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NEW YORK, NY - June 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City multifamily transaction volume rose 29 percent in April 2012 compared to April 2011, but year-over-year dollar volume fell by 18 percent, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifami...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Energy Department recently released a new methodology for evaluating homeowner savings through residential energy codes. These codes are commonly adopted by states and local code enforcement jurisdictions across the nation to make homes more efficient and cheaper to power. DOE's new approach is based on a life-cycle analysis that balances initial costs with the longer-term savings these codes make possible. By demonstrating savings available to homeowners, this methodology will aid the adoption of cost-effective, energy-saving codes for residential buildings, and help families save money over the lifetime of their home.

Washington, D.C. - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its fourth annual Report to Congress, detailing the agency’s examinations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks), and the FHLBanks’ joint Office of Finance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The list of U.S. housing markets showing measurable and sustained improvement now includes 80 metropolitan areas, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) for June, released today. Though down from the 100 markets shown as improving in May, the list includes 28 new entrants and at least one representative from 31 different states (including the District of Columbia)

Washington, DC - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today announced that more than 20,000 homes across the U.S. have earned certification through the LEED for Homes program. LEED for Homes is a national voluntary certification system that provides guidance and verification that homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials edged down 0.3 percent in May and climbed by only 2.3 percent from a year earlier, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Meanwhile, the amount contractors charge to construct projects remained largely flat for the month and is up only between 3.1 and 4.3 percent for the year.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide an additional $2.5 million to public housing agencies to supply housing and case management for 380 homeless veterans. (See list below.) This funding is part of a total $75 million the Obama Administration is investing this year to house 10,450 homeless veterans who might otherwise be living on the streets.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) named Kimble Ratliff to the newly-created position of Director of Government Affairs. Ratliff will cover a variety of housing and finance-related policy issues for the Council’s growing government affairs program.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Housing Conference, the affordable housing advocacy group known as the United Voice for Housing, has chosen the occasion of its 40^th Annual Housing Person of the Year Gala to focus the attention of the housing world on veterans’ housing by honoring organizations that help meet that need. In keeping with this year’s Gala theme, “Honoring America’s Heroes,” the 2012 honorees are

WASHINGTON, DC - June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) announced a joint “Border Community Capital Initiative” (Border Initiative), a collaboration designed to increase access to capital in the U.S./Mexico border region which includes some of the poorest communities in the country.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $500,000 in research grants to four entities to study HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods (CN) Program, a centerpiece of HUD’s neighborhood revitalization efforts to transform distressed neighborhoods into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with the affordable housing, safe streets and good schools.

Washington, DC - June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rebuilding Together, along with the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), today announced their Energy+Health program—committing to make 2,400 older, run-down homes of low-income homeowners, safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. The team will also train 500 Rebuilding Together volunteers nationwide in the Energy+Health practices.

June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- House returns HEMAP funding bill to Senate for chamber’s expected approval. A bill to provide a multi-year funding stream to the state’s currently idled Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) is...

Washington, D.C. - June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Reps. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Campbell (R-CA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced the Preserving American Homeownership Act of 2012. The crux of this legislation is the creation of a princip...

June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the high cost and shortage of housing in rural Alaska along with the impact it has on recruiting and retaining professionals in several critical fields, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich has introduced the Rural Educator an...

Trenton, NJ - June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Municipal officials across the State support legislation to extend the deadline to “commit to expend” municipal housing trust fund dollars. This is funding that is collected by municipalities to hel...

IRVINE, CA - June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, announced today two technology innovations for the retail industry, a Mobile Design Studio and a Site Survey App for the iPad. According to KTGY...

Chicago, IL - June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and USGBC’s Northern California Chapter (USGBC-NCC) will launch the California Best Buildings Challenge at the closing plenary event of the 2012 Clinton Global ...

June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- They don't appear on any maps, but following the 2011 Souris River flood, there are three new communities in Ward County. De Sour Valley Heights, Virgil Workman Village and Recovery Village are group housing sites b...

WASHINGTON, DC - June 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that Bank of America has agreed to pay up to $161,180 to settle allegations that one of the bank's San Jose, California branches refused to refinance the mortgage of an Irvine woman because she was on maternity leave. HUD reached the agreement with Bank of America to resolve a Fair Housing Act complaint that had been filed by the Fair Housing Council of Orange County (FHCOC)