Press Releases
| Laws & Taxes |
IRS Proposes New Registration, Testing and Continuing Education Requirements for Tax Return Preparers Not Already Subject to Oversight
January 4, 2010 Posted by RealEstateRama
WASHINGTON, DC - January 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Internal Revenue Service kicked off the 2010 tax filing season today by issuing the results of a landmark six-month study that proposes new registration, testing and continuing education of tax return preparers. With more than 80 percent of American households using a tax preparer or tax software to help them prepare and file their taxes, higher standards for the tax preparer community will significantly enhance protections and service for taxpayers, increase confidence in the tax system and result in greater compliance with tax laws over the long term
Hagens Berman Nails Skyline Homes with Class Action Lawsuit
December 23, 2009 Posted by RealEstateRama
CALIF. - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Hagens Berman served Skyline Homes, Inc. with a class action lawsuit on behalf of homeowners for allegedly failing to provide proper water protection for its line of manufactured homes. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Eastern California, Skyline Homes designed, built and sold manufactured homes without adequate weather-resistant barriers on exterior walls
Class-Action Lawsuits Against KB Home Expand to Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina
November 3, 2009 Posted by RealEstateRama
ORLANDO, FL - November 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) –A Central Florida homeowner forced into foreclosure filed a class-action lawsuit last week against KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Countrywide Financial and LandSafe Appraisal Services, claiming the three conspired to rig housing prices in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, costing home purchasers millions of dollars, and fueling the collapse of the region’s housing market.
Class-Action Lawsuits Against KB Home Expand to Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina
November 3, 2009 Posted by RealEstateRama
ORLANDO, FL - November 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A Central Florida homeowner forced into foreclosure filed a class-action lawsuit last week against KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Countrywide Financial and LandSafe Appraisal Services, claiming the three conspired to rig housing prices in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, costing home purchasers millions of dollars, and fueling the collapse of the region’s housing market.
KB Home Target of Investigation in Florida, Hagens Berman Announces
July 16, 2009 Posted by Firmani + Associates
FLORIDA, FL - July 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Hagens Berman, the law firm representing homeowners in class-action lawsuits in Arizona and California against KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Countrywide Financial and LandSafe Appraisal Services, is claiming the three conspired to illegally rig home appraisals in KB developments and has begun investigating similar claims in Florida.
MBA Supports Proposal for $15,000 Tax Credit for All Homebuyers
June 15, 2009 Posted by MBA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) - David G. Kittle, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association issued the following statement today in support of S. 1230, The Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2009.
Reforms for American Homeowners and Consumers
May 20, 2009 Posted by The White House
WASHINGTON, DC - May 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) —
Today, President Obama will sign the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act into law. “These landmark pieces of legislation will protect hardworking Americans, crack down on those who seek to take advantage of them, and ensure that the problems that led us into this crisis never happen again,” said President Obama
HUD Secretary Announces Monetization of Tax Credit at NAR Real Estate Summit
May 12, 2009 Posted by RealEstateRama
WASHINGTON, DC - May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpayment.
D.C. property tax refund fraud scheme defendant sentenced to 51 months
May 11, 2009 Posted by USDOJ
WASHINGTON, DC - May 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Samuel Earl Pope, 62, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment this morning in federal court for his role in a nearly two-decades long conspiracy to defraud the District of Columbia through a property tax refund fraud scheme orchestrated by Harriette Walters, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, Special Agent in Charge C. André Martin, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and Salon owner received more than $1.5 million and 21 fraudulently obtained property tax refund checks during 16 years in scheme District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi.
Apartment Industry Applauds IRS Notice on LIHTC Utility Payments
May 5, 2009 Posted by NMHC
WASHINGTON, DC - May 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) applaud guidance issued today by the IRS concerning utility allowance calculations on Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties that submeter.
