Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Monthly Archives: March 2015

Springboard Awarded $2.6 Million to Provide Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management, Inc. (“Springboard”) announced that it has received more than $2.6 million in federal dollars awarded through the Congressionally funded National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program.

About 70 Percent of Homes in Miami and Tampa Have an Emergency Kit

More than half, 51.5 percent, of U.S. homes have a prepared emergency evacuation kit, according to new metropolitan area-level American Housing Survey statistics released jointly today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nine Chapters Earn CCIM Institute’s 2014 President’s Cup Award

The CCIM Institute recognized nine local CCIM chapters for excellence at its Midyear Business Meetings in Chicago, held March 22–25. The annual CCIM President's Cup awards program took place on March 24, honoring CCIM chapters that have demonstrated the highest degree of skill, ingenuity, and innovation in promoting the membership benefits of the Institute at the local and regional levels

VA Announces New Grants to Help End Veteran Homelessness

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald today announced the award of nearly $93 million in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 3-year grants that will help approximately 45,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants will be distributed to 24 non-profit agencies in 15 communities, with $30 million in awards being distributed to the Los Angeles area.

New BPC Health and Housing Task Force to Address Critical Issues of Aging U.S....

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today launched its new Health and Housing Task Force, designed to help policymakers meet the needs of the United States’ aging population. BPC believes that stable, affordable housing can improve health outcomes and reduce costs imposed on the health care system, particularly for the majority of seniors who wish to age in place. These challenges are critically important now, as governments prioritize limited resources.

New Wall-Street Financial Energy Efficiency Risk Management Software Slashes Energy Spend Up to 30%

Energy efficiency investments are risky – weather, technology performance, future prices and other factors typically result in conservative investment decisions – most investments must provide 2 or 3 year paybacks to be approved. However, this approach leaves literally billions of dollars in profitable energy savings on the table

News Rudy Saporite, Solar Program Manager, Shares Solar PV Quality Assurance Expertise

On Monday, March 30, 2015, Rudy Saporite will participate in a panel discussing Quality Assurance findings. The panel titled “Common Installation Mistakes” features Solar PV industry installation and inspection experts

Independent Mortgage Banks’ profits in 4th Quarter 2014 down from previous quarter; up on...

Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net gain of $744 on each loan they originated in the fourth quarter of 2014, down from a reported gain of $897 per loan in the third quarter of 2014, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported today in its Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report

NARC Releases Analysis of Administration’s GROW AMERICA Act 2.0

The Administration has released an updated version of its reauthorization proposal – the Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America Act or the GROW AMERICA Act. This bill would provide $478 billion for a six-year reauthorization (just under $80 billion per year), paid for with the Administration’s proposal to collect taxes on corporate earnings that are currently parked overseas.

Industry-backed Best Practices Guides Aim to Lower Financing Costs for Solar Energy Systems

The Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) working group has released new best practices guidelines for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, with the goal of increasing investor confidence in the long-term viability of PV systems. The guides - SAPC Best Practices in PV System InstallationPDF and SAPC Best Practices in PV Operations and MaintenancePDF - were developed by SAPC subcommittees, each involving dozens of solar and finance entities.

Health, Firefighter, Consumer and Science Groups Seek Ban on Household Products With Toxic Chemical...

A broad coalition of health, firefighter, consumer and science groups filed a petition asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban four categories of consumer products — children’s products, furniture, mattresses and the casings around electronics — if they contain any flame retardant in the chemical class known as organohalogens.

Inside The April Issue of AARP Bulletin

Achieving Financial Resilience: In a special four-part feature, AARP Bulletin offers a comprehensive guide to reaching financial independence and security, including a one-on-one interview with President Obama about retirement. With in-depth features on how to protect your retirement, tune up your 401(k) and IRA, ways to get great investment advice, and how to reach your money goals in just 10 steps, the April issue of AARP Bulletin offers inspiring advice from fiscal experts to help you hang onto your hard-earned money and make it last.

Lack of Data Complicates Valuation of Green Homes: The Appraisal Journal

Valuation professionals, real estate agents and homebuyers face challenges in the process of valuing, selling and purchasing green and energy-efficient homes due to a lack of comparable properties and a lack of data, according to an article published this week in The Appraisal Journal

Nationwide Unveils Broad Measure of U.S. Housing Landscape That Signals Healthiest Outlook Since 2001

A new and forward-looking index of the U.S. housing market is at its healthiest level since 2001. Nationwide, a leading insurance and financial services organization, unveiled its new housing market barometer today, which evaluates the housing health outlook for the U.S. and 373 metropolitan areas.

Taylor & Mathis Brings Venture Corporate Center to Over 95% Leased

Taylor & Mathis of Florida’s Broward leasing team has reported occupancy at Venture Corporate Center is nearing 100%. Already this year T&M has executed four office leases totaling 8,360 square feet at the three building office park bringing occupancy to over 95%. Donna Korn & Jennifer Gemma of Taylor & Mathis brokered the transactions on behalf of owner MetLife. The 254,000 square foot office park contains three office buildings each approximately 84,500 square feet.

ICBA Supports CFPB’s Proposed Qualified Mortgage Reforms

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) expressed its strong support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed reforms to its Qualified Mortgage rules.

The Carrington Companies Continue To Support Custom Home Builds for Wounded Veterans with 11...

The organization continues to directly support the custom Smart Home building initiative for severely wounded Heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with 11 homes planned for 2015, four of which are currently under construction.

HUD AWARDS $1.5 MILLION TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA...

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro announced today that HUD is awarding $1.5 million to stimulate local economies, produce more affordable housing and boost job growth in the chronically underserved and undercapitalized Lower Mississippi River Delta Region. The funding is provided through the Delta Community Capital Initiative (DCCI).

NAMB Calls on President Obama to Update Speech Material on Mortgage Industry

In a letter dated March 30, 2015, John Councilman, President of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, called on President Barack Obama to update his speech material to reflect the current realities of the mortgage business, particularly with respect to individual mortgage professionals and the role of the CFPB.

ABC Urges Passage of Legislation to Increase Competition on Federal Construction Projects

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today voiced its strong support for the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 1671/S. 71). The bill, introduced by Rep. Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), will increase fair and open competition on federal and federally funded construction projects

Business Real Estate Press Releases

Support Ukrainian Refugees

GFP Real Estate and Its Tenants Raise More Than $200,000 to...

GFP Real Estate is pleased to announce that its "Support Ukraine in Crisis" campaign raised more than $200,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts on the ground in Ukraine.

Recent Gov & Nonprofit Real Estate Press Releases

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall

Senator Marshalls Slams United Nations Climate Change Goals That Will Harm...

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. released the following statement on the United Nations Net-Zero Banking Alliance’s (NZBA) decision to dramatically expand their Green New Deal