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MBA Opens Doors Foundation Completes Record Setting Fundraising Season
The Mortgage Bankers Association Opens Doors Foundation (MBA Opens Doors) today announced it reached its 2016/2017 fundraising campaign goal of $1.5 million during its annual convention which was recently held in Boston. MBA Opens Doors is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to families with a critically ill or injured child by making their mortgage or rent payment.
201 Commercial Real Estate Pros Earn the Prestigious CCIM Designation
CCIM's newest 201 designees were honored by CCIM Institute and their local chapter members during a pinning ceremony and cocktail reception on Oct. 26 during CCIM Institute's Annual Governance Meetings at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Atlanta. The new CCIMs hail from 37 states, with the highest concentration in Texas, Florida, and California, and have varying years of experience and work in all aspects of the commercial real estate profession.
Rutgers Business School Wins National Building Design Award
The new Rutgers Business School in Piscataway, N.J., has earned national recognition in the 2016 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2. In honor of this achievement, members of the project team will be presented with awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) during a ceremony to take place at the building on Tuesday, November 22, at 4 p.m.
Affordable Housing for Families and the Formerly Homeless Opens in Fremont
On November 3rd, Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, California State Senator Bob Wieckowski and U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell joined other leaders to celebrate the Grand Opening of Laguna Commons, a transit-oriented, environmentally sustainable, and well-designed affordable rental apartment community that serves as a model for affordable housing development. The event highlights the value of Measure A1 which, if passed next week, will help create more communities like Laguna Commons for Alameda County’s working families, children, veterans, seniors, and people with special needs
HUD Properties Available for Homeless Services
In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Nov. 18, 2016, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in Oklahoma
PACE Energy Efficiency Mortgages Still Risky Despite New Department of Energy Guidelines
New best practices guidelines released today by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) mortgages could encourage states and localities to begin to address some of the growing problems and potential for abuse in this market. The new guidelines are a significant improvement from earlier guidelines but far stronger, enforceable protections are needed to ensure true energy savings and to protect homeowners
DHCD Announces NOFA for Winter 2017 Affordable Housing Rental Round
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the start of the winter 2017 affordable housing competition for rental projects
MBA Commits $100,000 to Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced that it would dedicate proceeds from its 3rd Annual Summit on Diversity and Inclusion, totaling $100,000, to its Path to Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships. The scholarships support diverse individuals who take MBA Education courses for professional development.
HOUSING NOT HANDCUFFS REPORT SHOWS INCREASE IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS
Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty ("Law Center") releases its Housing Not Handcuffs report which shows that the criminalization of homelessness continues to increase throughout the country, despite strong evidence showing it is counter-productive and expensive. A national press conference will be held today at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the findings of the report.
ONLY 23 STATES & D.C. ADD CONSTRUCTION JOBS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER AS DEMAND...
Only 23 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September and October while construction employment increased in 35 states between October 2015 and October 2016, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other public projects were undermining construction employment growth in many parts of the country
HUD ANNOUNCES VAWA FINAL RULE
On November 16, HUD published in the Federal Register the final rule implementing housing provisions under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) as it applies to HUD programs. The rule codifies VAWA core protections across covered HUD programs to ensure individuals are not denied assistance, evicted, or have their assistance terminated because of their status as victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, or for being affiliated with a victim
Housing Starts Jump 25.5 Percent in October
Led by impressive gains in both single-family and multifamily production, nationwide housing starts surged 25.5 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Single-family starts reached their highest level since October 2007 while multifamily production jumped 68.8 percent from the previous month.
MBA Presents Wells Fargo Home Lending with Diversity & Inclusion Award
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced that it has given Wells Fargo Home Lending an inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Award for its efforts in market outreach.
Volunteer and Save: Students Needed to Assist at Building Innovation 2017
Students interested in attending Building Innovation 2017: The National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Conference & Expo, January 9-12, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C., already receive a discounted price on registration. However, there’s a chance to attend the Conference for FREE as a volunteer.
Solar Industry Applauds Baker Administration’s Commitment to Solar in the Commonwealth
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) commended the Baker Administration’s proposal to double solar energy development in Massachusetts today at a community solar project dedication hosted by Clean Energy Collective
Apartment and Condominium Market Posts Positive Gains in the Third Quarter
The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), posted a gain of three points to 53 in the third quarter. The MPI has been at 50 or above since the beginning of 2012.
Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications decreased 9.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 11, 2016.
ULI Receives Grant Totaling $1.5 Million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to Support...
The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and creating thriving communities, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the institute’s Building Healthy Places initiative. Through the initiative, ULI is leveraging the power of ULI’s global networks to shape projects and places in ways that improve the health of people and communities
Builder Confidence Holds Firm in November
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes held steady in November at a level of 63 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Mahesh Ramanujam Named U.S. Green Building Council President & CEO
The USGBC Board of Directors announced today that Mahesh Ramanujam has completed the transition into his new role as president and CEO of USGBC, effective Nov. 4, 2016. He will also serve as president and CEO of USGBC’s sister organization, GBCI. Formerly USGBC’s COO, Ramanujam takes the reins from Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC’s founding chair, who had previously announced plans to leave the organization toward the end of 2016.