News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a fourth consecutive month in December, rising from 30 to 41 on the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. The December list featured 20 new additions, including several major markets such as Washington, D.C.; San Jose, Calif.; and Toledo, Ohio. Meanwhile, nine smaller markets dropped off the list, primarily due to softer house prices.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will make $100 million in federal grants available to community agencies to help prevent homelessness among veterans and their families.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced it has completed the transition, announced in September, and will resume support for the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, Inc. (MISMO®). With the successful transition, MISMO will now focus efforts on regulatory implementation and advocating for broader adoption of data standards throughout the industry.

San Francisco, CA - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Zephyr Real Estate is once again accepting contributions for the annual Food and Toy drives to benefit those who need a little help this holiday season. As with prior years, the San Francisco F...

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking home buyers in California, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today launched Sucasa.net (http://www.sucasa.net), a brand-new Span...

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Five people have been charged in a federal indictment, unsealed today, in connection with a foreclosure rescue scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California Benjamin B. Wa...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment declined in 146 out of 337 metropolitan areas between October 2010 and October 2011, increased in 140 and stayed level in 51, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that many communities continue to lose construction jobs even as a federal program to invest in highway, transit and other infrastructure construction have been stalled in Congress for years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Anyone interested in learning, and ultimately getting certified in, Lean Construction practices can now begin the first comprehensive education program created to train people in the practice of the ultra-efficient approach to construction, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. The association developed the new education and credentialing program to help construction firms take advantage of “lean” management practices that are designed to improve the efficiency and productivity of construction firms and projects.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Immediately after a raging E-5 tornado destroyed thousands of homes in Joplin, Missouri last May, Matt Moran jumped into action. The executive director of the Housing Authority of Joplin immediately made certain residents were safe and worked quickly to provide housing for those forced from their homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment shrank for the second straight month in November as residential, nonresidential building and heavy construction segments remained in low gear, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the employment drop reflects continued declines in public sector investments. They added that construction employment could benefit from increased transportation investments and other pro-growth measures designed to boost private sector demand.

Alexandria, VA - December 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A majority of respondents (63 percent) in ABI’s latest Quick Poll think that a debtor should be allowed to claim technical defenses based on the fact that the creditor asserting the claim (e.g., MERS) is not in possession of the note or lacks standing, even if the debtor ahs no substantive defense to liability on a mortgage note. Fifty percent of respondents “strongly disagreed” and 13 percent “somewhat disagreed” with the Poll’s statement that “it should not matter” that the current assignee of the note and mortgage has technical problems with the chain of negotiation and assignment of the note, even though the debtor has no substantive defense to liability on the mortgage note.

December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ray Panek is the senior vice president for forward planning for KB Home Northern California. In his current position, Panek manages the design, entitlement, permitting and development of all KB Home projects in th...

Washington, D.C. - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its selection of the German Marshall Fund (GMF) partnership as the recipient of the $2.5 million award to manage the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) fellowship program for HUD. The partnership is comprised of the German Marshall Fund, Cleveland State University and Virginia Tech. The fellowship program is one of four capacity building strategies that are part of the White House-led, federal interagency SC2 initiative. SC2 is a pilot program focused on retooling and rebuilding the capacity of cities facing long-term economic challenges. Up to 30 fellows will be assigned to the six SC2 cities (Chester, PA; Detroit, MI; New Orleans, LA; Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; and Cleveland, OH.

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced the arrests of three top officers of a Stockton real estate company who took thousands of dollars in up-front loan modification fees and made fals...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Henry V. Cunningham Jr., CMB, a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Board of Directors and immediate past Chairman of MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), testified today before the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing titled, “Perspectives on the Health of the FHA Single-family Insurance Fund.”

Washington, DC - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Public and private sector workers in the northwestern U.S. have limited access for affordable housing. In response, the National Association of Realtors®, in partnership with the National Housing Conference, will host a forum today in Portland, Ore., to address this crisis and encourage efforts to make housing more affordable to working class families.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of New Jersey and provide support to homeowners and low-income re...

Washington, DC - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance program plays an important and vital role in the nation’s housing financing system and has shown tremendous leadership and strength during the economic crisis, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The awards recognize achievements in design, market appeal, sustainability and overall success of newly-built and renovated commercial projects ranging in size from less than 5,000 to more than 100,000 square feet.

December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today’s hearing is intended to examine several bills that are now being characterized as small business “jobs” or “capital access” bills. Each of these bills is designed to address a perceived challen...