News

Washington, DC - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Increased lending to creditworthy home buyers and more loan modifications and short sales are necessary to reduce the rising inventory of foreclosed homes and help stabilize and revitalize the housing industry and economy, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

WASHINGTON, D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is proud to announce its sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. This year's Solar Decathlon will take place on the National Mall's West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, 2011.

Washington, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today urged the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to expedite its efforts to help millions of responsible homeowners refinan...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is premiering a new course on Universal Design/Build at the Remodeling Show in Chicago. With its focus on integrating universal design principles into all types of residential construction projects, the two-day training brings cutting-edge design solutions to building and design professionals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today urged the Administration and Congress to take a balanced approach in disposing of the large inventory of real estate owned (REO) properties held by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration to avoid further disruptions to pricing and markets and to limit further losses to the two government sponsored enterprises and the FHA.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 571,000 units in August, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. The decline was primarily on the more volatile multifamily side, with single-family housing production edging down just 1.4 percent. Meanwhile, permits for new construction posted modest gains in both sectors.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, which honor excellence in building, design and marketing of housing for boomers and beyond. This year, the program has added more than a dozen new categories, including "Best Integration of Technology," "Best 'Green' Community," "Best Streetscape or Neighborhood," "Best Fitness and Wellness Program" and "Best Universal Designed Home," among others."The Best of 50+ Housing Awards are this industry's most influential national awards" said 50+ Housing Council Chair, Ken Simons, a developer from Bedminster, N.J. "The awards not only recognize the best of the country's top builders and developers in the 50+ housing sector, but also show the public the newest and most innovative housing trends for mature buyers and renters."

WASHINGTON, DC - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded more than $8.3 million in grants to tribal communities in nine states to improve or create housing and economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. The competitive grants are provided through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program to support a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities.

New Carrollton, MD - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, joined by Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, today announced the relocation of the Maryland Department of ...

BOSTON, MA - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it provided $792.5 million for affordable housing in fiscal year 2011, helping to drive the Agency to its second-best lending year in its 45-year history.

Atlanta, GA - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Spain and the real estate team with his namesake were named one of America’s top real estate team by The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends. The Mark Spain Team was #32 nationally for most...

September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Board of Commissioners recently ruled on discrimination complaints that included a $42,000 conciliation agreement resulting from a housing discrimination complaint brought...

ALBANY, N.Y. - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cleaning up and making temporary repairs to your storm-damaged property will not disqualify you from federal disaster assistance, state and federal emergency management officials said today.

KANSAS CITY, MO - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Leawood, Kan., attorney and a real estate speculator in the United Kingdom pleaded guilty in...

WASHINGTON, DC - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The economy appears to be on a cusp, flirting with another economic downturn after more than two years of tepid recovery from the most severe recession in the post World War II era. According to Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group, the recovery's fragility makes it vulnerable to any additional shocks that might cause the economy to slip back into a recession. Possible shocks include a deepening of the financial turmoil in Europe; a dramatic slowdown in emerging economies, especially China; and renewed unrest in the Middle East that could send oil prices surging again. The forecast calls for continued sluggish growth at below 2 percent throughout 2012 — not enough to bring down the unemployment rate, which the Group expects to remain above 9 percent through most of next year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes dipped by a single point to 14 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for September, released today. The index has now held between 13 and 16 for six consecutive months."Very little has changed in terms of housing market conditions so far this year," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nevada. "Builders continue to confront the same challenges in accessing construction credit, obtaining accurate appraisal values for new homes, and competing against foreclosed properties that they have seen for some time. Beyond this, both builder and consumer confidence took a hit in recent weeks with the market disruptions caused by the S&P downgrade and congressional gridlock on the budget deficit."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the Oct. 1 deadline rapidly approaching when the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be lowered, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to move swiftly to extend the current loan limits to prevent further damage to the already fragile housing market and lackluster economy.“Congress must act now to prevent the loan limits from reverting to lower levels,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “A drop in mortgage loan limits would reduce housing demand, and place downward pressure on home prices in major markets. This would exacerbate the current housing downturn, trigger more foreclosures, impede job growth and endanger the fragile economic recovery.”

Des Moines, IA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a $50,000 grant to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity to help acquire three lots in foreclosure, deconstruct for salvage material...

BOLTON, MS - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $164,000 to the Housing Authority of Yazoo Ci...

SAN JOSE, CA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2011, the state’s largest trade show, opens next week at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. Running Sept. 20-22, CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2...