LOS ANGELES, CA - January 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Business Services Inc. (REBS) today announced that the Orange County Association of REALTORS (OCAR) has signed an agreement to provide both Clarus MarketMetrics and Clarus Investor as free member benefits for an additional 12 months. Clarus MarketMetrics and Clarus Investor®, together, retail for $480 for an annual subscription.

DALLAS, TX - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT, Inc. today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Bella Ruscello Luxury Apartment Homes, a 216-unit multifamily community located in the Dallas suburb of Duncanville, Texas.

Greensburg, KS - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six Greensburg families will ring in the New Year moving into new homes thanks to housing development grants created by the Kansas Legislature. The grants, which target cities and counties rebuilding after the 2007 tornadoes and flooding, help finance the construction of housing and infrastructure, such as streets, water and sewer systems.

LEXINGTON, KY - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Why did gorgeous horses like those need new homes?” is a question frequently asked by disbelieving park visitors about the stunning, black Arabian horses which recently arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Albany, NY - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commissioner VanAmerongen recently testified before the State Assembly Housing Committee, providing information on DHCR's accomplishments during the last 12 months as well as the challenges the agency will face in the coming year.

MONTPELIER, Vt. - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State officials are hoping members of the public will turn out to give their input about Vermont’s plans for spending millions of dollars in federal housing and economic development funds.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel announced that half way through the 2010 fiscal year his office was on pace to break the previous record for Unclaimed Property accounts returned by more than 15 percent. A total of 45,809 accounts had been returned since July 1. The previous record was set by Treasurer Zweifel's office in fiscal year 2009.

Deborah VanAmerongen Brings Wide Range of Experience in Housing and Community Development. (New York, NY - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP announces the addition of Deborah VanAmerongen to its Affordable Housing practice. Ms. VanAmerongen will join Nixon Peabody as a strategic policy adviser as of February 1, 2010. She will be resident in the New York City office. Ms. VanAmerongen will work closely with attorneys in the firm's Affordable Housing practice to provide advice to developers, owners and managers of affordable housing, as well as their financing partners, in the preservation and production of affordable housing nationwide.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to bring much needed assistance to Nevada homeowners who are struggling with their mortgages, Nevada Senator Harry Reid recently sent a letter to Bank of America urging the bank to direct more resources toward Nevada.

BISMARCK, ND - December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved the 2010 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), providing more than $2.4 million worth of federal tax credits to support affordable housing development next year. The program is administered by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA).

BISMARCK, ND - December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved the 2010 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), providing more than $2.4 million worth of federal tax credits to support affordable housing development next year. The program is administered by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA).

OLYMPIA, WA - December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $22,490,000 from the Housing Trust Fund to 11 multifamily affordable housing projects in seven counties. A total of 706 units will be built or rehabilitated in Clallam, Island, Walla Walla, King, Spokane, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

MADISON, WI - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Due to a recent decision by Congress, Wisconsin homebuyers will once again stand to benefit from an extended and expanded federal home tax credit program.

San Antonio, TX - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On December 23, an affiliate of USAA Real Estate Company acquired Broadstone Parkway, a Class A urban fill mixed-use development comprised of 333 residential units and 39,167 square feet of ground floor commercial space located at 5005 Galleria Drive in North Dallas/Addison from Bank of America. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

CHICAGO, IL - December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that starting January 4, 2010 mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers will use the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) for license applications and renewals. Loan originators will also begin transitioning onto the NMLS for their new individual licensing credentials required in 2010. The national data base ensures that any mortgage loan professionals moving to Illinois will be able to demonstrate competency and a record clear of disciplinary actions in any other state in the nation.

December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Statewide vacancies in subsidized, deed-restricted units rose to 6.7 percent during the third quarter, while vacancy rates in non-subsidized, market-rate units were slightly higher at 7.4 percent. According to a report released today by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs¿ Division of Housing, third quarter vacancies rose from the second quarter rate of 6.4 percent, and are up from a rate of 5.7 percent reported during the third quarter of last year.

December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Learn about fair housing practices and laws at a free three-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 15, at the Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., assembly room A. This workshop will offer ADRE-authorized fair housing REALTOR® re-licensing credit and is presented in partnership with the Southwest Fair Housing Council.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A little more than six months after being signed into law, legislation developed by State Treasurer Clint Zweifel will allow him to return more on investments he manages for Missouri taxpayers beginning January 1. The legislation, Invest in Missouri, received the unanimous support of the Senate and the House and was signed by Gov. Nixon on June 29.

Kansas City, MO - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Even in the face of a challenging economic environment, Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) continues to provide quality affordable housing to the low- and moderate-income residents of Missouri. In addition, due to innovative programs and partnerships, MHDC has been able to continue its lending programs for first-time homebuyers with mortgage revenue bond financings and a commitment to homebuyers for assistance with down payment and closing costs.

New York, NY - December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the disposition and development of a vacant 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse building, known as Federal Building #2, in the vibrant industrial waterfront area of Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Harrisburg, PA - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Michael A. O’Pake (D-Berks) today reminded eligible older adults and people with disabilities that they only have until Thursday, December 31, to apply for “2008 tax year” rebates under the state’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program.

December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) will hold public hearings at four different locations in January to discuss 122 affordable housing development proposals submitted by developers. Developers applied for these funds in response to the 2010 Notification of Funding Availability (NOFA) issued in June 2009. Hearings are planned for Kansas City, Springfield, St. Charles and Columbia.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - December 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today commended the Florida Supreme Court order recommending a statewide managed mediation program for Florida’s homeowners. Given her previous work to aid Floridians struggling with foreclosure, CFO Sink was tapped by Chief Justice Peggy Quince to provide a delegate on the Task Force that developed these recommendations.

Washington, DC - December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $2,745,287 in Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance (CoC) awards for Iowa’s 3rd District.

December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has distributed nearly $11 million of federal funds to 31 organizations in Minnesota working to help individuals, families and unaccompanied youth find, secure and stay in affordable housing.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Obama Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is renewing grant funding needed to keep six local homeless assistance programs throughout South Dakota operating.

Washington,DC - December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.) sees a federal grant for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund as a boost for the State's construction workers and families.

Albany, NY - December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Housing Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen announced that refinancing has been finalized at the 5,881-unit Starrett City housing complex in Brooklyn, the largest publicly assisted affordable housing complex in the nation.

BEDFORD, N.H. - December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority has elected to participate in the U.S. Treasury’s New Issue Bond Program (NIBP).

ST. LOUIS, MO - December 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Amid ongoing deterioration in the commercial real estate (CRE) market, many community banks face the possibility of significant losses from soured loans and heightened refinancing risk in the months ahead