Lewis Center, OH - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Associa, the leader in community management, is proud to announce that Real Property Management was named the 2009 “Medium Size” Office of the Year at the 2010 Associa Summer Conference. “Medium Size” Office of the Year is awarded to a “medium” designated Associa company with the highest performance during the prior fiscal year in the areas of client growth, client retention, employee morale and profitability. more »

Washington, DC - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Federal agencies issued final rules today requiring residential mortgage loan originators who are employees of national and state banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System institutions, credit unions, and certain of their subsidiaries (agency-regulated institutions) to meet the registration requirements of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (S.A.F.E. Act). The final rules are being issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Thrift Supervision, Farm Credit Administration, and National Credit Union Administration (the agencies). more »

$9 million sale at The Gables Club sets new price standard for City Beautiful

Miami, FL - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Audrey Ross, Senior Vice President of Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell (EWM) Realtors, has brokered the sale of the highest-priced residential condominium ever in the City of Coral Gables. more »

Keller Williams Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Buyers for a Third Consecutive Year, While Prudential Ranks Highest among Home Sellers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Reflective of the real estate buyers’ market conditions in many regions in the U.S., satisfaction with real estate companies among home buyers has improved from 2009, while satisfaction among home sellers has declined, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study^SM released today. more »

McLean, VA - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) released the results of its second quarter cash-out refinance analysis. more »

Funding to convert existing multifamily projects to help elderly ‘age in place’

WASHINGTON, DC - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Elderly Americans in Arizona, Maryland, New York and Ohio will soon find themselves living in upgraded apartments equipped to meet their physical needs because of $19.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD today announced the grants to help convert existing multifamily projects into assisted living facility for the elderly. A detailed summary of each grant is attached to this release. more »

Legislation hailed by ASHI will education buyers on the importance of obtaining an inspection

• President Obama signed legislation acknowledged by ASHI as effective means to help homebuyers protect themselves

• New law mandates HUD revise counseling programs to include more advice to buyers on the importance of obtaining home inspections

• It is vital that HUD arm buyers with the knowledge to hire a certified professional home inspector

Des Plaines, IL - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) –  The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) played a critical role in the inclusion of the “Consumer Protection with Home Inspection” law in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Obama on July 21.  ASHI hails this legislation as an innovative and low-cost means to help homebuyers weigh their options when looking to obtain a home inspection. more »

Washington, D.C. - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Alliance to Save Energy expressed its support for inclusion of the Home Star Energy Retrofits Act in the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Spill Accountability Act sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and expected to be introduced later today. The Home Star program, which would create as many as 168,000 American construction jobs over the next two years, offers rebates to homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. more »

July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Federal agencies issued final rules today requiring residential mortgage loan originators who are employees of national and state banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System institutions, credit unions, and certain of their subsidiaries (agency-regulated institutions) to meet the registration requirements of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (S.A.F.E. Act). The final rules are being issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Thrift Supervision, Farm Credit Administration, and National Credit Union Administration (the agencies). more »

Campaign features real homeowners that are among the over one million Americans who have benefited from the program

NEW YORK, NY - July 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage homeowners who are struggling with their monthly mortgage payments to learn about the Making Home Affordable Program. While over one million homeowners have already received assistance from the program, the national campaign encourages other struggling homeowners who may be eligible for assistance to reach out for the help they need through free resources made available by the Federal Government.  The PSAs direct homeowners to visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to see if they may be eligible for assistance to make their mortgage payments more affordable and to understand options they may have to avoid foreclosure. more »