News
Property, Rentals, Transactions

RealtorsĀ® Call for Legislative Changes to New Rules Limiting Affordable Borrowing Options

June 18, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, DC – June 18, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Congress should consider redefining the new ability-to-repay requirements for Qualified Mortgages to avoid limiting affordable borrowing options for creditworthy buyers, said the National Association of Realtors

Fannie Mae Prices $1.02 Billion Multifamily DUS REMIC (FNA 2013-M9) Under Its Fannie Mae GeMS Program

June 17, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) priced its sixth Multifamily DUSĀ® REMIC in 2013 totaling $1.02 billion under its Fannie Mae Guaranteed Multifamily Structures (Fannie Mae GeMSTM) program on June 12, 2013.

Improving Residential Market Leads to Larger Homes and an Increase in Property Enhancements

June 14, 2013 Posted by

Washington, D.C – June 14, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — As the once struggling residential market continues to steadily improve, the size of homes has grown in response. This is the case for both high-end and custom homes as well as additions to existing homes. In addition, preferences for accessible spaces in homesā€”such as open-space layouts and single-floor designā€”also continue to rise

Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Protect Private Property Rights

June 13, 2013 Posted by

Washington, D.C. – June 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation by voice vote that prohibits state and local governments that receive federal economic development funds from using eminent domain to transfer private property from one private owner to another for the purpose of economic development, the Private Property Rights Protection Act (H.R. 1944). This legislation is in response to the 2005 Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo v. City of New London, which gives local governments broad authority to seize private property under the guise of economic development just to generate tax revenue. The Private Property Rights Protection Act passed the House of Representatives in the 109th and 112th Congresses

DISASTER ASSISTANCE EXPANDS TO INCLUDE MORE STORMS AND CANADIAN COUNTY

June 12, 2013 Posted by

OKLAHOMA CITY – June 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Homeowners, renters and business owners in Canadian County who sustained damage as a result of recent back-to-back storms may now apply for state and federal disaster assistance. The federal disaster declaration now covers damage incurred by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes May 18 through June 2.

Appraisal Institute Calls on Congress to Pass ā€˜Greenā€™ Real Estate Bill

June 7, 2013 Posted by

CHICAGO, IL – June 7, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The nationā€™s largest professional association of real estate appraisers announced its support today for federal legislation that would improve the mortgage underwriting process by ensuring appraisers are provided relevant property information relating to green and energy-efficient features

Housing Market Conditions Report Shows Q1 Home Price Growth in Most Eighth District States

June 7, 2013 Posted by

ST. LOUIS – June 7, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — First quarter 2013 house prices were higher across most of the seven states that comprise the Federal Reserve’s Eighth District compared with this time last year, according to the St. Louis Fedā€™s latest Housing Market Conditions

Pending Home Sales Edge Up in April

May 30, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, DC – May 30, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Pending home sales improved slightly in April and continue to be well above a year ago, according to the National Association of RealtorsĀ®. Gains in the Northeast and Midwest were offset largely by declines in the West and South.

Chairman Hensarling Opposes Obama Administration Decision to Extend Failed HAMP

May 30, 2013 Posted by

Washington, DC – May 30, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) expressed his strong opposition to President Obamaā€™s decision to extend the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a failed and costly program that has been shown to actually hurt struggling homeowners

Survey Shows RE/MAX #1 Name in Real Estate

May 28, 2013 Posted by

DENVER – May 28, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — When asked to name real estate brands, more home buyers and sellers in the U.S. and Canada think of RE/MAX than any other brand. This is the finding of a third-party survey completed in March for RE/MAX, LLC.

Commercial Real Estate Fundamentals Improving, Lending Tight for Small Business

May 28, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, DC – May 28, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — With vacancy rates modestly falling and rents moderately rising in commercial real estate sectors, market fundamentals have improved, but financing remains a challenge for small business, according to the National Association of Realtors

New-Home Sales Rise 2.3 Percent in April

May 23, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 2.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 454,000 units in April, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. The gain builds on a strong upward revision to sales numbers reported for the previous month

RealtorsĀ® Report Positive Trends in Commercial Market with Increases in Income, Transactions

May 23, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON (May 23, 2013) ā€“ RealtorsĀ® who practice commercial real estate have reported an increase in annual gross income for the third year in a row, signaling the market is on the road to recovery. According to the National Association of RealtorsĀ® 2013 Commercial Member Profile, transactions and sales volume have also increased since last year.

April Existing-Home Sales Up but Constrained

May 22, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 22, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Existing-home sales rose in April but remain below underlying demand because of limited inventory and tight credit, according to the National Association of RealtorsĀ®. All regions are showing strong price gains from a year ago.

Lawyers’ Committee Files Fifth California Lawsuit Against Loan Modification Scam Network

May 22, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 22, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee)has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County, California against a network of for-profit loan modification companies on behalf of eight California homeowners. The suit alleges that defendants defrauded vulnerable homeowners out of tens of thousands of dollars by falsely promising to obtainā€”for substantial upfront feesā€”much-needed mortgage modifications on the homeownersā€™ behalf, but consistently failing to deliver results. Attorneys in the Los Angeles office of Arnold & Porter LLP are providing pro bono counsel on the case

RealtorsĀ® Can Increase Their Value by Better Leveraging Technology, Says realtor.comĀ®

May 17, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Technology plays a vital role in todayā€™s society and is transforming the way RealtorsĀ® do business. Thatā€™s according to Curt Beardsley, vice president of product marketing for realtor.comĀ®, who shared his perspective on the growing mobile technology environment at the ā€œIndustry, Technology and Visionā€ forum during the RealtorsĀ® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

RealtorĀ® Confidence in Commercial Market Growing

May 17, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — RealtorsĀ® who specialize in commercial real estate expressed optimism and confidence in the market during a forum at the RealtorsĀ® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Despite a slow turning economy, commercial practitioners believe the market is not only better off than it was a year ago, but also will continue to improve.

Rate Increases Ahead for Some National Flood Insurance Program Policyholders

May 17, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, DC – May 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Changes are coming to the critically important National Flood Insurance Program that could impact real estate transactions and property owners across the country. Thatā€™s according to experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages the governmentā€™s flood insurance program, who spoke to RealtorsĀ®

Forecast for Housing and the Economy Solidifying, Future Tax Treatment Important

May 16, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 16, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Growth in home sales and prices is contributing to a broader improvement in the overall economy, aided in part by current homeownership tax treatment, according to presentations at a residential real estate forum during the RealtorsĀ® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

NAEBA Announces Video Scholarship Contest

May 16, 2013 Posted by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 16, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA), the organization of real estate professionals who advocate for buyers, has announced the creation of a scholarship program. $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to two individuals who can best demonstrate with a short video why a smart consumer should use an Exclusive Buyer Agent when buying a home

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