Michigan RealEstateRama

Washington, D.C. - April 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- News reports on SEC investigations today illustrate what the Wall Street Journal calls “an open secret on Wall Street”: investment banks created products it knew would fail just to give hedge funds an opportunity to bet against them. The fact that these products were being created solely as a way for hedge funds to bet against the housing market was never disclosed to those who invested in them. Banks profited by taking fees for moving these investments, and then got bailed out by taxpayers when the investments went bad. Pension funds, mutual funds, local governments and other investors on Main Street lost heavily

April 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for low‑income energy efficiency grants. The grants are funded by the Low‑Income and Energy Efficiency Fund (LIEEF).

LANSING, MI - April 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Granholm Administration today unveiled the state's proposed plan to distribute $154.5 million in federal funds beginning this summer that should help more than 17,000 Michigan households avoid foreclosure, including 11,000 homeowners who are currently drawing unemployment benefits and are struggling to make monthly mortgage payments.

April 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the fall of 2008, America suffered a devastating economic assault. It left deep wounds: millions lost their jobs; millions lost their homes. Good businesses shut down. Financial markets froze, the stock market plummeted, and once valuable securities turned worthless. Storied financial firms teetered on the edge or went under. The contagion spread worldwide. And in October 2008, American taxpayers were hit with a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

LANSING, MI - April 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Recently, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law a bill establishing a new per occupant fee as part of the licensing and inspection process for migrant labor housing in Michigan. The $5 per occupancy fee is paid by growers at the time of their application to help offset general fund budget reductions to the Michigan Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Migrant Labor Housing Inspection Program

LANSING, MI - March 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michigan Senate Democrats continued to combat the negative impact of home foreclosure on Michigan families today with their effort to lower property taxes for homeowners in communities hit hard by foreclosure. The amendment to Senate Bill 395 would have required tax collectors to consider foreclosed homes in a neighborhood when determining property values and taxes. The amendment was defeated by the Republican Majority on a party line vote.

March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) announces that Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez will be speaking at the Urban Green Summit, hosted by the Highland Park NAACP, University of Phoenix, and Rainbow PUSH Detroit. The Summit will focus on empowering urban communities through green education and employment.

March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) announces that Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez will be speaking at the Urban Green Summit, hosted by the Highland Park NAACP, University of Phoenix, and Rainbow PUSH Detroit. The Summit will focus on empowering urban communities through green education and employment.

March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center, located in Mt. Pleasant, has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).

March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center, located in Mt. Pleasant, has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).

March 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, during National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan's Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Melvin Butch Hollowell announced he has been appointed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to the position of Consumer Liaison Representative. The NAIC has also listed Hollowell in its newly-created Consumer Expert Database

WASHINGTON, DC - March 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made the following statement after the committee held a hearing to review proposals designed to create jobs by making buildings energy efficient. The committee heard testimony from Terrence Mierzwa with Consumers Energy, headquartered in Jackson as well as Larry Laseter with Masco Home Services located in Taylor. The committee considered three proposals, including two supported by Senator Stabenow, the Building Star Energy Efficiency Act and the Home Star Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program.

LANSING, MI - March 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) offered the following statement on the need to protect Michigan consumers from foreclosure scams, and her legislation to help do so. Senate Bill 930, Whitmer's legislation to develop qualifications and regulations on foreclosure consultants, was introduced in October 2009 and is currently awaiting action by the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.

LANSING, MI - February 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has shut down another operation claiming to be a Detroit-based mortgage company. This time the agency ordered an operation called “Decoster Financial Group” to cease and desist from doing business. OFIR believes that Decoster, through its website, http://www.decosterfinancialgroup.com, was posing as a legitimate mortgage company in an attempt to steal consumers’ money and identity. The fraudulent company was encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers. Earlier this month, OFIR shut down a similar Detroit operation referred to as “Kenneth and Doyle Financial” and has put an end to a number of these fraudulent financial companies in the last year

February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Historic Preservation Office architect Bryan Lijewski will meet with Monroe property owners and developers at a free workshop on Thursday, February 18. The event is being presented by the Monroe Historic District Commission.

LANSING, MI - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) shut down an operation claiming to be a Detroit-based mortgage company called “Kenneth and Doyle Financial” by ordering it to cease and desist from doing business. OFIR believes that Kenneth, through its website, was posing as a legitimate mortgage company in an attempt to steal consumers’ money and identity. The fraudulent company was encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers.

February 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today noted that the Michigan Department of Treasury is now processing Michigan Home Heating Credits (HHC) for the 2009 tax year. The credit assists low-income customers with winter energy bills

LANSING, MI - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) announced today that 2008 data compiled under the Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act are available from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). The data covers mortgage lending transactions throughout the nation at 8,388 financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include, but are not limited to, banks, savings associations, credit unions, and independent mortgage companies

LANSING, MI - January 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), originally of Cascade, announced that her entire December legislative expense account was donated to a Grand Rapids foreclosure assistance program to highlight the need for government reform and more transparency in state spending.

People across the state will get help to stay in homes, find new housing. LANSING, MI - December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met in Kalamazoo with residents struggling to stay in their homes who are finding help through a federal program designed to keep families from becoming homeless and to help the newly-homeless find stable housing.

LANSING, MI - December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today highlighted benefits of the state's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in helping to reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency in the homes of low-income families throughout the state. Michigan received more than $243 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), which will fund weatherization projects in more than 30,000 homes over the next three years.

December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Trout Creek Condominium Resort, located in Harbor Springs, has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).

LANSING, MI - December 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the early morning arrest of a Grosse Ile woman accused of defrauding dozens of people in a massive real-estate Ponzi scheme. Rita Gosselin, 58, is charged with racketeering and multiple counts of obtaining money under false pretenses for orchestrating numerous fraudulent real estate investments and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Michigan families

LANSING, MI - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the filing of three criminal complaints and a total of 10 charges against illegal advanced fee "foreclosure rescue" operations accused of defrauding Michigan families of thousands of dollars.

LANSING, MI - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Board this week approved a $7.2 million tax credit for the NSO Bell project expected to invest $50 million in Detroit, State Senator Martha G. Scott (D-Highland Park) announced.

Lansing, MI - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homelessness ends with a place to live. That is the message the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) in partnership with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) wants to drive home this week during Homeless Awareness Week in Michigan. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has issued a proclamation designating November 15-21 as the official week for this year's homeless awareness activities.

Washington, D.C. - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representatives including Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, introduced bipartisan legislation to boost solar panel manufacturing in the United States.

LANSING, MI - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the sentencing of two west Michigan loan officers convicted of operating a widespread mortgage fraud ring, duping members of the Grand Rapids Hispanic community into purchasing distressed properties at inflated prices, falsifying records and pocketing thousands of dollars. The targeted buyers often spoke or wrote little English and had a limited understanding of the mortgage process.

Washington, DC - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR 3548, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 by a vote of 403 to 12. This bill provides critical aid to families in Southeast Michigan and across the country in the form of extended unemployment benefits, tax relief to businesses, and an extension and expansion of the homebuyers’ tax credit.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3548, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, to provide up to 14 additional weeks of unemployment for jobless workers, with an extra six weeks for those in high unemployment states such as Michigan who have or soon will run out of benefits. The bill, which passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, will now go to the president to be signed into law.