Marketing & Statistics

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A plan unveiled today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that would require a minimum 20 percent down payment for "qualified residential mortgages" would disrupt the housing market and jeopardize the economic recovery, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

MORRISTOWN, N.J - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A year ago, Verizon Vice President of Operations Lynn Ramsey filled the weekend afternoons at her Basking Ridge townhome with hours of house cleaning and yard work. Now that she’s moved to 40 Park in Morristown, she spends her free time dining in gourmet restaurants, strolling through town with friends and playing in a recreational soccer league. She simultaneously simplified her life and added excitement to it.

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.79 percent based on loans closed in February. This is an increase of 0.08 percent from the previous month

VIENNA, VA - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in its new report, Mortgage Loan Fraud SAR Filings In Fourth Quarter and Calendar Year 2010, today released full year data showing the number of suspicious activity reports involving mortgage loan fraud (MLF SARs) increased 4 percent in 2010 to 70,472 compared with 67,507 MLF SARs filed in 2009. The report also shows that the growth rate of MLF SARs began to slow over the last two to three years. Looking at just the 2010 fourth quarter, filers submitted 18,759 MLF SARs, a 1 percent decrease from the 18,884 filings over the same period in 2009.

IRVINE, CA - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Manny Gonzalez, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CAASH and principal of KTGY Group will be the keynote speaker on the Multifamily Conference CEO Series on MultifamilyBiz.com, "Designed For Success: Today's 50+ Apartment Communities," on April 5, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. EST. This lively, fast-paced 60-minute FREE On-Demand Digital Media Webcast will bring to focus what you need to know about the growing 50+ market. In this in-depth informative discussion, Gonzalez shares his insight about how the aging Baby Boomers are driving urban infill, redevelopment opportunities and are changing the face of 50+ apartment community design.

HAMILTON, N.J. - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lennar’s dramatic offer to save buyers a substantial amount of money when purchasing a new home will culminate with a national Spring Savings Event on April 9th and 10th at its residential communities throughout New Jersey.

Washington, DC - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --Pending home sales increased in February but with notable regional variations, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Fairfield, NJ - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- What is the main reason home buyers visit real estate websites? To search for listings! RE/Advantage has successfully worked with many agents, offices and boards/MLSs to create a user friendly listings search. With this IDX solution real estate professionals can display thousands of listings from their website and maintain their branding on every listing!

NEW YORK, N.Y. - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates marked a slight increase, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 4.96 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International announced today that it will encourage its members to participate in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s 2011 Earth Hour. WWF’s global initiative asks that individuals, businesses, organizations and governments turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour, from 8:30-9:30 pm local time on Saturday, March 26, 2011. The aim of Earth Hour is to visibly demonstrate global concern about climate change and a commitment to find solutions that minimize negative human impact on the Earth.

DENVER, CO - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- It’s what matters most to buyers and sellers in today’s real estate market – working with a professional real estate agent who has the experience to get the job done. And statistics show, that is a RE/MAX agent. For the 13th consecutive year, nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 16.9 percent in February to a record-low seasonally adjusted annual rate of 250,000 units, according to figures released today by the U.S. Commerce Department."Today's report is primarily a reflection of consumer uncertainty regarding the overall economy," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "A recent Gallup poll confirmed that the economy is Americans' top concern right now. At the same time, even qualified buyers who are ready to make a purchase are facing frustrating challenges in terms of tight consumer lending conditions and inappropriately low appraisal values on new construction."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications increased 2.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 18, 2011.

March 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- BURLINGTON—Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) has passed a major milestone: The Agency has issued more than $3 billion in bonds to finance homeownership and rental opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters.

LOS ANGELES, CA - March 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales rose in February, as did the share of distressed properties sold, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The economy continues to show increasing signs of self-sustaining momentum, however an unexpected jump in oil prices and the potential for further tightening of fiscal policy suggest less economic momentum than previously believed, according to the March 2011 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. Projected economic growth for the year was lowered to 3.5 percent — down slightly from 3.7 percent in February 2011, but up from 2.7 percent annual growth in 2010.

Washington, DC - March 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- WASHINGTON (March 21, 2011) – Existing-home sales fell in February following three straight monthly increases, according to the National Association of REALTORS

COLUMBUS, OH - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) today announced the 2011 Housing Tax Credit Program recipients who will each receive a portion of $23.8 million in federal housing tax credits for the construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing units in Ohio. Funding was awarded to 33 developments that will serve families, seniors, and persons who are mentally ill or homeless in 22 of Ohio's 88 counties.

McLean, VA - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®> (PMMS®), which shows the 30-year fixed-rate dropping to 4.76 percent while the 15-year fixed-rate hit its lowest rate at 3.97 percent since December 2010.

Washington, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The level of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding decreased by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, to $2.4 trillion, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) analysis of the Federal Reserve Board Flow of Funds data. On a year-over-year basis, the amount of mortgage debt outstanding at the end of 2010 was $67 billion lower than at the end of 2009, a decline of 2.7 percent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Generation X –young families and adults ages 31 to 45 – are likely to lead the home buying recovery as it gets underway, according to real estate experts who spoke at an educational webinar produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).These potential home buyers are most likely to think it's a good time to get off the fence – and have strong opinions about the design features their new homes will include.

SEYMOUR, CT - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The spacious four-bedroom Granby design will be on full display during a special “hard hat” tour event on Saturday, March 26th at Rolling Hills, the collection of single-family Manor and Estate homes in Seymour, CT.

LOS ANGELES, CA - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following three months of sales gains, California home sales posted a weaker-than-expected performance and declined in February, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 0.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 11, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts and issuance of permits for new housing construction both posted disappointing declines in February as concerns about a growing number of factors caused builders to pull back on production of new homes, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. Total housing starts declined 22.5 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 479,000 units, the second-slowest pace on record. Equally disconcerting, total permit issuance for new homes fell 8.2 percent to a record low pace of 517,000 units in February.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its February 2011 Market Reports. Throughout the state, the price range with the strongest sales activity was the $100,001 and below range, where sales were up 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. Median Sales Price was up the most in the single-family segment with a 1.5 percent gain to $157,250, while prices were down 5.2 percent for condos, to $125,000. The price range with the shortest market Days on Market time was among homes in the $100,000 and below price range

MANHATTAN, NY - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The renaissance of Harlem’s Frederick Douglas Boulevard corridor is on full display at Apex Condominiums where 20% of the new residences have already been sold, according to owner/developer RCG Longview and The Marketing Directors, Inc., the property’s exclusive sales and marketing agent

NEW YORK, N.Y. - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little change this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 5.04 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.

McLean, VA - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which shows mortgage rates holding steady and below 5.0 percent.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Tilghman Square, the neighborhood shopping center located at the intersection of West Tilghman Street & Broadway in South Whitehall, PA, has welcomed two new retail tenants