RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, DC - June 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Millions of homeowners across the country are seeking loan modifications and HOPE LoanPort™, the groundbreaking new web-based housing counselor tool that streamlines submission of completed loan modification applications, is now at the forefront of making that dream a reality. Several organizations nationwide, including Neighborhood Housing Services

WASHINGTON, DC - June 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Nevada can begin to use $1.5 billion in "Hardest Hit Fund" foreclosure-prevention funding under plans approved today by the Obama Administration. This aid will support innovative local initiatives to assist struggling homeowners in those states, as part of the first round of funding available under this new program

June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender, today announced it has placed seventh in Computerworld Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work in Technology” study. This is the sixth consecutive year Quicken Loans is listed in the magazine’s annual survey, ranking among the top-15 each year.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today introduced a monthly scorecard on the nation’s housing market. Each month, the scorecard will incorporate key housing market indicators and highlight the impact of the Administration’s unprecedented housing recovery efforts, including assistance to homeowners through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). This scorecard contains key data on the health of the housing market including

Washington D.C. - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP announces the arrival of Ross. E. Eichberg as a real estate partner based in the firm’s Washington D.C. office. He joins Nixon Peabody from Patton Boggs LLP

June 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its meeting in conjunction with its Washington Policy Conference last week, the Board of Directors of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association unanimously elected Cheryl MacNally of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and John Nixon of Bank of America as its new Co-chairs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A year after the passage of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which mandated the creation of a federal plan to end homelessness, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will release the plan to Congress and the public tomorrow.

Washington, DC - June 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Frank, on behalf of the House conferees, released the House offer on the titles listed below. The issues will be subject to debate when the House-Senate Conference Committee convenes in room SD-106, Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After getting the keys to their new homes, many first-time homebuyers are excited about finally having the opportunity to personalize and furnish their new house. From coffee tables to lamps to lawnmowers, many previous renters leap into homeownership quickly realizing they need to do a lot of shopping to truly make their house a home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The ongoing foreclosure crisis has slashed hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth from communities of color, a new CRL research report shows, as an estimated 17% of Latino homeowners and 11% of African-American homeowners have already lost their home to foreclosure or are now at imminent risk. The wealth drain is the result of direct losses from foreclosures and also the decline in neighboring property values each foreclosure brings.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced awards totaling more than $76 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support advanced energy-efficient building technology projects and the development of training programs for commercial building equipment technicians, building operators, and energy auditors

Washington, DC - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today John Taylor, CEO and President of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, urged the conference committee to withstand pressure to remove independent appraisal requirements on mortgages in the financial reform bill and expressed disappointment with its failure to resolve the troubling conflict of interest between credit rating agencies and Wall Street. Taylor also urged inclusion of an Office of the Homeowner Advocate in HAMP to conduct loan modification appeals brought by homeowners and serve as a policy voice for homeowners.

Agreement Provides Keller Williams with Specialized, Global Channel of Vacation Home Buyers and Sellers. AUSTIN, TX - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeAway® Real Estate, the only online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling vacation homes with rental potential, today announced a marketing agreement with Keller Williams® Realty, Inc. The partnership provides the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States with access to a global audience of vacation home buyers and sellers.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International has announced that its Multi-Unit Residential Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.4-2010) has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Three other titles in BOMA’s suite of measurement standards were also recently accredited by ANSI, including Office Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.1-2010), Industrial Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.2–2009) and Gross Areas of a Building: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.3-2009).Thenew measurement standard provides a uniform methodology for computing, communicating and comparing the measurement of multi-unit residential buildings. The Standard was developed through the collaborative efforts of four leading industry associations: BOMA International, the Institute of Real Estate Management, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Multi Housing Council.

VIENNA, VA - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released its first analysis of suspicious activity reports (SARs) containing information about potential foreclosure rescue scams. The report, Loan Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Scams – Evolving Trends and Patterns in Bank Secrecy Act Reporting , involved an analysis of more than 3,500 SARs filed from 2004 through 2009, of which the great majority, 3,000, were filed last year. Additionally, FinCEN today also provided updated guidance to the financial industry concerning new scam techniques that financial professionals should watch for and report.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the Memphis Housing Authority (MHA) more than $10 million for capital and management activities that include modernization and development of public housing.

Washington, DC - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — According to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) released today by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, levels of homelessness in the United States stayed essentially the same between 2008 and 2009. The AHAR – which is based on data collected in [...]

More than 58,000 apartment listings shared on ForRent.com since launch of social media feature. NORFOLK, VA - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to a recent study conducted by Nielsen and Facebook, consumers trust their friends and peers more than anyone else in making a purchase decision. With more than 58,000 apartment listings “shared” through ForRent.com’s social media “share” tool since October 2009, it is evident this research proves useful in the multi-housing industry as well. ForRent.com is a leading resource for searching apartments for rent and a division of Dominion Enterprises.

Washington, DC - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will hold the 2nd Annual DC Housing Expo and Foreclosure Clinic on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at the Washington Convention Center. The event will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

BURLINGTON, VT - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In spite of the softening real estate market, Vermonters earning the median income still could not afford the median priced home, according to a new report released today

AUSTIN, TX - June 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeAway®, Inc. regrets to announce Andrew Harris, the company’s chief operating officer (COO), passed away at his home in Austin on June 2, 2010, after a long and valiant battle with cancer. The company extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Harris’ family, especially his beloved wife, Lisa.

Washington, DC - June 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, President Obama announced a plan to provide $1.5 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to five state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to help them stem home foreclosures with programs they design to modify negative equity mortgages and provide emergency homeowner loans, among other strategies. The Administration is expected to allocate the funds to Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Nevada, which have been especially hard hit by home price declines and unemployment

San Francisco, CA - June 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Redfin today released new data on the San Francisco Bay Area market showing that the median price of a Bay Area single-family home increased 9.9% from April to May, and 32.8% year over year. The number of house sales that closed increased 10.1% from April to May. As the market enters what is typically its busy summer season, inventory has remained low and even still, competition has decreased, especially for lower-priced homes.

June 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For another year, the nation’s mortgage foreclosure crisis continued to complicate U.S. cities’ efforts to manage and dispose of growing inventories of vacant and abandoned properties, according to the most recent survey of mayors conducted by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and released today during the organization’s annual meeting in Oklahoma City. Today’s report is the fourth in the Conference’s series on cities’ efforts to combat problems of vacant and abandoned property.

Washington, DC - June 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) to help families realize the dream of homeownership, protect Americans from mortgage fraud and save taxpayers money. The FHA Reform Act of 2010 (H.R. 5072) ensures that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) remains viable and continues its mission of insuring mortgage loans. The bill passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 406-4.

Washington, DC - June 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Housing Conference (NHC), the United Voice for Housing, is pleased to announce that it will honor the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Affordable Housing Program (AHP) – the nation’s largest source of private grant funds for affordable housing – with the 2010 “Housing Person of the Year” Award at its 38th annual Gala in Washington, DC this evening.

Washington, DC - June 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Housing Conference (NHC), the United Voice for Housing, is pleased to announce that it will honor the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Affordable Housing Program (AHP) – the nation’s largest source of private grant funds for affordable housing – with the 2010 “Housing Person of the Year” Award at its 38th annual Gala in Washington, DC this evening.

Washington, DC - June 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie-Joy Santos and the Ward 4 community, today celebrated a 26-unit condominium building at 6425 14th Street, NW called the Tewkesbury. Blue Skye Construction, as developer and contractor, worked with PGN Architects to completely renovate the vacant apartment building that had been a blight on the Brightwood community for more than 20 years

Washington, DC - June 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Housing Conference (NHC)

June 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite a federal law enacted in 2009 for renters living in foreclosed properties, many tenants across the country are still being threatened with eviction and are being forced to leave their homes on short notice. A report released today by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, Staying Home: The Rights of Renters Living in Foreclosed Properties, explains the impact of the new law and discusses problems with its implementation, and summarizes the results of a 50-state survey of developments in state laws protecting tenants living in foreclosed properties since early 2009.