Maryland RealEstateRama

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Washington, DC - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, (MD-07) today wrote Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to encourage him to work with Treasury Secretary Geithner during the upcoming White House economic summit, to find new ways to deal with the staggering number of foreclosures in America.

Legislation similar to bill introduced by Kratovil to help jump start the economy and put more people in homes. November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives passed and today President Obama signed into law legislation that will extend the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit past the November 30th deadline to first-time homebuyers with a binding contract before April 30, 2010.

Washington, DC - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), co-chair of the Senate Real Estate Caucus and one of the authors of the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit, today praised the Senate for its timely action to keep the $8,000 credit from expiring at the end of this month. In September, Senator Cardin led a group of Senators, including Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Harry Reid (D-NV), John Ensign (R-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), introducing a bill to extend the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit

Washington, DC - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), co-chair of the Senate Real Estate Caucus and one of the authors of the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit, today praised the Senate for its timely action to keep the $8,000 credit from expiring at the end of this month. In September, Senator Cardin led a group of Senators, including Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Harry Reid (D-NV), John Ensign (R-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), introducing a bill to extend the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit

WASHINGTON, DC - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced legislation to track the number of hate crimes committed against homeless persons to help determine just how pervasive such crimes may be. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) joined as original co-sponsors of the bill, the Hate Crimes Against Homeless Statistics Act.

Washington, D.C. - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- With Congressman John Sarbanes’ strong support, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1016, Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act and H.R. 3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act. Both measures have been referred to the Senate for consideration. “This Congress is committed to putting our troops and veterans first,” said Congressman John Sarbanes. “Our service men and women have made sacrifices for our country and all Americans. They deserve our utmost gratitude but also a meaningful commitment in terms of health care and opportunities for homeownership.

Columbia, MD - October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Council Chair Joseph Bartenfelder, Councilman John Olszewski Sr., and representatives from Enterprise Homes, Inc. and the Mark Building Company cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the model homes at Renaissance Square, a new green housing community in Middle River. Renaissance Square will have 115 for-sale homes and townhomes and 81 apartments for seniors in the new Evergreen building. The model homes will be open for public tours beginning Friday, October 9, at 11 a.m. and thereafter from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The sales center is located at 15 St. Stephen’s Lane, off of Old Eastern Avenue, just east of Back River Neck Road

October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) will hold its annual forum on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Homeowners and residents of common ownership communities in the County are invited to attend, as well as professionals who work with those communities

October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights will host an educational forum on Thursday, October 22 from 12:30 to 4 p.m., in Building 2 of the University of Maryland, Shady Grove Campus.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maryland Association of REALTORS headquarters. The Senator is a strong supporter of the housing industry and recently introduced legislation to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit for another six months, until June 1, 2010.

October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Freddie Mac Executive Vice President for Community Relations and Freddie Mac Foundation President and CEO, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., to announce nearly $1 million in grant funding to two Montgomery County organizations serving homeless families. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) will receive $450,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to continue the Partnership for Permanent Housing program, which relocates families directly from homelessness to permanent housing. The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), operators of the Greentree Family Shelter, will receive $425,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to provide intensive services to some of the County’s most vulnerable homeless families --- to move them quickly to permanent housing.

Green Renovation of 186 Affordable Apartments in Cherry Hill Neighborhood. BALTIMORE, MD - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano and community residents joined Enterprise today to celebrate the grand reopening of Cherrydale Apartments in Baltimore. Cherrydale Apartments, which has provided affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income families in Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood for more than 40 years, was renovated to meet the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria for affordable housing.

Over 150 receive advice and assistance to prevent and protect against home foreclosures. September 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over the weekend Rep. Frank Kratovil hosted a successful foreclosure prevention seminar at Maces Lane Middle School in Cambridge, MD. The seminar featured presentations and counseling sessions sponsored by housing counselors, pro bono attorneys and representatives of major lenders. Attendees were given the opportunity to meet individually with counselors and discuss what options are available to help stay in their home. “First and foremost, this seminar was about giving people tools and making sure they are aware of the resources offered within the community to prevent and work through a home foreclosure crisis,” said Rep. Kratovil. “This workshop was designed to help distressed homeowners learn about their options before it’s too late, and I think it succeeded.”

Legislation will promote growth, stability in housing market. September 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reps. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) and Travis Childers (D-MS) have introduced important legislation to help families buy and sell homes and spur growth and stability in the American housing market. The Tax Credit Extension for Homebuyers with a Loss Deduction Incentive Act (H.R. 3640) will extend for one year the $8,000 home-buyer tax credit, expand the credit to all homebuyers purchasing a principal residence, and provide relief for individuals or families who are forced to sell their home at a loss.

Legislation will help protect family farms from the estate tax. September 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Frank Kratovil signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 3524, the Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act. This bill will exempt farms and ranches from Federal estate taxes after death of the owner for as long as the property stays in the family and it continues to operate as a farm. The legislation also exempts landowners who have placed their land in a conservation easement from paying the estate tax as long as it persists in that capacity.

September 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil will be hosting a foreclosure prevention workshop this Saturday afternoon at Maces Lane Middle School in Cambridge, MD. The workshop is open to any residents of Maryland’s First Congressional District currently facing or at risk of facing foreclosure. Counselors and representatives of major lenders will be on hand to meet with attendees individually to discuss what options are available to help homeowners stay in their home.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.), today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding the Hagerstown Housing Authority $9,879,750 in a competitive Public Housing Capital Fund grant for construction of a “green” public housing project for seniors at the site of the former H.L. Mills Station in Hagerstown. This shovel-ready project will be a 60-unit, four-story, LEED Certified building. The energy efficient design calls for using geothermal energy for heating, Energy Star appliances and construction standards, and other techniques for water and energy conservation. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this year.

Washington, DC - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), last night, along with Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Harry Reid (D-NV), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced a six-month extension of the popular $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The current provision, passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, expires December 1, 2009. According to the most recent Treasury data, nearly 530,000 Americans have applied for the tax cut to help them purchase their first home. About 40 percent of all home buyers this year will be eligible for the tax credit.

September 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- WHO: Enterprise, SunTrust Community Capital, U.S. Bank, Howard Bank, Seawall Development Company, U.S. Department of the Treasury, state of Maryland, city of Baltimore, Hamel Builders, Marks Thomas Architects, Baltimore Development Company and Reznick Group

September 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which President Obama signed in April, included a provision – supported by 9/11 families – that designates September 11th of every year as a National Day of Service and Remembrance