RealEstateRama

National sweepstakes garnered nearly 20,000 entries from across America and entry data indicates buyers are still in the market September 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeFinder.com (http://www.homefinder.com), a popular home search site, launched the HomeFinder.com Cash to Close Sweepstakes June 1 with the hope of helping three potential buyers realize their dream of buying a home. After a six week online and mail-in entry period that ended July 15 with almost 20,000 entries collected from across America, HomeFinder.com today announced the Sweepstakes, Platinum and Gold Prize winners of the random drawing, all first time home buyers hoping to close on their home within the next six months.

Mobile media, social gaming and real estate converge as HomeFinder.com, SCVNGR and Prudential Georgia Realty invite local Atlanta home buyers to play The Race for the Home on Saturday September 25th. September 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeFinder.com, a popular home search site, today announced the upcoming HomeFinder.com Race for the Home event inviting Atlanta home buyers and sellers to participate in a one day, challenge-filled, location-based game on Saturday, September 25. HomeFinder.com, together with Prudential Georgia Realty and Google Ventures backed gaming company, SCVNGR, will offer a grand prize of $20,000 during a real estate-inspired version of “The Amazing Race.” The home buyers who score the most points by successfully completing challenges in Atlanta open houses will win the $20,000 grand prize. The HomeFinder.com Race for the Home will also help to raise funds for breast cancer awareness through the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Greater Atlanta Foundation.

HERNDON, VA - September 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, today announced that The Alter Group has been selected as the 2010 Developer of the Year

Leesburg, VA - September 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- David D’Onofrio, Founder of The Casey Group (TCG), one of the leading strategic communications firms in the region, is proud to announce that Ben Kelahan is joining TCG as a Partner effective immediately. With this new bipartisan partnership, The Casey Group will expand its strategic and political communications expertise both geographically and into new sectors

September 2, 2010 – For the third consecutive year, Jacky Teplitzky, a managing director at Prudential Douglas Elliman and one of New York City’s most successful real estate experts, will discuss “Is Now the Time to Buy, Sell or Invest?” at Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, October 5th. The 90-minute seminar will address attendee questions as to the state of the city’s housing market, which has been the most complex – with few clear indicators of what to expect next – in years.

September 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Ayers, President and CEO of Chicagoland real estate brokerage Koenig & Strey Real Living, announced that Marion Hanold has been named the Manager of Luxury and Development Properties.“I am very thrilled to have Marion in this pivotal role at Koenig & Strey,” said Doug Ayers, President and CEO of Koenig & Strey. “Luxury and development marketing are key segments of our business, and Marion has the vision and experience to build our Properties of Distinction brand and leverage our affiliation with Christies Great Estates. Her knowledge and experience with luxury buyers and sellers will be a tremendous asset as we transform these programs to fit our new brand strategy.”

EMERYVILLE, CA - September 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of price-reduced homes on the market increased 3.26 percent in August compared to July, according to the latest data from national brokerage ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com; NASDAQ: ZIPR). ZipRealty’s monthly review of MLS-listed properties in 26 major markets found that 47 percent of “for sale” homes had at least one price reduction and the average seller actually slashed their list price twice to attract buyers.

Silver Spring, MD – September 2, 2010) – Montgomery Housing Partnership Inc. (MHP), a private nonprofit housing developer, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony September 8 to mark the reopening of its newly remodeled apartment development, Gilbert Highlands. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will cut the ribbon at the $5.27 million green renovation and officially welcome 21 families to their new homes.

Upper Marlboro, MD - September 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The NAHB Research Center is honored to have ten of the industry's preeminent experts on residential energy efficiency judge the sixteenth annual EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) program. Each year since its inception the EVHA has honored home builders who voluntarily incorporate energy efficiency into the design, construction, and marketing of new homes. Over the past decade and a half, builders from 41 states and the District of Columbia have won 245 gold and silver awards. This year, to recognize the incredible energy improvements that are being made by builders and remodelers in the remodeling and renovation markets, the EVHA has added an Existing Homes categor

EUGENE, OR - September 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Joseph Mercado, of Gig Harbor, Washington and Properties NW, has adopted a dynamic IDX solution to improve the accessibility and functionality of his real estate search page. As a member of the Northwest MLS (NWMLS), Mercado has long had the ability to scan thousands of listings to show his clients. Now, IDX Broker software gives home seekers the same opportunity to search through the NWMLS listings, from the convenience of his website. Never before has it been simpler or more effective to find the perfect home online, than it is with Mercado and his IDX synced real estate resource.

September 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A credit repair operation has agreed to stop making false claims and stop charging up-front fees under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement is part of an ongoing crackdown on scams that target financially strapped consumers, in this case taking hundreds of dollars in fees to purportedly remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports even if the information is accurate and timely. The FTC filed the action in “Operation Clean Sweep” in October 2008

SANTA ANA, Calif. - August 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT, Inc. today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements totaling $182 million to acquire nine multifamily properties from affiliates of MR Holdings, LLC and substantially all of the assets of Mission Residential Management, LLC, the Mission Residential property management business.

San Antonio, TX - August 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company announced today the successful conclusion of fundraising for the US Government Building Fund, LLC. The Fund has raised $546 million in direct and indirect equity commitments from USAA and six institutional investors including domestic and foreign pension funds and insurance companies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- One in seven homeowners is past due on their mortgage or in foreclosure, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest report on home loan delinquencies. The report shows that mortgage delinquencies rose during the second quarter, and, overall, one in seven borrowers is delinquent or in foreclosure. That’s up from one in eight a year ago and one in 11 two years ago. Although there was a dip in the share of homes in foreclosure, the report shows that the foreclosure epidemic continues, with millions of homes still at risk

MILFORD, CT - August 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total Mortgage Services, LLC, a leading mortgage lender and broker, announced today that it has been named to the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. The company was ranked as number 2,815 on the Inc. 5000’s annual list with a three year growth rate of 79 percent.

Manchester, N.H. - August 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At an event with homeowners and workers who benefited from the program, today in Manchester, New Hampshire, Vice President Joe Biden announced a major Recovery Act milestone – the weatherizing of 200,000 homes under the Recovery Act. As a result of the Administration’s unprecedented commitment to energy efficiency, more than 200,000 low-income families have been able to save money on their energy bills while saving energy, and thousands of people have been put to work

Washington, DC - August 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commissioner Gennet Purcell, Esq., of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) today announced the indictment of Renaldo D. Gillis and Afolasade Orekoya for their leadership in an extensive mortgage fraud “flipping” scheme in the District of Columbia after a joint investigation with federal law enforcement.

NEW YORK, NY - August 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chase announced today that it has offered more than 900,000 mortgage modifications to struggling homeowners since the beginning of 2009 through a wide range of government and Chase initiatives to address the housing crisis.

RESTON, Va. - August 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- This month, the City of Los Angeles joined the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts, and the State of Connecticut, in accepting the MERS® System as an alternative to the City’s registry of foreclosed properties and property preservation contacts for vacant properties.

Washington, D.C. - August 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today announced over $25 million in newly approved Gulf Coast rebuilding projects to assist communities as they continue to recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—the latest in a series of Gulf Coast recovery projects that have totaled more than $2.5 billion since the start of the Obama administration.

Washington, DC - August 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its mid-year ranking of commercial and multifamily mortgage servicers as of the end of June 30, 2010. Topping the list of firms is Wells Fargo with $462.8 billion in U.S. master and primary servicing, followed by PNC Real [...]

WASHINGTON, DC - August 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Veterans in the Gulf States impacted by the recent oil spill may qualify for delayed mortgage payments if their mortgages are already guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

MILFORD, CT - August 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- TMS Funding, the wholesale residential lending platform of Total Mortgage Services, LLC, announced today the hiring of Robin Buttner and Stephen Jaser as Wholesale Account Executives. Ms. Buttner and Mr. Jaser are being hired to develop new business relationships and consult, educate, train and support high quality mortgage brokers in their respective markets

Washington, D.C. - August 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Services Roundtable is proud to endorse the Rebuilding Together “Fifty for Five” initiative. “Fifty for Five” will take place August 24 - 29, and consists of rebuilding fifty homes in Gentilly, Louisiana, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “Fifty for Five” is Rebuilding Together’s biggest housing rehabilitation project in its 21 year history as a national organization.

Washington, D.C. - August 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Services Roundtable is proud to endorse the Rebuilding Together “Fifty for Five” initiative. “Fifty for Five” will take place August 24 - 29, and consists of rebuilding fifty homes in Gentilly, Louisiana, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “Fifty for Five” is Rebuilding Together’s biggest housing rehabilitation project in its 21 year history as a national organization.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continue to have the lowest rate for serious delinquency and foreclosures in the industry

Incline Village, NV - August 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- North Lake Tahoe’s first LEED®-registered home is well underway in Incline Village and eco-curious individuals and home aficionados can get a sneak-peek of the project August 28

Incline Village, NV - August 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- North Lake Tahoe’s first LEED®-registered home is well underway in Incline Village and eco-curious individuals and home aficionados can get a sneak-peek of the project August 28

Incline Village, NV - August 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- North Lake Tahoe’s first LEED®-registered home is well underway in Incline Village and eco-curious individuals and home aficionados can get a sneak-peek of the project August 28

August 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The nation's homeowners paid a median of $1,000 in monthly housing costs in 2009, compared with $808 for renters, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, renters usually paid a higher percentage of their household income on these costs than did owners (31 percent compared with 20 percent). These new figures come from the 2009 American Housing Survey, the definitive source of information on the quality of housing in the United States. Statistics are provided for apartments, single-family homes, manufactured housing, new construction and vacant housing units.