New Jersey RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, DC - June 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, a dozen U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) urging the agency to work with State Attorneys General, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to hold mortgage servicers accountable for deficient servicing procedures and improperly foreclosing on homeowners and to develop a comprehensive solution to fix the broken foreclosure process.

TRENTON, NJ - June 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that two Pennsylvania men and a construction company have been charged in a state grand jury indictment for their alleged roles in an insurance fraud scheme that targeted homes purportedly damaged by hail.

TRENTON, N.J. - June 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa and New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony Marchetta today urged prospective homebuyers to take advantage of The Road Home New Jersey, a new consumer education tool that will help guide them in the home buying process

NEWARK, NJ - June 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Cape May County campground, accused of failing to tell mobile home owners it would take half the profit when their mobile home was resold, plus a 10 percent sales commission, has agreed to pay restitution to affected consumers, under terms of a settlement reached with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

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NEWARK, NJ - May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Sims today awarded $18.4 million to revitalize the Alexander Hamilton development in Paterson, NJ. The high and low-rises formerly on the site will be replaced with 201 townhouse rental and for-sale units, as well as 70 off-site rental units for seniors. Sims made the announcement at the Paterson Housing Authority site, and was joined by Senator Frank Lautenberg, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Paterson Mayor Jeffrey Jones, and Paterson Housing Authority Executive Director Irma Gorham

May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the recent Tax Foundation study, again demonstrating the regressive burden shouldered by New Jersey property taxpayers, League of Municipalities’ President, Mayor Chuck Chiarello of Buena Vista Township, issued the following statement:

May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the announcement that hundreds of millions of previously unanticipated dollars are now available to address priority needs, League of Municipalities’ President, Mayor Chuck Chiarello of Buena Vista Township, issued the following statement

NEWARK, NJ - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the home improvement season well underway, the State Division of Consumer Affairs last week continued its crackdown on unregistered and non-compliant home improvement contractors, assessing $66,500 in civil penalties against 25 contractors nabbed as part of the Division’s new monitoring and enforcement initiative.

NEWARK, NJ - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) were very pleased today to announce that the New Jersey HomeKeeper program, which is federally-funded and state-administered, is launching on a statewide basis, after a successful two-month pilot period.

TRENTON, N.J. - May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Christie Administration announced today the launch of the New Jersey HomeKeeper Program, a foreclosure prevention initiative that will assist New Jersey homeowners who have a track record of making their mortgage payments on time but are now at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure as a direct result of unemployment or underemployment.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced funding today that will help New Jersey’s homeless access basic necessities and support services. A total of $16.25 million have been awarded to New Jersey communities by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Continuum of Care Program

TRENTON, NJ - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that six men were indicted today on charges that they stole more than $2.6 million from lenders by filing fraudulent mortgage loan applications.

NEWARK, NJ - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the arrival of the spring home improvement season, the State Division of Consumer Affairs intensified efforts against unregistered home improvement contractors with an undercover operation at a vacant Gloucester County home.

TRENTON, NJ - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Commissioner Tom Considine today reminded consumers that most homeowners or renter’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Homeowners or renters can purchase flood insurance provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program which is the primary provider of flood insurance, through their insurance broker or carrier.

Trenton, NJ - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court has granted all the petitions for certification of the October 8, 2010 Appellate Division decision which invalidated COAH’s third round regulations. The League of Municipalities was one of the parties seeking an appeal, as well another group of municipalities which suggested a solution to the Court. The League asked the Court to hear all of the petitions so as to get a comprehensive decision that can provide guidance to municipalities. We are obviously pleased with the Court’s decision

CAMDEN, N.J. - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) is partnering with the City of Camden and a host of government, nonprofit and private organizations to launch a new home rehabilitation program for eligible Camden homeowners. The Camden Program Offering Widespread Energy Recovery (POWER) Residential initiative will provide up to $16,000 in financial assistance per household for essential home repairs and energy efficiency improvements. The announcement took place at Cramer Hill Community Center in Camden.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced funding to investigate and enforce fair housing laws in New Jersey. The Senators announced that New Jersey has been awarded $325,000 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address discriminatory housing practices in New Jersey

FORT MONMOUTH N.J. - March 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite being the nation's number one natural disaster, statistics continue to show that most people ignore the risks associated flooding and do not purchase flood insurance. Since the year 2000 there have been 11 declared disasters in New Jersey, 7 of which included severe flooding, yet only a relatively small number of New Jersey households have flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These low figures cause concern amongst officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

TRENTON, NJ - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has proposed regulations that will temporarily allow financially healthy companies offering mortgage guaranty insurance, which covers lenders for losses if a borrower defaults on a mortgage loan, to seek a waiver of some financial requirements. Granting that waiver will ensure the continued widespread availability of mortgage guaranty insurance, also known as private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is generally required for prospective home buyers who make less than a 20 percent down payment when purchasing their home, and will help stimulate the housing market.

NEWARK, NJ - March 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of the Attorney General and State Division of Consumer Affairs this week filed administrative actions against 11 unlicensed businesses offering “mortgage loan modification” services for homeowners in dire financial straits. State law requires that anyone providing these services in New Jersey be licensed as a Debt Adjuster by the Department of Banking and Insurance, or be otherwise authorized

Red Bank N.J. - March 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The sales associates and office staff of the Holmdel, Brick, Point Pleasant, Spring Lake, Ocean, Manalapan/Freehold, Middletown, Pennington Princeton and Princeton Junction offices of Gloria Nilson REALTORS®, Real Living® recently went red for the day when they participated in National Wear Red Day for Women, sponsored by the American Heart Association, to help bring attention to the number one killer of New Jersey and American females – cardiovascular disease.

NEWARK, NJ - March 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To prepare for spring, the peak season for home improvement work, the State Division of Consumer Affairs last week launched a proactive effort to seek out unregistered home improvement contractors, and warn them to get into compliance with the law – or face fines up to $10,000 each.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today at a hearing to examine the Obama administration report on mortgage finance reform:

NEWARK, N.J. - February 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa and New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony Marchetta today joined Newark Mayor Cory Booker and representatives of the HELP Development Corporation and Make It Right Foundation to break ground on the Clinton Avenue Homes project, an affordable military veteran housing community located at 634-648 Clinton Avenue in Newark. The HMFA, an affiliate of the DCA, awarded federal tax credits to assist with the project’s development and construction.

Red Bank, NJ - February 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey (SBACNJ) recently honored 7 Gloria Nilson, REALTORS®, Real Living sales associates as well as the company at the annual Fabulous Achievements in Marketing Excellence (FAME) Awards Celebration held on February 17th at Clark’s Landing in Point Pleasant. The FAME awards showcase the most effective and creative sales and marketing efforts of the members of the SBACNJ. The Gloria Nilson associates honored were Linda Schwarz of the South Brunswick office, Mario Venancio of the Rumson office, Sam Franklin of the Princeton Junction office, Tammy O’Brien of the Brick office, Lou Ventre and Bernadette Ruegg of the Shrewsbury office and Anne Nosnitsky of the Princeton office

February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sixty sales associates of Gloria Nilson, REALTORS®, Real Living have received the NJAR® Circle of Excellence award for 2010, ranking them among the top real estate professionals in the State.

LOWER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - February 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) today joined local officials to celebrate the completion of Conifer Village, an affordable senior housing community located at 3805 Bayshore Road in Lower Township, Cape May County. The HMFA, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), provided $1.4 million in permanent financing for the project and also awarded federal tax credits and tax credit subsidies.

WASHINGTON, D.C - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced New Jersey will receive $22,373,892 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist homeless men and women in New Jersey access housing opportunities. The funds were awarded through various HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance competitive programs.

WOODSTOWN, N.J. - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) joined local officials today to celebrate the completion of Freedom Village, an affordable housing community located on Woodstown-Alloway Road in Woodstown. The HMFA, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), provided $2 million in permanent financing to the project from the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and also awarded federal tax credits and tax credit subsidies. The DCA committed housing vouchers from the State Rental Assistance Program to assist with the project’s operations.