RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, DC - August 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) in North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina can begin to use $600 million in foreclosure-prevention assistance from the Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets ("Hardest Hit Fund") under plans approved today by the Obama Administration. This assistance will support local initiatives to assist struggling homeowners in these five states that have high percentages of their population living in areas of economic distress due to unemployment.

Herndon, VA - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) are pleased to announce their support for the Home Star initiative under consideration by the US Senate.

Washington, DC - August 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales edged down with near-term sales expected to be notably lower in contrast to the spring surge when buyers rushed to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors

WASHINGTON, DC - August 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced the launch of KnowYourOptions.com, a new consumer education Web site that outlines the choices available to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, and provides guidance on how they can contact and work with their mortgage company to find solutions.

Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA - August 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- It was emergencies, disasters and unfortunate situations that produced the Disaster Response Industry. It also was these same things that produced the Insurance industry, and since the beginning of both industries there has been a dark shroud surrounding both filled with greed, ambulance chasing and misinformation.

Washington, DC - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Corporation for National and Community Service announced grants totaling $1.4 million to help local organizations in 14 states establish new RSVP projects for communities previously not served. The grants will engage more than 4,200 new RSVP volunteers to increase student achievement, support independent living for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans, and promote energy efficiency.

Top Mortgage Loan Fraud SARs by Metropolitan Statistical Areas, County, State. VIENNA, VA - July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), today released its 2009 Mortgage Loan Fraud (MLF) study which found the number of mortgage fraud suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed in 2009 grew 4 percent compared with the number of mortgage fraud SARs filed in 2008. FinCEN also reported today that just looking at the fourth quarter of 2009, mortgage fraud SAR filings increased 6 percent over the same period in 2008

Miami, FL - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Audrey Ross, Senior Vice President of Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell (EWM) Realtors, has brokered the sale of the highest-priced residential condominium ever in the City of Coral Gables.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reflective of the real estate buyers’ market conditions in many regions in the U.S., satisfaction with real estate companies among home buyers has improved from 2009, while satisfaction among home sellers has declined, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM released today.

Des Plaines, IL - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) played a critical role in the inclusion of the “Consumer Protection with Home Inspection” law in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Obama on July 21. ASHI hails this legislation as an innovative and low-cost means to help homebuyers weigh their options when looking to obtain a home inspection.

NEW YORK, NY - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage homeowners who are struggling with their monthly mortgage payments to learn about the Making Home Affordable Program. While over one million homeowners have already received assistance from the program, the national campaign encourages other struggling homeowners who may be eligible for assistance to reach out for the help they need through free resources made available by the Federal Government. The PSAs direct homeowners to visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to see if they may be eligible for assistance to make their mortgage payments more affordable and to understand options they may have to avoid foreclosure.

July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie Santos, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Director Leila Edmonds, and DC Office on Aging (DCOA) Director Clarence Brown joined Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios and Ward 4 residents to break ground on 36 units of affordable senior housing at Vida Senior Residences, 1330 Missouri Avenue, NW

Equity Fund Formed to Acquire and Develop Multifamily Assets in Major Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Markets. CHICAGO and GREENBELT, MD - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pritzker Realty Group, a Chicago-based real estate investment company, and The Bozzuto Group, a Greenbelt, MD-based real estate services company, today announced the creation of a joint venture that has an initial capital commitment of $75 million

Leading U.S. brokerage announces franchises in Discovery Bay, Brentwood, San Diego and Minden, NV. CUPERTINO, SILICON VALLEY, USA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Intero Real Estate Services, a leading U.S. real estate brokerage that has recently expanded its brand globally, as a franchisor, through Intero Franchise Services, Inc. and Intero International Franchise Services, LLC, announced its continued expansion with the conversion of a former Alain Pinel brokerage affiliate in Discovery Bay and Brentwood, CA to the Intero Real Estate brand, and the addition of new franchises in San Diego, CA, and Minden, NV.

Washington, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Stan Soloway, Board Member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will meet with Mayor Michael Nutter on Wednesday, July 28, to discuss ways that the federal agency can support Philadelphia's efforts to engage more residents in service that helps solve the city's toughest problems – from homelessness to illiteracy and youth violence

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today announced that the company, through its lender and housing partners, provided $5.9 billion in investment to the multifamily rental housing market for the first half of 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Obama Administration announced expanded opportunities for public engagement on the future of our nation's housing finance system, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These events, which will include a major conference in Washington, D.C., will help provide critical public input as the Administration continues its work developing a comprehensive housing finance reform proposal for delivery to Congress by January 2011

WILTON, CT - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The mortgage industry is going through sweeping change. Now is the time for all mortgage industry participants to gather and discuss new ideas, new automation strategies and new processes to move the mortgage industry forward. PROGRESS in Lending Association fills this void and provides a place for innovation and thought leadership to occur

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- We are honored to announce that the Fall 2010 Luxury Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Patricia Choi of Choi International in Honolulu , Hawaii . This prestigious award is given twice annually to the Luxury Real Estate member who has set an example for the real estate industry, displayed excellence throughout their career and is truly a legend.

July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Fenty Administration celebrated a major milestone in its Housing First initiative with the placement of the District’s 1,000th household in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Mayor Fenty, Department of Human Service (DHS) Director Carter, DC Housing Authority Director Adrianne Todman, Councilmember Tommy Wells and a host of advocates and community members gathered at the apartment of a United States veteran and 22-year District resident to celebrate her new life and home. The 1,000 households include individuals, families and veterans.

NORFOLK, VA - July 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to comScore Media Metrix, 177 million U.S. Internet users watched online video during June, supporting the recent addition of online, customized video to the ForRent.com home page. With the launch of Featured Community, the site’s newest online feature, property managers with front cover placement in For Rent Magazine® now receive prime placement of their Community TheaterTM video on the geo-targeted ForRent.com home page, increasing exposure to apartment seekers. ForRent.com is owned by For Rent Media SolutionsTM, a division of Dominion Enterprises.

Livonia, MI - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- One Reverse Mortgage LLC, the nation’s third largest reverse mortgage lender, today announced it will move its Livonia, Michigan, headquarters to downtown Detroit. The company, and 110 team members, will move to the Compuware Building and share space with its sister companies, Quicken Loans Inc., Fathead and In-House Realty. The move is expected to take place sometime late this summer

NEW YORK, NY - July 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- CRE Finance Council late yesterday filed a comment letter with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to opine on reforms of the nation's housing finance system. The Council focused its comments on one of its core competencies, the multifamily housing market

ASHINGTON, DC - July 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Concerns about the global economic recovery, including lingering worries regarding European sovereign debt, and increasing caution at home among private employers and consumers are evidence of the tenuous nature of the current economic recovery, according to the July 2010 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. The group has revised its projected growth for 2010 to 2.8 percent from 3.2 percent, and remains on guard for a setback amidst increased uncertainty and downside risks.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- July 19, 2010) The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International has released Retail Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.5-2010), a new measurement standard that provides a uniform methodology for computing, communicating and comparing the measurement of shopping centers, providing an unequivocal direct measure of the physical size of the floor area of a retail building. The standard is designed to serve the interests of building owners, managers and occupants as well as facility managers, brokers, appraisers, assessors, lenders, insurers, developers, construction and design professionals and others.

Washington, DC - July 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Energy today announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American homes. These highly-qualified, multidisciplinary teams will receive a total of up to $30 million for the initial eighteen months of the projects to deliver innovative energy efficiency strategies to the residential market and address barriers to bringing high-efficiency homes within reach for all Americans. A total of up to $20 million per year will also be made available for the partnerships for three potential one-year extensions. These research and deployment partnerships will provide technical assistance to retrofit projects and will leverage industry expertise and funding to support DOE's energy efficiency retrofit programs

NORFOLK, VA - July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For Rent Media Solutions announces the launch of Snap and Go, the Microsoft® Tag mobile scanning feature available to front cover advertisers at no additional cost. Prospective renters can use this tag to scan a bar code on For Rent Magazine through the camera on their mobile phone, which brings them to their area’s apartment listings on the ForRent.com mobile site. The “Snap and Go” tag is a mobile media first in the multi-housing industry.

July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Town & Country Real Estate is pleased to report that the North Fork Home Sales Report for the 2nd quarter 2010 demonstrates a solid rebound. JAMESPORT (which includes Aquebogue, Baiting Hollow and South Jamesport) leads the report with an outstanding 160% increase in the Number of Home Sales from 10 in 2nd quarter 2009 to 26 in 2nd quarter 2010. Additionally, JAMESPORT’S Total Home Sales Volume continues that ascend with a 169% increase from $3.8M to $10.2M in 2nd quarter 2009 to 2010 respectively. The Median Home Sales Price rose slightly (2.76%) from $370,000 to $380,200, year to year. Most of the activity occurred in the price category of under $500,000 where 24 of the 26 home sales occurred.

July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- What a difference a year makes! It’s a wonderful thing to see Black dominate over Red! Town & Country Real Estate monitors 11 specific Hampton markets – each very different. We are pleased to report that in all 11 Hampton markets, the Number of Home Sales and Total Home Sales Volume saw increases – significant ones at that.

Washington, D.C. - July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At the world's first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the United States is helping launch more than 10 international clean energy initiatives. These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy. The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years