RealEstateRama

AUSTIN, TX - January 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As leisure travel continues to rebound, owners of vacation rentals are expressing optimism about their bookings in 2011. In fact, HomeAway®, Inc. – the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace – finds in its latest “HomeAway Vacation Rental Marketplace Report” that eight of 10 vacation rental owners anticipate their rental business this year will be stronger or about the same as it was in 2010.

New York, NY - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) announced today that it will release earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2010 on Monday, January 24, 2011 after market close

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) will deliver industry-leading educational sessions at the 2011 NAHB International Builders' Show January 12–15 in Orlando. CEDIA will offer three of its most popular courses for design and build industry professionals and will exhibit in booth #W5047.Visitors to the CEDIA booth can learn about working with a professional electronic systems contractor (ESC) to execute home technology projects. CEDIA representatives will also share information about the Home Technology Alliance, of which CEDIA is a founding partner. In addition, visitors to CEDIA’s booth can enter to win tickets to the 2011 Indianapolis 500

EMERYVILLE, CA - January 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of home listings within 26 major U.S. metropolitan areas slipped 5.27 percent in December 2010, compared to a month prior, according to a monthly report of homes listed for sale on Multiple Listing Services (MLS) in the markets surveyed by national real estate brokerage, ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com; NASDAQ: ZIPR).

Washington, D.C. - January 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is conducting a pilot project in collaboration with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) to help reverse mortgage borrowers who are struggling to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance

PORTLAND, OR - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pulte Homes is opening its first community in the Portland market, offering homebuyers a prime location, distinctive homes and great value. The public is invited to tour the new model homes at the grand opening of Summer Creek by Pulte Homes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 15 and Sunday, January 16.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International today announced the 29 buildings that make up the latest class of buildings to earn the BOMA 360 Performance Program designation. The BOMA 360 Performance Program is a groundbreaking program designed to recognize commercial properties that demonstrate best practices in building operations and management

WASHINGTON, DC - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today launched WaysHome, a free, interactive multi-media tool designed to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure, empower them to make informed decisions and motivate them to take action and seek help in 2011. As part of Fannie Mae's "Know Your Options" initiative to help struggling homeowners, the WaysHome video uses innovative technology to allow homeowners to put themselves in real-life situations, make informed choices and immediately see the outcomes of those actions

VIENNA, VA - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released its third quarter 2010 mortgage fraud report, Mortgage Loan Fraud SAR Filings. The report shows that suspicious activity reports (SARs) characterized by filers as indicating possible mortgage loan fraud (MLF) increased 2 percent to 16,693 in the third quarter of 2010 up from 16,339 MLF SARs in the 2009 third quarter.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates continue to yo-yo up and down, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling back to 4.94 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points

WASHINGTON, DC - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, wrapped up its fourth year of outreach efforts and assistance to the nation’s atrisk homeowners. The industry-led organization is poised for a busy 2011 in the areas of, homeowner education/outreach, data reporting on aid to homeowners, technology innovation and mortgage issues management

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has announced it will participate as an event sponsor at the launch event for Hollywood Hi-Tech, an upcoming show on the DIY Network that will show sophisticated technology installations in celebrity homes. CEDIA will support the show and will work closely with its host to help illustrate the benefits of working with a professional electronic systems contractor

Charlotte, N.C. - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The largest privately-held packaging company in the U.S. has relocated and expanded its regional headquarters with the lease of 40,000 square feet in Lakemont Industrial Park. The office had previously been located at Brookwood in smaller space. The new regional headquarters joins Stephen Gould’s existing 122,000-square-feet fulfillment center in Lakemont, which is leased and managed by Crescent Resources.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Emerging Trends in Real Estate: The Americas® 2011, the oldest, most highly regarded annual industry outlook for the real estate and land use industry, will be released in Israel next month by the report’s co-publishers the Urban Land Institute and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The findings, which suggest tempered improvement within the U.S. commercial real estate market in the months ahead, will be discussed during a special program January 12 at the Leonardo City Tower Hotel in Ramat Gan. “Emerging Trends Conference: U.S. Real Estate Investment in 2011” is being sponsored by ULI and PWC in partnership with Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy and Greenberg and Company and Goulston and Storrs

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates climbed higher this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rising to 5.02 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

Washington, D.C. - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Proposed changes to home lending rules from the Federal Reserve Board not only exceed its authority, but could actually encourage predatory lending targeted at the elderly.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates pulled back slightly this week, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate receding to 4.96 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.46 discount and origination points.

Alexandria, VA - December 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The initial period for federal registration of residential mortgage loan originators under the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (“SAFE Act”), 12 U.S.C. 5101–5116, is expected to begin on or around January 31, 2011, and end on or around July 29, 2011. The National Credit Union Administration, along with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, and Farm Credit Administration will publish an announcement on our respective Web sites confirming the start date of this registration period shortly before the period begins, followed by a notice published in the Federal Register

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After quick approval in the U.S. Senate on Friday, ushered through by Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), today the U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to President Obama to sign Congressman Chris Murphy’s (CT-5) legislation to provide thousands of new affordable housing units for low income, disabled individuals across the country.

December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday approved an interim rule amending Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Board is issuing this interim rule to clarify certain aspects of a September 24, 2010 interim rule, in response to public comments. The September interim rule implements provisions of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) which amended TILA to require mortgage lenders to disclose examples of how a loan's interest rate or monthly payments can change. Those statutory amendments will become effective on January 30, 2011.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, announced the passage of S.118 by the U.S. House of Representatives. S.118, passed under unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate this past weekend, will improve the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. The Section 202 program provides capital grants to non-profit community organizations for the development of supportive housing and provision of rental assistance exclusively for low-income seniors. Through such housing and supportive services, the program allows low-income seniors to remain safely in their homes.

CLEVELAND, OH - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason and the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force operating under authorization of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and Ohio’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission announced that Susan Alt was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered 2 million dollars in forfeiture

WASHINGTON, DC - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Improvements in consumer spending and consumer confidence, increased demand for goods and services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors for a brighter outlook as we move into 2011, according to the December 2010 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. Downside risks still exist, however, including a weaker than expected employment report, the ongoing economic turmoil in Europe, and potential inflation problems in China

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates increased again this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.62 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.37 discount and origination points.

Washington, DC - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Peter Nickles issued an enforcement statement* recently to clarify that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will not be challenging the validity of completed foreclosure sales based on failures to comply with the recordation obligations imposed by District law.

JACKSONVILLE, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that a federal jury today found David Wesley Vickers (age 48, of Jacksonville) guilty of nineteen counts arising out of a mortgage fraud scheme, including conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud. Vickers faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and 20 years for each of the other counts. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Pittsburgh, PA - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) has approved $2.69 million in grants under its Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The grants will help finance 15 housing projects – one in Delaware, eight in Pennsylvania and six in West Virginia – creating 395 units of housing for very-low, low- and moderate-income individuals and families as well as those with special needs

Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the midst of a struggling national economy, The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) will release results of its 2010 Hunger and Homelessness Report on Tuesday, December 21 at 11:00 a.m. during a CONFERENCE CALL featuring several mayors from around the country. In light of cash strapped local budgets and travel bans, the USCM is hosting a conference call instead of having mayors travel to Washington, D.C

DALLAS, TX - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MRG Document Technologies (MRG), a provider of mortgage document preparation software and compliance technology to banks, credit unions and other lenders nationwide, has developed the forms needed for compliance with upcoming 2011 regulations that mandate changes to both the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and risk-based pricing disclosures. Both updates are meant to provide consumer clarification in regards to loan decisioning and final terms.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its December 16th, 2010 meeting, the CHFA Board of Directors approved the Resolution Authorizing for Public Comment Purposes Amendments to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Procedures