Needham, MA - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real estate blog designer HubConnected LLC is proud to announce that the team of Debbie Spencer and Sheen Santos, Real Estate Agents with Higgins Group Realtors., have launched a brand new hyper-local real estate blog http://www.liveinbedfordma.com. The blog is dedicated to life in the Massachusetts town of Bedford, MA. In addition to discussing the real estate market, the blog will feature wide-ranging articles about the towns, events occurring in Massachusetts, family activities, and tips on local shopping, restaurants, schools and neighborhoods.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eliminating the deductions for mortgage interest and real estate taxes would raise taxes disproportionately for middle-class households and make the tax system less progressive, according to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).The study also concludes that the benefits of these deductions are collected primarily by middle-class taxpayers, with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000, and that greater benefits are earned by larger households and families, such as those with children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hundreds of thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds joined in volunteer service projects across the country on the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama joined cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, nonprofit and business leaders, students, families, and others in honoring Dr. King's legacy through service projects addressing a multitude of pressing social issues from poverty and illiteracy to hunger to homelessness.Americans made it a “a day on, not a day off” by weatherizing homes, delivering meals, refurbishing schools, collecting food and clothing, reading to children, providing employment counseling, and more. Many will use the day as the beginning of ongoing commitment to serve throughout the year.

DENVER, CO - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX Commercial® is once again joining the ranks of other high-profile commercial franchises with the second most Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) candidates and designees in the industry, a significant achievement given today’s commercial real estate landscape.

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.58 percent based on loans closed in November. This is an increase of 0.16 percent from the previous month.

DETROIT, MI - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Madison Theatre Building LLC, a new partnership formed by Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., announced it has completed the purchase of the historic Madison Building, located at 1555 Broadway Street in downtown Detroit. The building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex.

Sanford, ME - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reliant Mortgage Company of Sanford, ME has announced that it has been named the #1 Mortgage Company of the Greater Sanford/Springvale area for 2011.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today conducted its annual State of the Real Estate Finance Industry Media Conference Call. The call featured MBA representatives discussing the state of the industry, MBA's legislative and regulatory agenda for 2011 (including Dodd-Frank Act Implementation, GSE/secondary market reform, tax reform and residential loan servicing) and MBA's new three-year macro-economic and mortgage finance/housing forecasts.The speakers included: Michael Berman, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, John Courson, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Jay Brinkmann, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Gail Cardwell, Senior Vice President of Commercial and Multifamily, Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, and Steve O'Connor, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations.

McLean, VA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.97 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- After a bruising fast-paced winter thunderstorm yesterday left more than 10 inches of snow in certain parts of the Washington, DC area, many residents saw damaged trees, dangling wires, and power outages across the region. As most people have realized, snow and ice can prove dangerous, and can cause severe damage to properties and vehicles.

Inland Empire - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has completed the sale of a 89,248-square-foot multi-family property located at 301 E. Cypress Ave, Redlands, CA to Sequoia Equities, a Walnut Creek-based real estate investment firm. The property sold for $625,000 above list price, at $11.625 million and $141,768 per unit.

Torrance, CA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lee & Associates, one of the largest national commercial real estate providers with regional expertise, recently closed the sale of a 27.96-acre land parcel in the Ocean Ranch business park in Oceanside, Calif. The transaction is valued at $8.8 million.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) edged up to 41.5 in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 40.8 in the third quarter. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers say market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity like calls for bids. In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions stayed flat at 43.3 from 43.4 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business increased, to 39.7 from 38.1 in the previous quarter.

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales improved further in December, marking the fifth gain in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtor

Torrance, CA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Irvine office of Lee & Associates, the fourth largest full-service commercial brokerage company in the nation, has completed the $6.3 million sale of the Teslaco Building, a 35,000-square-foot office building located at 35 Tesla in Irvine, Calif., to Owen Commercial. The building was a foreclosure sale by GE Capital and was never put on the market. Lee & Associates sold it as an off-market investment.

Los Angeles, CA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) has announced that Chris Ludeman will join Brian Stoffers as co-president of the firm’s Capital Markets businesses. In his expanded role, Mr. Ludeman will provide client-facing leadership for the company’s office, industrial and retail Investment Properties efforts along with its Institutional Group, Global Property Advisors and Private Client Group activities. Mr. Stoffers will continue to lead CBRE’s Debt and Equity Finance, agency and loan servicing businesses, as well as oversee the multi-housing, hotel/lodging and investment banking practices. Mr. Ludeman will continue as President, Americas Brokerage, overseeing CBRE’s tenant rep and agency leasing business lines

ISSAQUAH, WA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pulte Homes purchased land for the development of 70 townhomes in the sought-after Issaquah Highlands master plan. The homebuilder purchased the land from Port Blakely Communities in late December and plans to begin sales this fall

TOPEKA, KS - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Public agencies, non-profits and faith-based organizations are joining efforts to conduct a statewide Point-In-Time Count of Kansas' homeless population on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011. The purpose of the count is to provide a one-day, statistically reliable snapshot of homeless persons in sheltered and unsheltered locations, understand trends in homelessness and comply with reporting requirements from the federal government

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In last night’s state of the union address, President Obama called for investment in innovation, education and infrastructure to spur job growth and sustain America’s leadership in the world. He offered a five year freeze on domestic discretionary spending to begin to bring down the federal deficit, but said that we must “make sure that we’re not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee held a press conference in Houston following a roundtable discussion with local business and labor leaders on House Democrats’ Moving Forward infrastructure proposal

The world of real estate is full of industry specific jargon that can make you feel out of your depths at every step of the way. It can add layers of confusion to an already complicated and stressful process. This can keep you from being as confident as you should be and can keep you from ultimately achieving your goals.

Proptech has been gaining prominence these past few years as it had evolved from being an aid of realty brokers and elites to become the wingman of the common folk. Rather than listing scores of properties on countless pages, technology fared better when it out from a user's end to hunting for properties.

Moving is an involving task that requires you at your best. You don’t want to arrive at your new place with broken or damaged items. To ensure you have a seamless moving, this article looks at some of the most common moving mistakes and how to avoid them.

Operation HOPE today announced the appointment of Sirjames Buchanon as Chief Community Officer, effective immediately. Buchanon has served as Confidential Assistant to Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Hope Bryant, for the past seven years.

More than 13,000 people have submitted comments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to a new rule that would effectively eliminate a core civil rights tool under the Fair Housing Act.

“HUD’s actions make it more difficult for our fellow Americans on the island to receive desperately needed assistance to protect their homes and communities from future disasters"

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about the dangers of television (TV) tip-over hazards. Millions of New Yorkers will watch the Super Bowl this Sunday either on TVs at home or at parties with friends. DCP is taking this TV-focused occasion to remind consumers of critical TV safety tips.

Fast-growing Florida has been a favorite of real estate investors for many years. With so much interest having been focused on the state, though, investors need to take care to seek the best available opportunities.

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced that the Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building located at 65 Court Street in Buffalo will be sold at auction in 2020. A work group formed earlier this year made up of City, County, and State officials working with professional real estate consultants CBRE, determined that in the current competitive and robust Buffalo real estate market

The Bureau of Land Management today announced that Karen Mouritsen has been named the new California State Director—a key leadership position based in Sacramento. As State Director, Mouritsen will direct a team that manages lands encompassing 15% of the Golden State’s total land mass

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the opening of the new JLC Recovery and Wellness Center in New York City. JLC is operated by Exponents Inc. and provides free help and support services for people affected by addiction and for their families.

In spite of a robust U.S. economy, a strong employment rate, and steadily increasing 401(k) plan earnings, Black homeownership rates continue to drop. Drawing from the 2019 release of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers

South Carolina REALTOR® (SCR) member, past president and Realtor® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Columbia, was named the association’s 2019 REALTOR® of the Year at its annual conference at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston on September 11, 2019.

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked the Department of the Interior about its commitment to the Yakima River Basin during a hearing on the president’s FY 2017 budget request. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor agreed with Sen. Cantwell that the Yakima River Basin plan “is a model for the rest of the nation in water management.”

“Consumers Energy is thankful to be a part of holiday celebrations across the state as warm Thanksgiving memories are being made, and we are committed to providing many more generations of Michigan families with reliable, affordable energy in all seasons,” said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy’s vice president and chief customer officer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a final rule that creates exemptions from certain appraisal requirements for a subset of higher-priced mortgage loans. The exemptions are intended to save borrowers time and money while still ensuring that the loans are financially sound

Atlanta, Georgia - November 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) entered into a Consent Order with Equity Loans, LLC, License Number 23300, located at 1150 Hammond Dr., Building E, Suite 650, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, to resolve allegations pertaining to violations of the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act