COLUMBUS, OH - September 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board today approved the issuance of up to $16 million in Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bonds.

Washington, DC - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Foreclosure rescue scams are pushing more struggling homeowners deeper into debt, and state and federal law enforcement must work together to stop them, Attorney General Roy Cooper told officials in Washington on Thursday.

FORT WORTH, TX - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that Denison, El Paso, Fort Bend County, Longview and Tyler will receive a total of $18,781,606 to support community development and produce more affordable housing.

COLUMBUS, OH - September 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Charles E. Townsend, 39, of Columbus pleaded guilty in United States District Court here to one count of money laundering in connection with his involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme that exaggerated property values to out of state investors in order to secure funding for the purchase of properties in primarily low income neighborhoods in Columbus.

Albany, NY - September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Benjamin Osmanson, 30, of California and Sarita, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering related to his scheme to defraud mortgage lenders by submitting false loan applications in the names of “investors.” Osmanson was arrested in October 2008 in Texas.

Albany, NY - September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Benjamin Osmanson, 30, of California and Sarita, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering related to his scheme to defraud mortgage lenders by submitting false loan applications in the names of “investors.” Osmanson was arrested in October 2008 in Texas.

Washington, D.C. - September 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) submitted a statement into the Congressional Record yesterday in support of H.R 3527, the FHA Multifamily Loan Limit Adjustment Act of 2009.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.), today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding the Hagerstown Housing Authority $9,879,750 in a competitive Public Housing Capital Fund grant for construction of a “green” public housing project for seniors at the site of the former H.L. Mills Station in Hagerstown. This shovel-ready project will be a 60-unit, four-story, LEED Certified building. The energy efficient design calls for using geothermal energy for heating, Energy Star appliances and construction standards, and other techniques for water and energy conservation. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this year.

Professional & Financial Regulation - Financial Institutions. September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that recently completed analysis by the Bureau of Financial Institutions of second quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing modest increase in home foreclosures in Maine.

September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on September 23, 2009 the York County Pilot Project of the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session for homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure. The York County Pilot Project and the Foreclosure Diversion Program are the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court will establish a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine. Although the Act requires that the mediation program be available statewide in 2010, the Court launched the Pilot Project on August 3, 2009, in York County to gain a better understanding before the Diversion Program is offered throughout the State. This first informational session will be held at the District Court in Springvale

CHICAGO, IL - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) board today appointed Gloria L. Materre, former deputy chief of staff under Governor Pat Quinn, as executive director. IHDA is the state agency dedicated to financing affordable housing across the state. Materre succeeds DeShana L. Forney, who resigned to pursue other career opportunities.

Washington, DC - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced that the Granite City Housing Authority has received a $6,052,223 grant as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be used to make energy efficiency improvements at Granite City Commons

Atlanta, GA - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On September 18, 2009, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to US Mortgage Funding, Inc. d/b/a www.usmortgagefunding.org, located at 951 Broken Sound Parkway, #200, Boca Raton, Florida, became final.This Order to Cease and Desist was issued by the Department after it obtained evidence that US Mortgage Funding, Inc. d/b/a www.usmortgagefunding.org engaged in residential mortgage brokering/lending activities without a license or under an applicable exemption.

September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners were invited to attend a free, comprehensive Foreclosure Counseling Fair on Saturday, September 12, to learn about foreclosure prevention and homeownership preservation. The event took place at Jordan High School on Atlantic Avenue near Artesia Boulevard in North Long Beach from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration began at 9:00 am; however, homeowners started lining up at 7:30 am.

Washington, DC - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Multifamily Loan Limit Adjustment Act, a bill coauthored by Congressman Miller, to address the need for new construction or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily units in extremely high cost areas of the country.

Nearly 40 percent of first-time home buyers report federal tax credit played critical role in decision to purchase a home. LOS ANGELES, CA - September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 40 percent of first-time home buyers said they would not have purchased a home if the federal tax credit for first-time home buyers was not offered, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2009 First-time Home Buyers Tax Credit Survey.” Understanding the significance of the federal tax credit to the housing market’s recovery, C.A.R. surveyed 200 California first-time home buyers to gauge the impact it had on their purchase decisions

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that Tulsa County will receive a total of $2,588,451 to support community development and produce more affordable housing.

Washington, DC - September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives today passed legislation that would dramatically increase the ability of the Federal Housing Administration to guarantee loan in big cities like New York.

Washington, DC - September 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) today introduced a bill that would allow members of the armed services, Foreign Service, and intelligence community to take full advantage of the 2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman John Adler (D-NJ) and Congressman Chris Lee (R-NY) to modernize the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). H.R. 3146, the 21st Century FHA Housing Act of 2009, would provide the FHA with the tools it [...]

Housing Development Grants Approved for Cherryvale, Erie, Iola, Neodesha and Kiowa County. Topeka, KS - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has awarded over $2.2 million in grants to five disaster-affected communities to build housing and infrastructure. The grants, made possible by the Housing Development Grant Program (HDGP) created last year by the Kansas Legislature, assist communities recovering from the 2007 Greensburg Tornado and the Southeast Kansas floods

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that he secured more than $30 million to invest in Missouri’s transportation infrastructure and housing needs.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) --U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) today announced the inclusion of $18,350,000 for 14 Michigan projects in the FY 2010 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies. The funding was approved today by the full Senate

September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Metro Kansas City new-home permits rebounded 7 percent from July’s activity but home builders say they are yet to see any major signs of a housing market recovery. According to statistics compiled by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) a seasonally adjusted total [...]

Washington, D.C. - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today announced that $4.3 million in federal funding for projects in Maine has been included in the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 73 to 25.

AUGUSTA, ME - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Maine homeowners receiving a recorded phone message from someone telling them to call "Maine Housing Authority" to help with foreclosure or to refinance their mortgage may be victims of a scam, state housing officials warned today

Grants up to $40,000 to Help Purchase Foreclosed Properties. Jackson, MS - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) is now taking reservations under its new Home Buyer Advantage grant program. The program will provide grants of up to $40,000 to qualified home buyers who purchase foreclosed properties in any of the 48 eligible communities across Mississippi. Unlike most of MHC’s other programs, the Home Buyer Advantage program does not require applicants to be first-time home buyers. The program limits applicants to those who earn 120% of the Area Median Income or below.

Grants up to $40,000 to Help Purchase Foreclosed Properties. Jackson, MS - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) is now taking reservations under its new Home Buyer Advantage grant program. The program will provide grants of up to $40,000 to qualified home buyers who purchase foreclosed properties in any of the 48 eligible communities across Mississippi. Unlike most of MHC’s other programs, the Home Buyer Advantage program does not require applicants to be first-time home buyers. The program limits applicants to those who earn 120% of the Area Median Income or below.

Washington, D.C. - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter yesterday offered an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill that would prohibit federal housing assistance from going to households that include drug dealers and members of violent gangs in New Orleans.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Chuck Grassley today said that $380,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was released to Scott County Housing Council through the regular appropriations process