RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over the past year, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) has hosted numerous conversations with faith communities as part of its "Faith and Credit" program. In a letter delivered to Senators today, sixteen Christian leaders with decades of experience providing housing services and financial counseling urged legislators to enact reforms that protect against abusive lending practices targeting low-income households.

Tampa, FL - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has updated the state-by-state overview of land use planning laws on the IBHS Web site

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- By July 1, all mortgage servicers participating in the Making Home Affordable Program will offer extra help for homeowners struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments because of unemployment. The Unemployment Program will offer homeowners a forbearance period to temporarily reduce or suspend their monthly mortgage payments while they seek re-employment.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie Santos, Department of Housing and Community Development (DCHD) Director Leila Edmonds, and DC Housing Authority Interim Director Adrianne Todman joined the Ward 8 community to break ground on the first of four phases in the Sheridan Station residential development project at the intersection of Sheridan and Bowen Roads, SE

Washington, DC - May 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich today held a roundtable discussion between state and local officials, housing advocates and representatives of the Treasury Department. Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herb Allison came to Northeast Ohio at the request of Kucinich in order to understand how federal efforts to help prevent foreclosure can be improved to meet Ohio’s needs. The meeting enabled more than 50 state and local officials to weigh in on the implementation guidelines that Treasury is currently writing.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors announced today that its first quarter 2010 data shows a surge in solutions for troubled homeowners, including completed loan modifications, trial modifications and other workout plans

Washington, DC - May 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced legislation that is the second piece of a two-pronged approach to assure continuity and stability in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the nation’s housing markets while also focusing on the comprehensive reform and long-term reauthorization of the NFIP.

NEW YORK, NY - May 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building on its success in helping Florida homeowners, Chase today announced that it will host multi-day Homeowner Assistance Events exclusively for struggling Chase homeowners in eight major U.S. markets this year.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $4 million competition to fund at least 12 Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program grants designed to assist eligible veterans who are currently incarcerated and/or transitioning out of the justice system who are at risk of homelessness. VETS is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to better assist our nation's incarcerated veterans and help prevent their recidivism

Events Hosted by Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable Program, HOPE NOW and NeighborWorks® America at Nassau Coliseum. Washington, DC - May 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives from sixteen mortgage servicers, plus more than a dozen local HUD-approved housing counselors, were on hand last week in Uniondale, New York to assist struggling homeowners with their mortgages

WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing is collecting entries for a competition to recognize leadership and creativity in the provision of housing for America’s working families

CHICAGO, IL - May 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced today that it has been named the highest ranked commercial real estate services firm on the 2010 Global Outsourcing 100®, the annual ranking of high-quality service providers across all industries as determined by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (IAOP®)

Housing affordability and mortgage rates near record lows, while inventories are close to record highs. Mortgage lender experienced an over 50 percent increase in purchase loans in April compared to March. MILFORD, CT - May 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Leading mortgage lender and broker Total Mortgage announced today that even though the first-time home buyer tax credit and repeat home buyer tax credit have expired, there are still a number of favorable market dynamics present in the housing market that continue to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for potential home buyers.

Washington, D.C. - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lincoln Property Company, one of the country’s largest commercial real estate firms, has closed a 10-year lease with Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC for the entire fifth floor at Bridgewater Corporate Center in Fairfax, Va

WASHINGTON, DC - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Obama Administration is authorized to play a more active and supportive role in progressing the energy efficiency and sustainability of America’s multifamily and commercial building stock, according to a report released today by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and other leading organizations in energy, housing, environment and real estate.The legal analysis, “Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Buildings,” concludes that under current executive authority, the Obama Administration has the ability to use more than 30 existing federal programs worth $72 billion to enhance efficiency in commercial buildings and multifamily housing, with no new legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes

VIENNA, VA - April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released new guidance, Advisory to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Fraud Schemes, to assist financial institutions in guarding against fraud schemes perpetrated against senior citizens who use the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA’s) Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, a form of reverse mortgage.

April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Due to the overwhelming response for the Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program (HTCC) Application Overview Session, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has added a second overview on Monday, May 24, 2010 from 9:00-11:00 AM

WASHINGTON, DC - April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International will feature a comprehensive educational program at the 2010 BOMA International Conference & The Every Building Show® in Long Beach, California, June 27-29, focusing on strategies for optimizing performance and creating value in today’s challenging commercial real estate market. The program, featuring nearly 40 sessions built around five strategic tracks, will include sessions on high performing buildings, reducing operating costs, maintaining tenants and keeping top-notch management teams in place

VIENNA, Va. - April 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released new guidance, Advisory to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Fraud Schemes, to assist financial institutions in guarding against fraud schemes perpetrated against senior citizens who use the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA’s) Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, a form of reverse mortgage.

April 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) recognized five of the most energy-efficient and unique buildings constructed with structural insulated panels during the SIPA Annual Meeting & Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Now in its eighth year, the SIPA Building Excellence Awards highlight innovative projects using high performance structural insulated panels (SIPs) as the basis for energy-efficient, green buildings

WASHINGTON, DC - April 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) today announced the extension of its seller assistance incentive on all Fannie Mae-owned HomePath properties. Buyers will receive 3.5 percent of the final sales price to be used toward closing cost assistance or their choice of selected appliances. The offer is available to any owner-occupant who closes on the purchase of a property listed on www.HomePath.com by June 30, 2010.

April 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- First American Title Insurance Company, a leading provider of title insurance and settlement services and the largest subsidiary of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), today announced that its AgentFirst™ app for iPhone®, iPad™ and iPod touch® devices is now available for free download from the App StoreSM.