Apartment Hunters Using Mobile Devices Can Now Watch Video Tours, View Availability and Reserve Specific Apartments at Gables Communities

Atlanta, GA - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Gables Residential recently launched their mobile website that gives apartment hunters access to community information presented in a mobile-friendly format. Prospective renters can easily locate a community and see all desired information including photos, videos, floor plans, current pricing and available apartments. The mobile version of the website also provides the renter with the same leasing capabilities of the desktop version including the ability to pre-qualify and reserve a specific apartment instantly from their smartphone.”Gables recognizes the extraordinary growth of the mobile web and our customers’ desire to conduct many aspects of their lives on their smartphones, including finding and renting an apartment,” said Executive Vice President, COO of Gables, Susan Ansel. “Providing a mobile specific experience for Gables’ communities continues our commitment of taking care of the way people live.” more »

March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Federal Trade Commission staff has filed comments with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) supporting a measure designed to protect consumers from deceptive claims and to help them make better-informed decisions about whether to obtain a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages, typically available only to borrowers age 62 or older, allow them to “spend down” the equity in their home while they live there. A reverse mortgage is a home-secured loan that becomes due when the homeowner moves, sells the home, dies, or fails to meet loan terms such as paying property tax or homeowners insurance. Although reverse mortgages have assisted many elderly consumers in drawing on the equity in their homes, some consumers may not fully understand these complex products or may be deceived by advertising claims made about them. more »

March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Rockefeller Foundation to discuss federal action to redefine affordability, call for disclosure and smarter investment in transportation choice more »

Contract designed to reduce risk and increasing return on resale of property

WASHINGTON, DC - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the agency is contracting with Michaelson, Connor & Boul, Inc. (MCB) of Huntington Beach, California to serve as a Mortgagee Compliance Manager. MCB will be responsible for ensuring that Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved lenders and loan servicers convey foreclosed properties to the FHA in acceptable condition.. more »

Washington, D.C. - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — “We commend the extension of the Build America Bonds program and surface transportation programs in the jobs bill just passed by Congress, and strongly urge Congress to show the same bipartisan support for jump starting the struggling design and construction industry,” said Christine McEntee, EVP / Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). “The entire construction sector has such a far reaching impact on the overall economy and continues to suffer through layoffs and firm closings at epic rates. In order to truly stimulate the economy there needs to be a strong financial commitment to small business relief, broad tax incentives for energy-efficient buildings and retrofits, and passage of the HomeSTAR and BuildingSTAR programs for energy retrofits. We call on Congress to ensure that those areas are addressed in the next jobs packages. more »

March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama)
WHAT: The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) 2010 National Policy ConferenceMBA’s National Policy Conference brings commercial and residential mortgage industry professionals together with key legislators and policy makers to address critical issues affecting the real estate finance industry. This year, with the administration and Congress focusing on ways to modernize financial regulation, help troubled borrowers and stabilize the economy, we expect a lively discussion of the ongoing policy initiatives in Congress and the administration. more »

Washington, DC - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) yesterday introduced H.R. 4868, the Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010, to stem the loss of affordable rental housing units across the country.  The measures will help curtail the further loss of housing and prevent the displacement of low-income tenants. more »

WASHINGTON D.C. - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — More than 5,000 home builders, remodelers, suppliers and product manufacturers have earned the Certified Green Professional (CGP) educational designation since it was introduced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in 2008. more »

AVONDALE, AZ - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) expresses support for legislation recently introduced by Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY17) that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 eliminating the so called “marriage penalty” from the Home Buyer Tax Credit. more »

Chicago, IL - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — March 18, 2010 – CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) today announced it has been named to the prestigious Companies That Care Honor Roll for the third year in a row. Companies on the Honor Roll have demonstrated employer practices that signify their strong commitment to their employees and their communities, as determined by Center for Companies that Care, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for employees and communities. more »