ATLANTA, GA - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Georgia’s property owners triumphed in the General Assembly today with the Georgia House and Senate overwhelmingly passing Senate Bill 346. Championed and authored by Senate Majority Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), the Property Tax Assessment and Appeals reform bill is aimed at ensuring all Georgia properties are properly assessed at Fair Market Value and that property owners have guaranteed rights to appeal. This is the most sweeping overhaul of the Georgia property tax system in decades

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As a representative of buyers in the Clovis, California area, broker Karin Kos has joined with IDX, Inc. to give her clients the best and quickest online property search, by granting them access to their local area Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listings. The Fresno MLS (Fresno), which Kos is a member of, hosts thousands of listed properties. Thanks to Kos' new website and the use of IDX Broker software, she displays a wide variety of homes directly onto her web pages

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to welcome the newest addition, Darren Bouley with Silver Coast Properties, to the growing number of real estate professionals creating an easy-to-use online property search experience for their clients. IDX Broker allows Bouley to display Brunswick County MLS (BRWC) listings right on his personal professional website. Customizable searches help potential home buyers find the property of their dreams on Bouley's website. Never before has it been easier to find the perfect home online

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Warren, New Jersey Realtor Nicholas Welsh, of Weichert Realtors, has made the bold decision to team with IDX, Inc. to deliver potential home buyers in the North Jersey area, a well-rounded online property search website. Through both Garden State-Agent MLS (GSMLS-A) listings and Welsh's own properties, home seekers in the area can now experience the best home buying process around, with thousands of potential properties displayed on the convenience of Welsh's website.

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The IDX, Inc. team eagerly announces today, the addition of Diane Sonenson with The Keyes Company Realtors in Boynton Beach, Florida, to their quickly growing network of real estate agents and brokers using their primary software application, IDX Broker. This one-of-a-kind search tool addition provides Sonenson with the ability to instantly and directly link potential home buyers to a valuable Multiple Listing Service (MLS) search tool, which connects them with a multitude of the most current and up-to-date property listings on her local MLS, the Palm Beach Regional MLS (RMLSFL)

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Coldwell Banker Wardley team and Realtor Jeslie Jeffry joined the expanding niche of real estate professionals enhancing their websites with a custom IDX solution. Greater Las Vegas MLS (GLAVR) properties can now be displayed on Jeffry's own website, making the search process easier and more efficient for potential home buyers. Customizable IDX solutions extract GLVAR raw listing data and seamlessly integrate it with Jeffry's own listings. This not only makes Jeffry's job easier, it also allows her clients and other home seekers to access an abundance of properties in the Las Vegas, Nevada area

EUGENE, OR - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the help of IDX, Inc.'s IDX Broker software, Better Properties Brokerage and Ben Winfield have joined the large group of real estate agents and brokers that have chosen to update the functionality and look of their website. Through the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) technology, agents and brokers can create a customized real estate website from the convenience of their personal computer or iPhone. Today, potential home buyers in the suburbs of Vancouver, Washington can find the perfect home, thanks to Winfield's new website. As a member of the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), Winfield has long had access to the listing information for thousands of properties, but with the help of IDX Broker software, all of Winfield's clients will now have access to the RMLS listings as well, when browsing the Better Properties Brokerage site

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

McLean, VA - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) today issued the company's Monthly Volume Summary for March 2010. The summary, available on the company's Web site at www.FreddieMac.com/investors/volsum, provides information on Freddie Mac's mortgage-related portfolios, securities issuance, risk management and delinquencies, including data on seriously delinquent mortgage loans in related mortgage Participation Certificate (PC) pools.

WASHINGTON D.C. - April 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have renewed their formal commitment to work together to provide the residential construction industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers

Henderson, NV - April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives from Fight Fraud Taskforce and the Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce will be on site tonight at the City of Henderson’s Foreclosure Prevention Workshop to advise consumers how to avoid foreclosure scams.

Henderson, NV - April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives from Fight Fraud Taskforce and the Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce will be on site tonight at the City of Henderson’s Foreclosure Prevention Workshop to advise consumers how to avoid foreclosure scams.

Providence, RI - April 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Providence-based Homestar Mortgage has been named Rhode Island Housing’s top partner lender for 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.

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

BEDFORD, N.H. - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its recent meeting, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority’s Board of Directors approved the conditional commitment of $2.7 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits for five development projects that will add 140 new affordable rental units to the state’s housing supply

TRENTON, NJ - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Law Director Robert Hanna announced today that a New Jersey loan modification company and its owners have agreed to an $11.45 million judgment to settle civil charges they defrauded homeowners who sought help in staving off mortgage foreclosure.

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On April 28, 2010, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to National Home Loan Advocates, LLC d/b/a www.nationalhomeloanadvocates.com located at 2591 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300, Dallas, Texas 75034 became final.This Order to Cease and Desist was issued by the Department after it obtained evidence that National Home Loan Advocates, LLC d/b/a www.nationalhomeloanadvocates.com engaged in residential mortgage brokering/lending activities without a license or under an applicable exemption in violation of O.C.G.A. § 7-1-1002

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On April 28, 2010, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to H.O.P.E. Alliance d/b/a Home Ownership Protection Education Alliance, Inc. d/b/a www.helpnowalliance.org located at 13660 Wright Circle, Tampa, Florida 33626 became final.This Order to Cease and Desist was issued by the Department after it obtained evidence that H.O.P.E. Alliance d/b/a Home Ownership Protection Education Alliance, Inc. d/b/a www.helpnowalliance.org engaged in residential mortgage brokering/lending activities without a license or under an applicable exemption in violation of O.C.G.A. § 7-1-1002

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On April 28, 2010, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to H.O.P.E. Alliance d/b/a Home Ownership Protection Education Alliance, Inc. d/b/a www.helpnowalliance.org located at 13660 Wright Circle, Tampa, Florida 33626 became final.This Order to Cease and Desist was issued by the Department after it obtained evidence that H.O.P.E. Alliance d/b/a Home Ownership Protection Education Alliance, Inc. d/b/a www.helpnowalliance.org engaged in residential mortgage brokering/lending activities without a license or under an applicable exemption in violation of O.C.G.A. § 7-1-1002

ORLANDO, FL - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Ramon Cendana (age 48, of Orlando) to more than six years in federal prison for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme. The Court also ordered Cendana to pay in excess of $240,000 in restitution to his victims. Cendana had pleaded guilty on January 27, 2010

McLean, VA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.06 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 29, 2010, down slightly from last week when it averaged 5.07 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.78 percent

April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Trade Commission has put a permanent stop to another mortgage foreclosure “rescue” operation that allegedly promoted bogus loan modification and foreclosure relief services. The case is one of 17 lawsuits the FTC has brought in the past 11 months in a crackdown on mortgage relief frauds that target financially strapped homeowners, and more cases are being investigated

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prudential Georgia Realty’s new Buckhead office, located at 3221 Peachtree Road, just south of thePeachtree and Piedmont Road intersection, continues to add to its agent salesteam. Steve Kesler is the latest to join, coming to the company with 25 yearsexperience in commercial real estate, including offices, retail, restaurantsand lease restructuring.

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prudential Georgia Realty’s new Buckhead office, located at 3221 Peachtree Road, just south of thePeachtree and Piedmont Road intersection, continues to add to its agent salesteam. Steve Kesler is the latest to join, coming to the company with 25 yearsexperience in commercial real estate, including offices, retail, restaurantsand lease restructuring.

Atlanta, GA - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prudential Georgia Realty’s new Buckhead office, located at 3221 Peachtree Road, just south of thePeachtree and Piedmont Road intersection, continues to add to its agent salesteam. Steve Kesler is the latest to join, coming to the company with 25 yearsexperience in commercial real estate, including offices, retail, restaurantsand lease restructuring.

Washington, DC - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At a time when mortgage credit markets are still uncertain, Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, introduced a bill that will bolster Rural Housing Service loan programs on the brink of insolvency and ensure that families in Colorado's rural communities have the access to the credit they need to buy, build and repair their homes.

Team from New Haven submitted design for green-energy homes. Washington, DC - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) welcomed students from New Haven and Branford to her office to celebrate their success in a national design competition organized by the Construction Industry Round Table and the ACE Mentor Program of America.

Marshall County, IN - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Indiana State Police are looking for help from the public in a home invasion that occurred in a rural Amish community of Marshall County. The home invasion that took place Sunday evening, the 25th, around 6:00 p.m. wasn't reported to state police until Tuesday afternoon. The residence is located at 748 2B Road, in Nappanee, on the outskirts of Marshall and Elkhart Counties.

Washington, D.C. - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, questioned Goldman Sachs executives regarding questionable business practices that critics have said helped lead to the collapse of the U.S. housing market.

EUGENE, OR - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. happily welcomes today, their newest client addition, Alan Savage of Naperville, Illinois, in joining the continuously growing network of real estate agents and brokers opting to improve, enhance and optimize their websites, with the help of a highly customizable IDX Broker solution. A realtor with Chase Real Estate, Savage is an active member of the Midwest Real Estate Data MLS (MRED). With the unique and one-of-a-kind connection that this IDX software has with local Multiple Listing Service's (MLS), Savage is able to immediately and prominently display an endless amount of the most up-to-date MRED listing information, directly onto his own personal website, eliminating the time and hassle for consumers, that would normally have to navigate elsewhere. Potential home buyers also have the option to specificy what they are looking for in their new property, and will only be shown properties that match their personal specifications, creating a simple and efficient online real estate search process.