Washington, Dc - February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week, Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke released plans to reduce its emergency lending programs used during the economic crisis. Bernanke detailed actions the Fed may take to reduce its $2.2 trillion balance sheet, including a commitment to purchase up to $1.25 trillion in mortgage-backed securities. The actions from the Fed have been questionable due to lack of transparency and use of emergency powers, outside of Congressional oversight

SACRAMENTO, CA - February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A preliminary report released today by the California Homebuilding Foundation (CHF) in conjunction with the Center for Strategic Economic Research (CSER), shows that the downturn in new-home building has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars in economic output to California’s economy.

February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Many of the community's homeless end up on the streets without blankets, clothing and other necessities to keep them warm when temperatures drop during the night, even though it’s warming up during the day.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fueled by the tax credit incentive, home sales rebounded in the latter half of the year with Illinois buyers gaining some long-awaited confidence bolstered by low mortgage interest rates and moderating home prices. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) fourth quarter 2009 report, Illinois home sales (which include single-family homes and condominiums) totaled 29,822 in the fourth quarter, up 35.6 percent from 21,986 home sales in the same period a year ago. For the year 2009, total sales were down 1.4 percent with 107,613 homes sold compared to 109,195 sales in 2008

Two programs serve low-income residents, create jobs. CHICAGO, IL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new round of $15.4 million in federal affordable housing funds will help low-income residents, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and landlords rehabilitate more than 420 homes across the state, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced today.

Home Partnership Foundation responds in time of need. BOISE, ID - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Home Partnership Foundation, brought to you by Idaho Housing and Finance Association, has awarded 13 emergency response grants in the amount of $69,600 to homeless shelters and service providers across the state. These funds are intended to support the greatest needs of housing service providers statewide including shelter operations and capital improvements, funding for motel vouchers (when shelters are full), as well as homelessness prevention efforts.

ORLANDO, FL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Salesof existing single-family homes in Florida rose 44 percent in fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 43,926 existing homes sold statewide in 4Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 30,610 existing homes sold. It marks the sixth consecutive quarter that Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales, according to the state association.Statewide sales of existing condominiums in the fourth quarter rose 93 percent compared to the same time the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter for increased statewide sales in both the existing home and condo markets compared to year-ago levels.

Albany, NY - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. David A. Paterson’s proposed cuts to the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax in his 21-day budget amendments are inadequate and New York’s 54,000 REALTORS strongly oppose shifting the cost to workers and businesses from one part of the MTA region to another.

CHICAGO, IL - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the approval of 18 new Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) in Illinois. The state’s Supportive Living Program offers an alternative to nursing home care for low income seniors, and people with physical disabilities

ORLANDO, FL - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Meet the neighbors and find your Florida dream home at the same time by taking part in Florida Open House Weekend, set for April 10-11, 2010. Realtors will host open houses on behalf of home sellers in neighborhoods and communities across the Sunshine State, giving buyers a rare opportunity to visit many homes for sale in just one weekend. This first-ever statewide open house weekend is sponsored by the 115,000-member Florida Realtor

TAMPA FL - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Mid-Atlantic region begins to dig out from under one blizzard, and faces another serious snowstorm this week, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is offering guidance on how business and home owners can protect their property from winter weather-related perils, such as roof collapse due to heavy snow loads.

New York, NY - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA) today approved two tax incentive packages that will assist in the development of two new supermarkets in the Bronx.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful)today applauded the House Committee on Veterans for voting unanimously to send a bill to the full House that protects and respects the service of Missouri's military veterans. The Veterans Medals Bill, HB 1745, ensures military medals held by Unclaimed Property in Treasurer Zweifel's office will never be auctioned or sold. Treasurer Zweifelestablished the administrative policy that led to HB 1745 upon taking office

Glendale, AZ - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeLovers, one of Arizona's fastest growing Arizona real estate investing and property management companies, today announced availability of its 2010 State of the Industry Report for Arizona Real Estate Investing, which outlines recent trends and takes a look at what lies ahead in 2010 for investors. The report also discusses how the investor of today is different than the investor demographics that lead to the buying frenzy of 2005 and subsequent market crash. The free report is available for download via an automated email response at investorinfo@homelovers.com.

PORTLAND, OR - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joel D. Surprenant, 43, of West Linn, Oregon, pled guilty today to the crime of bank fraud. Surprenant is scheduled to appear again before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones on May 12, 2010, for sentencing on these charges.

Trenton, NJ - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Conference Leader Jon Bramnick both lauded Gov. Christie’s choice of former state Sen. Marcia Karrow to chair the newly formed Housing Opportunity Task Force that will study issues surrounding the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and its third round rules.

AUSTIN, TX - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Honoring those who preserve and protect the American Dream to finally live it, Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) have announced the launching of a new homebuyer initiative with a special focus on veterans.

TRENTON, N.J. - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For first-time homebuyers thinking of buying their first home in New Jersey, the combined incentive and mortgage programs from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) and the federal government have never been better.

February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- CABOR, one of the largest REALTOR® associations in the state (CABOR) is partnering NHSGC and CHN, two of the largest community development corporations in Northeast Ohio, to combat foreclosures. On February 26, 2010, CABOR will host a “Foreclosure Intervention Luncheon” to provide REALTORS with tools and resources to help them to open a dialogue with their clients, friends and family about the sensitive but relevant topic of foreclosure.

San Francisco, CA - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco has appointed three new members to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC)—Jasmine Borrego of TELACU; Joel Jacinto of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA); and Dean Matsubayashi of Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation (LTSC). The Bank’s AHAC is a 15-member group that provides guidance on affordable housing and economic development issues and helps shape the Bank’s community investment grant programs and credit products

ATLANTA, GA - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- InterContinental Hotels and Resorts announced today the appointment of Andrew (Drew) Schlesinger as general manager and Linda Hodgson as director of sales and marketing for the InterContinental New York Times Square. Currently under construction, the hotel is scheduled to open in July 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the Obama Administration today regarding high foreclosure rates in Ohio and the need to improve foreclosure mitigation efforts that help Americans stay in their homes.

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pemberton Township Mayor David Patriarca today joined representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) at the Municipal Building, 500 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, to announce that the Township is the newest member of the Live Where You Work program.

HARRISBURG, PA - February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Tom Corbett today cautioned Pennsylvania consumers to be alert for possible scams linked to online ads for rental homes and apartments, along with Internet "for sale" ads and auctions for cars, motorcycles and other items.

New York, NY - February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today launched the Water Debt Assistance Program, a new initiative that will temporarily relieve homeowners at risk of foreclosure of past-due water and sewer debt.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said today that 3,400 North Dakotans have used the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit passed last year by Congress as part of a major economic recovery bill.

Washington, DC - February 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation this week to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade.

February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After saturating neighborhoods of predominantly black and Latino residents with high-cost, often predatory lending throughout the subprime boom, banks have failed at preventing foreclosures while returning to high and disparate rates of loan denial for applicants of color, according to a new report by the California Reinvestment Coalition.

West Hartford, CT - February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, in association with the Women Real Estate Investors Association, or WREIA, is announcing a special dinner meeting. This meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. This meeting will take place at the Alina’s Ristorante, located at 950 Yale Ave, in Wallingford, CT from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The cost of this event is $25 for CT REIA and WREIA members, and $30 for guests. All prices include dinner. It is advised that interested parties pre-register for this event.

Washington, D.C. - February 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following release today after unveiling his new bill, H.R. 4586 the Mortgage E-Verify Act.