New York RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, DC - May 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, today hailed the start of a process by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to harmonize and streamline mortgage disclosure forms required under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act.<

Albany, NY - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today continued his "People First Campaign" at Hofstra University, where he outlined his legislative priorities and told Long Islanders that their voices must be heard in order to get Albany to act on these key reforms.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY04), who has been working steadily to bring relief to homeowners affected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood insurance program, just won bipartisan passage in committee of two amendments that, if made into law, would save homeowners significant amounts of money and bring better community notification in advance of future changes

NEW YORK, NY - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On May 9, 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, along with other interested stakeholders, participated in a meeting sponsored by the Uniform Law Commission, the American Law Institute and the Permanent Editorial Board of the Uniform Commercial Code to explore legal issues involved in the recent problems experienced in the secondary mortgage market.

New York, NY - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, and Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond today opened the City’s new state-of-the-art intake center for homeless families seeking shelter. With more than 75,000 square feet, the new Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) facility has 213 percent more space than the original intake site, and houses more than 200 specialists from the Department of Homeless Services, Administration for Children’s Services and Human Resources Administration. The new facility replaces the dilapidated and inefficient Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU).

Albany, NY - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner Darryl Towns today brought the "People First Campaign" to Corning Community College, where he outlined Governor Cuomo's legislative priorities and told New Yorkers that their voices must be heard in order to get Albany to act on these key reforms.

New York, NY - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Governor Cuomo begins a statewide tour in support of his legislation to enact a hard property tax cap in New York. The Governor is right - - soaring property taxes are driving middle-class families out of their homes and forcing businesses to flee the state.

New York, NY - May 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today commended Fordham University for obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED®) Gold designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

New York, NY - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed 18 bills that covered a variety of topics including the strengthening of penalties and prohibitions for dangerous driving, as well as helping certain property owners receive the STAR tax exemption benefits for which they are eligible.

April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Darryl C. Towns was officially named Commissioner/CEO of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) as his selection was approved by the boards of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

New York, NY - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Access to conventional refinance loans in New York City sharply declined in communities of color between 2008 and 2009, at the same time that it significantly increased in predominantly white neighborhoods, according to a report released today by NEDAP and six partner organizations across the U.S.

New York, NY - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Republicans today renewed their call for the Assembly to act on the Governor’s property tax cap legislation in light of new data showing New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes in the United States.

New York, NY - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his push to aid Homes for Heroes as they seek to modify their current land lease agreement and secure a long-term land agreement that will improve their fundraising capability, allowing the group to provide new homes to even more of our disabled veterans. Currently, Homes for Heroes is in the middle of a short-term 5-year lease with the Health and Human Services Department that requires construction on homes for veterans to be completed after 3 years

Washington, DC - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Eliot Engel announced the awarding of $1,365,890 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Greyston Health Services. The grant allows GHS to continue providing permanent housing and supportive services to the homeless and marginally homeless youth with HIV/AIDS in the Yonkers

New York, NY - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua today announced an agreement that will improve what had become deplorable living conditions for the more than 1,000 residents of the former Milbank housing buildings in the Bronx

New York, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman has arranged acquisition loans for affiliates of Castellan Real Estate Partners to fund their purchases of 295 West 150th Street and 2108 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The loans were provided by a New York-based savings bank.

New York, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today launched a pilot to help the commercial building sector and multifamily buildings reduce their energy use, save on operating costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

NEW YORK, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement regarding the NYC Pension Funds’ proposal that the bank’s board of directors launch an independent audit of its mortgage and foreclosure practices. The proposal is on the agenda at Citigroup’s annual meeting in New York City tomorrow:

New York, NY - April 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Much attention has been given to the recent foreclosure crisis, in particular to its causes and impacts on communities. Considerably less attention, however, has been given to the collateral costs on children, in particular on their educational experiences. As children around the country leave their homes due to foreclosures, we look at whether they leave their schools as well.

NEW YORK, NY - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that Scott Vinett has joined the firm as a senior vice president with its New York operations. He will be responsible for tenant representation and agency leasing services, with a specific focus on the New York metropolitan area. Vinett has nearly a decade of experience in overseeing deals, lease restructurings and other complex real estate transactions. He focuses on serving the real estate needs of clients involved in a wide variety of industries including financial services, apparel, media, architecture and engineering.

NEW YORK, NY - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City¡¦s only comprehensive residential sales report released today found that home prices increased in the first quarter of 2011 over the same time last year, showing a continuing trend of rising home values. The number of transactions in the quarter, however, was relatively flat rising just two percent compared to fourth quarter 2010. The report was published by ResidentialNYC.com, the public real estate listings Web site of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY).

April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN BYERS, the former president and chief executive officer of the private equity firm WexTrust Capital, LLC (“WexTrust Capital”), was sentenced today to 160 months in prison on charges stemming from a fraud that raised more than $9 million from investors in private placement real estate offerings. BYERS, 48, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge DENNY CHIN.

New York, NY - April 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To help encourage the early adoption of New York City’s planned phase-out of #6 fuel oil, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced $6.5 million in incentives to help multifamily buildings with five or more units switch to cleaner fuels that will help provide a healthier, cleaner environment for residents and New York City.

New York, NY - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and representatives of business organizations today urged the Assembly Majority to act on a meaningful property tax cap bill. The Senate overwhelmingly passed Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap legislation with bipartisan support earlier this year.

Washington, DC - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) last week introduced the Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2011 (FIFA) to assist property owners with new costs they face due to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) flood map modernization program. With thousands of families throughout New York facing a new requirement to purchase flood insurance as they are remapped into flood zones under FEMA's plan, the FIFA legislation would give property owners the option to delay the flood insurance purchase requirement for up to five years and require FEMA to cover certain costs associated with the flood hazard map appeals process. Similar legislation was introduced by Hinchey in the previous Congress.

April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today joined the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) in randomly selecting Nassau County families, who met income eligibility requirements, to buy affordable homes in the Inwood community. The forty-four hopefuls that submitted applications to be considered for the program are placed on the ranked lottery list. The deadline for applying was September 30

Kingston, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced Rural Ulster Preservation Company, Inc. (RUPCO) has been awarded a $91,650 grant from NeighborWorks America, a federally funded program aimed at supporting affordable housing and community development initiatives. The funding will be used to support RUPCO's HomeOwnership center, which offers a comprehensive range of services to help families achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership.

New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fried Frank's renowned real estate practice has been shortlisted for The Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2011. Chambers USA Awards for Excellence honor law firms and lawyers for their pre-eminence in key practice areas and the caliber of their achievements over the previous 12 months.

New York, NY - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced agreement on legislation to restore $6 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and the Rural Preservation Program. The agreement provides $8.4 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and $3.5 million for the Rural Preservation Program. These restorations bring both programs to their 2010-11 funding levels, preserving the vital work that they do in the areas of affordable housing, economic development and community renewal.

March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute ofNew York, NY - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007. Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007