WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Energy Department’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is well known for its efforts to improve the lives of low-income American families through energy efficient home upgrades, but it also focuses on establishing a skilled and certified workforce.

Washington, D.C. - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Richard Hunt, president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association, issued the following statement in advance of several new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) mortgage rules which are set take effect on January 10, 2014

CHICAGO - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- REach, the strategic accelerator for technology startups created and managed by the National Association of Realtors®’ investment fund, Second Century Ventures, announced the opening of applications to join its 2014 class. The deadline to apply for the 2014 program is March 1. The program runs from April through the Realtors® Conference & Expo in November, where participating companies will be showcased at the industry’s largest gathering.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New mortgage lending rules to protect consumers from risky loan products will take effect this Friday, and Realtors® will be on the front lines as homebuyers access safer mortgages that meet strong underwriting standards, said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray at an event held today by the National Association of Realtors®

LOS ANGELES - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp. (WFC), one of the largest privately held owner-operators of retail properties in the U.S., is reporting its most successful year in its 42-year history with more than $325 million in acquisitions and dispositions in 32 separate trades in 2013. ”We are extremely pleased with 2013 and are expecting 2014 to be more of the same.” said Joe Dykstra, executive VP of WFC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of office space, an essential fixture of the modern real estate company, are not necessarily dropping. However, they are shrinking, as customers are requesting smaller offices for their businesses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it plans to survey general contractors regarding their recent renovation, repair and painting (RRP) activities in public- and private-sector commercial buildings. EPA has asked for public comment by Feb. 4 on the scope and clarity of the questions included in its draft Information Collection Request (ICR), as well as its underlying assumptions and burden/cost estimates. EPA is taking these steps because it needs more data on whether or not RRP activities in buildings expose the public to lead-based paint (LBP) dust. If EPA determines such activities create LBP “hazards,” the agency will write additional rules that will apply to building contractors.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Markets in 56 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. This represents a net gain of two from the previous month. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide average is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity

Dover, NH - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As major sections of the United States including New Hampshire experience extreme winter weather conditions, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) met with officials from the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning and New Hampshire Community Action Programs to highlight the importance of funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps seniors and low income households with home heating costs

“Buy American!” That is the powerful message of a resolution sponsored by Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose that today was approved by the General Assembly.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) gained new leadership as Mel Watt was sworn in as the new director. Mr. Watt brings deep knowledge of and a fresh set of eyes on some of the most complicated housing policy questions facing our country. I am confident that he will give all issues before him a thorough and objective analysis, backed by his values that are rooted in social and economic justice

Washington, DC - January 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Honorable Melvin L. Watt of Charlotte, North Carolina was sworn in today to a five-year term as the first Senate-confirmed Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The oath was administered by The Honorable Anthony Foxx, U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former mayor of Charlotte, NC. FHFA was created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to oversee Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks and is responsible for oversight of the $5.5 trillion mortgage finance market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- iHomefinder is pleased to announce that Felecia Fair of EnterAct Realty has selected Optima Express WordPress IDX for her website. The EnterAct Realty team believes that their success is built on determination and real estate know-how. Felecia and her experienced team assist real estate clients in the Frisco Texas area with traditional real estate sales, Short Sales and REOs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a final rule adjusting the asset-size threshold for certain creditors to qualify for an exemption from the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan under Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a final rule adjusting the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions under Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total construction spending increased between October and November and for the year amid growing private-sector demand, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that the spending levels were held back by declining public sector investments for both the month and the year.

Berkeley, CA - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- iHomefinder is pleased to announce that California realtor Shayn Scott has chosen the Optima Express WordPress IDX solution for his website. Shayn and his team take a non-traditional approach towards serving real estate clients. They develop real estate entry and exit strategies with their clients, and do portfolio analysis with clients. This team represents real estate clients in Southern California. They concentrate on building long term relationships built on trust.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of its continued efforts to provide greater transparency to the marketplace, Fannie Mae has commenced publication of monthly loan-level disclosure for single-family mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The data will be updated monthly and will provide loan-level details for loans underlying single-family MBS with issue dates beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The loan-level disclosure files are accessible via PoolTalk®, Fannie Mae’s online disclosure application.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 01, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales stabilized in November with a slight gain, according to the National Association...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $57 million in grants to help residents receiving housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program to gain access to education, job training and employment. HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV-FSS)helps public housing authorities across the country to hire or retain more than one thousand service coordinators who will work directly with families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs and to become gainfully employed.

In his opening statement at a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the National Historic Preservation Act, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, emphasized the importance of protecting America’s public lands by preserving opportunities for communities to have a voice in permitting decisions.

Homeownership is not out of reach with AmeriCU Credit Union and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Homebuyer Dream Program (HDP), Homebuyer Dream Program Plus (HDP Plus), and the New Homebuyer Dream Program Wealth Builder (HDP Wealth Builder).

NFHA applauds U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston’s decision to temporarily block the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs during the government shutdown. NFHA strongly condemns the Administration’s decision to issue reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to more than 400 employees on Friday, according to press reports and court documents.

Last night, the Senate voted to confirm a package of 107 nominees that included Craig Trainor to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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

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