HARRISBURG, PA - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Consumer protection lawsuits were filed today against four loan modification or "mortgage rescue" businesses, along with their officers, who are accused of deceiving Pennsylvania consumers seeking help modifying their mortgage loans.

Washington, DC - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) announced that YouthBuild Louisville will receive $100,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund vocational instruction programs and energy-efficient building training for Louisville young people

PHOENIX, AZ - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Brandon Azadegan, 29, of Phoenix, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for an April 2009 conviction for his role as an investor selling four homes to a straw buyer. Azadegan pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and one count of Transactional Money Laundering. Six other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy. Gheorge Babeti was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison in August 2009. The remaining defendants will be sentenced in the next few months

MONTGOMERY, AL - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Economic stimulus grants awarded by Governor Bob Riley are helping 70 schools in 14 public school systems save energy and reduce utility bills by upgrading equipment and making other improvements.

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction of new homes in California continued to decline in October, prompting California homebuilders to call on state lawmakers to reexamine the benefits of the state new-home buyer tax credit enacted earlier this year in hopes of getting similar legislation passed to stimulate the housing sector and the economy, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Jay Nixon and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, chairman of the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), today announced a proposal to pay the first year of property taxes for income-eligible Missourians who buy a new or existing Missouri home after Jan. 1, 2010. They will take the proposal before the MHDC at its Dec. 18 meeting.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02) today invoked rock ‘n roll legend Junior Walker and the All-Stars as he announced the award of $844,176 in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) to four new affordable housing projects in Germantown, North and West Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, PA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) today announced the awarding of $844,176 in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) to four new affordable housing projects in the city

WALTHAM, MA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that single-family home sales were up over 17 percent compared to October 2008 as buyers made sure to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer before it was set to expire. Condominium sales also were up 17 percent. Median prices were down 2.6 percent compared to last year, while condominium median prices were down 4.0 percent. October pending sales (homes put under agreement) were up 27 percent from the same time last year. This is the fifth straight month of increases.

California still home to half of the top 20 least affordable markets. SACRAMENTO, CA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing affordability continued to creep downward throughout the state during the third quarter of 2009 as a result of incremental price increases due to increased demand for homes, the California Building Industry Association said today

ORLANDO, FL - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in October, marking 14 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. October’s statewide sales also increased over sales activity in September in both the existing home and existing condominium markets.Existing home sales rose 45 percent last month with a total of 15,160 homes sold statewide compared to 10,444 homes sold in October 2008, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide existing home sales last month increased 5.1 percent over statewide sales activity in September.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory alerting homeowners whose homes contain allegedly defective Chinese drywall manufactured by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. to an opportunity to ensure their claims against the company are preserved. Knauf is one of several Chinese drywall manufacturers accused in a private class action lawsuit pending in federal court in Louisiana, of importing defective drywall into the United States during the recent housing boom. The company has agreed to accept service of a single lawsuit that will be filed on December 9, 2009 in the Louisiana federal court However, under the court’s order, homeowners with homes containing the allegedly defective Knauf drywall who wish to be included in the lawsuit must submit claims to the lead counsel in the lawsuit on or before December 2, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the appointment of Douglas Guthrie as the new General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). Mr. Guthrie brings with him a wealth of experience in community development, housing affordability and urban policy.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel announced today a $3.4 million small business loan had been approved from the Missouri Linked Deposit Program he administers. The loan to Weber Seeds, Inc. of Marshall, Mo., is one of the largest ever issued through the Missouri Linked Deposit Program, and allowed the company to increase jobs by more than 25 percent and expand its customer base.

Washington, D.C. - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators announced today that the Pennsylvania Department of Banking has achieved accreditation under the joint CSBS-AARMR Mortgage Supervision Accreditation Program.

Contest offers sustainably-minded real estate professionals a chance to gain recognition and win a free membership with the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce. Tempe, AZ - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fidelity National Title, one of Arizona's largest title insurance and escrow service companies, has announced the launch of its "Win the Paperless Fight Title Championship" contest, which is accepting nominations at www.WinThePaperlessFight.com through December 31st, 2009. Open exclusively to real estate professionals, both residential and commercial, the contest invites nominations for those who are demonstrating a commitment to sustainable business practices and making a big impact specifically through the reduction of paper waste. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Albany, NY - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Driven by buyers wanting to close before the anticipated first-time homebuyer tax credit deadline, October sales jumped nearly 8 percent from the previous month and nearly 6 percent compared to October 2008, according to preliminary existing single-family sales data accumulated by the New York State Association of REALTORS.

ALBANY, NY - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The New York State Real Estate Board will hold a public hearing on general real estate issues on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, 80 South Swan Street, 10th Floor Conference [...]

Priscilla of Boston and Denim Habit join America’s first shopping center. Ardmore, PA - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Metro Commercial, one of the region’s largest full-service retail real estate firms, announces the addition of two new retailers to the world-class lineup at Suburban Square, America’s first shopping center, in Philadelphia’s Main Line suburb of Ardmore, PA.

Lincoln, NE - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Chris Beutler today announced that a new program has been created with about $1.4 million to help the homeless and near-homeless in Lincoln. The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP).

Lincoln, NE - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Chris Beutler today announced that a new program has been created with about $1.4 million to help the homeless and near-homeless in Lincoln. The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP).

WASHINGTON, DC - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has introduced legislation giving Midwestern disaster victims more time to benefit from tax relief intended to help them repair or replace their devastated homes.

LANSING, MI - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Board this week approved a $7.2 million tax credit for the NSO Bell project expected to invest $50 million in Detroit, State Senator Martha G. Scott (D-Highland Park) announced.

FRANKFORT, KY - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Inmates reacted to the implementation of restrictions in their movement at the Northpoint Training Center in August by setting fires in dorms, destroying property and busting out windows, causing one of the most destructive prison riots in Kentucky history, according to a report released today by the Department of Corrections

LEXINGTON, KY - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Leading by example, Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear visited God’s Pantry Food Bank today to volunteer distributing food as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Kentucky

Jackson, MS - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Friends and family start arriving, everyone happy and thankful to visit and get re-acquainted, and in the commotion of children playing and reminiscing you forget about that pan cooking on the stove or the turkey roasting in the oven. Suddenly, what should be a time for a family celebration becomes a family emergency when a cooking fire breaks out.

Bi-partisan measure will cut cost of renewable energy, create jobs. Washington, DC - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Betsy Markey was today joined by Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) in introducing the Renewable Electricity Integration Tax Credit Act (REITC), which will provide a tax credit for utilities to integrate more wind and solar into their energy portfolios.

Bi-partisan measure will cut cost of renewable energy, create jobs. Washington, DC - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Betsy Markey was today joined by Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) in introducing the Renewable Electricity Integration Tax Credit Act (REITC), which will provide a tax credit for utilities to integrate more wind and solar into their energy portfolios.

Bi-partisan measure will cut cost of renewable energy, create jobs. Washington, DC - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Betsy Markey was today joined by Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) in introducing the Renewable Electricity Integration Tax Credit Act (REITC), which will provide a tax credit for utilities to integrate more wind and solar into their energy portfolios.

Washington, DC - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Betsy Markey today announced that nearly $100 million has been awarded to NextEra Energy Resources to expand the Northern Colorado Wind Energy farm in Peetz, Colorado. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in lieu of a production tax credit, the award will allow quicker job creation in the near term and investment in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.