the lender seeking the foreclosure.

BALTIMORE, MD - January 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that David Young Park, 43, the former president of Capital City Financial Group in Ellicott City, entered a plea of guilty to one count of felony theft in Baltimore County Circuit Court. Judge John J. Nagel, III sentenced Park to five years in jail with all but 18 months suspended. Park was also ordered to complete five years of supervised probation and make restitution to the victim in the amount of $116,556.

Washington, DC - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, (MD-07) will host a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at Woodlawn Senior High School in Gwynn Oak, MD

Washington, D.C. - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reclaiming over $2 million in funds from Prince George’s County because the funds were not used within the five-year deadline

Washington, D.C. - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) today announced that Maryland will receive $6,387,721 in emergency funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In a letter to President Obama earlier this year, Congresswoman Edwards joined her colleagues in urging the President to release the emergency funding. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating, cooling, and other energy costs, as well as helping with weatherization costs.

BALTIMORE, MD - January 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Martin O’Malley announced a Four Point Plan for improving Maryland neighborhoods, reducing foreclosures, and making quality housing more affordable for more people. The Governor made this announcement at the annual meeting of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) in Baltimore today.

BALTIMORE, MD - December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has won a judgment in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City of nearly $1 million against Rodney Spellen, Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc., Jemel Lyles, Absoloot Ventures Inc., Brian Boyd, 1st Choice Property Management Firm, Inc., Sahar Ali, Alan Muniu, Phillip George, Certified Title & Escrow, Inc., and Reggie Simmons based on violations of Maryland laws against foreclosure rescue scams.

December 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett’s Tenant Work Group today released the results of the first-ever survey of County tenants, a survey that highlighted concerns about rent increases and affordability

Aberdeen, MD - December 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today participated in a “double” groundbreaking of two buildings that will house top defense contractors, Raytheon and L-3, within Aberdeen Proving Ground. In a unique agreement known as an enhanced use lease, St. John Properties will lease land directly from the Army for “The GATE” development project and 100 percent of the lease payments will go directly to the post for infrastructure and facility improvements.Ruppersberger was joined by Harford County Executive David Craig, Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett, Colonel Orlando Ortiz, Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison Commander Orlando Ortiz, as well as executives from St. John Properties, Raytheon Company and L-3 Communications

Aberdeen, MD - December 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will join executives from St. John Properties Inc., as well as business leaders and local elected officials at the groundbreaking of two commercial office buildings that will be leased to top defense contractors within Aberdeen Proving Ground. In a unique agreement known as an enhanced use lease, St. John Properties will lease land directly from the Army for “The GATE” development project and 100 percent of the lease payments will go directly to the post for infrastructure and facility improvements.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) announced today that Kent County Associates, L.P. in Kent County, Maryland, has been awarded a conditional $2.97 million loan to guarantee the rehabilitation and revitalization of affordable rental housing complexes in Fairlee and Rock Hill, Maryland. The conditional loan guarantee has been awarded through the USDA Rural Rental Housing Guaranteed Loan program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced a critical step forward in putting funds in the federal checkbook to track down and prosecute perpetrators of mortgage fraud. The funds are included in the CJS Appropriations Bill, which was approved by a House-Senate Conference Committee as part of Congress’ Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill.

Washington, D.C. - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Sarbanes voted for H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, which passed by a vote of 241 to 181. The measure will directly assist working families by extending property tax relief, the college tuition deduction and the deduction for teachers who pay out of pocket for classroom expenses.

December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Frank Kratovil supported the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, which extends tax relief provisions for working families and businesses to help spur job growth. The legislation will extend the R&D tax credit for nearly 11,000 businesses, provide up to 30 million homeowners with property tax relief, and provide a college tuition deduction that will make college possible for 4.5 million families

Columbia, MD - December 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, the Pollin family and representatives from Enterprise Homes, Inc. today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Linda Joy and Kenneth Jay Pollin Memorial Community Development in northeast Washington.

Dundalk, MD - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will host a Congressional Forum on “Opportunities for Home Ownership.” Maryland has the 9th highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to Realty Trac Inc., a California-based research firm. The homes of more than 6,600 families in Maryland went into foreclosure in October 2009 alone. Thousands more Marylanders face mortgage scams. Many others are considering refinancing or purchasing a new home.

ST. CHARLES, MD - December 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) joined Governor Martin O'Malley, Charles County officials and the American Community Properties Trust (ACPT) to announce a planned 9,100-acre "green community" development project in St. Charles, MD. The largest of its kind, the project will entail the development of 4,000 acres and retrofitting of more than 12,000 existing homes and four million square feet of commercial space, and is anticipated to create up to 20,000 new jobs through a Green Jobs Opportunity Zone, including 1,000 in the next three years. Below are Rep. Hoyer's remarks as prepared for delivery.