NEW YORK, NY - July 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is applauding Senate confirmation of Mercedes Marquez as assistant secretary for community planning and development at HUD. more »

Washington, D.C. - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – The International Code Council launched its International Green Construction Code (IGCC) initiative, which will reduce energy usage and the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. Entitled “IGCC: Safe and Sustainable by the Book,” the initiative is committed to develop a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings. It will focus on building design and performance. Buildings consume approximately 40 percent of energy used and produce about the same amount of the nation’s carbon emissions. more »

WASHINGTON, DC - July 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest real estate appraisal association, today led a coalition of four organizations and 35,000 members calling on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to rescind regulations regarding appraisal management companies (AMCs). The coalition also sought new rules on AMCs. more »

Columbia, Md., July 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. applauds Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) for announcing the Energy Efficiency in Housing Act of 2009 at a press conference in Rhode Island today and for introducing it in the U.S. Senate late last week. The legislation raises the bar for energy and environmental performance in affordable housing. The Energy Efficiency in Housing Act is a companion bill to the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) Act, which was first developed last year by the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Energy Efficiency Task Force. more »

Washington, DC - July 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – Beazer Homes USA Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $5 million dollars, plus contingent payments of up to $48 million dollars to be shared with victimized private homeowners, to resolve allegations that it, and Beazer Mortgage Corp., were involved in fraudulent mortgage origination activities in connection with federally insured mortgages. Beazer Homes, which is headquartered in Atlanta, operates in at least 21 states. more »

July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the largest trade organization in the country. With more than 1.1 million members, the NAR is a powerful group.  This powerful group of brokers and their agents performs transactions in a market segment that may well determine the length of the recession and the strength of the recovery. more »

WASHINGTON, DC - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that nearly 17 percent of all single-family homes built nationally in 2008 earned EPA’s Energy Star label, up from 12 percent in 2007. Both home builders and home buyers are continuing to invest in high performing homes that save consumers money on their utility bills and help protect the environment. more »

McLean, VA - July 2, 2009 - (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 5.32 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 2, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.42 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.35 percent. more »

Washington, DC - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Realtors® has awarded more than $682,000 to 25 local and state Realtor® associations through its Foreclosure Prevention and Response grant program. The grants help Realtor® boards develop and fund local foreclosure prevention programs. more »

Nearly $20 million in funding will keep more than 7,500 children from foster care

WASHINGTON, DC - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is awarding 2,500 rental assistance vouchers to 37 public housing authorities across the U.S. to reunite more than 7,500 children with their parents. The children are currently in foster care. more »