#11 Government and Public Real Estate News

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– National Government and Public Real Estate News –

Putting Green Technologies to the Test

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — GSA’s Green Proving Ground program is exploring new ways to mitigate the impact of our built environment on the natural environment. The Green Proving Ground tests promising sustainable building technologies in the real-world setting of federal facilities to evaluate their potential to reduce resource consumption and improve building performance. Additionally, the Green Proving Ground seeks to provide data and insights that will accelerate the broader commercialization and deployment of sustainable building technologies. More

Green Technologies in National News
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Former Chief Executive of Mortgage Servicing Company Sentenced for Scheme to Withhold Funds from Wells Fargo Bank

Earl Gross, 74, of Las Vegas, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Mortgage, a loan servicing company, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for his role in an $8 million scheme to defraud Wells Fargo Bank. More

FHA UPDATES LENDING STANDARDS FOR MANUALLY UNDERWRITTEN BORROWERS
Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published revised guidelines for lenders when they manually underwrite mortgage loan applications of borrowers applying for FHA-insured mortgages. This change will improve a lender’s ability to objectively consider a borrower’s risk and reduce additional credit requirements or ‘overlays’ that exceed FHA’s own lending standards. More

HUD RELEASES ‘QUALIFIED MORTGAGE’ DEFINITION

Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its final rule which defines a ‘Qualified Mortgage (QM)’ that is insured, guaranteed or administered by HUD. The final rule will be effective on January 10, 2014 and will apply to mortgages with a case number assignment on or after that date. More

NAIOP Installs 2014 Chairman Jean Kane

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, has named Jean Kane, CEO, Welsh and Colliers International, Minnetonka, Minn., as its 2014 Chairman of the Board. Kane becomes the third woman to hold NAIOP’s highest elected position and will lead its executive committee and staff in the planning and execution of industry and association-wide initiatives in 2014. Her term begins January 1, 2014. More

New Analysis Finds Voluntary Buyouts of Flood-Prone Properties Are a Critical Step to Protect Our Communities

With sea levels anticipated to rise at accelerated rates and catastrophic flood events occurring at great frequency, the Center for American Progress released an analysis of the value of a coastal buyout program both to communities and the environment. More

– States Government and Public Real Estate News –

New Target opens on former Cabrini Green land, provides new opportunities to Chicago Housing Authority residents

CHA CEO Charles Woodyard and a host of key city officials were on hand Tuesday to commemorate an important snapshot in Chicago’s history – the opening of the Near North Target, 1200 N. Larabee.
http://illinois.realestaterama.com/2013/12/12/new-target-opens-on-former-cabrini-green-land-provides-new-opportunities-to-chicago-housing-authority-residents-ID0748.html

Governor Cuomo Deploying Mobile Command Center to Long Island to Deliver Foreclosure Prevention Help to Homeowners

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Long Island to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners. More

– Government and Public Real Estate News in Media –

Tours mark completion of Cheshire affordable housing complex

The term “home for the holidays” will take on a new meaning for some of the 47 applicants who have applied for space in Foote Commons, the new affordable housing units located of Rumberg Road.
Cheshire Housing Authority Manager Ann Belcher said her office will begin informing applicants who has been selected to live in the 14 new units and six rehabilitated ones. More

Households Spending More on Rents Than a Decade Ago

A new report that looks at the period from 2000 to 2012 shows that while there is more rental property now than before, people are also paying more of their income towards rent.
The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard new report – America’s Rental Housing: Evolving Markets and Needs – reveals that half of all renters spend more than 30% of all their income on rent, 12% more than a decade ago. More

Increasing Affordable Housing to Address Homelessness

One of the major causes of homelessness is lack of affordable housing according to a new report from the Center for American Progress. No Place Like Home: Addressing Poverty and Homelessness in the United States, by Tracey Ross, tells us that only one in four households eligible for rental assistance actually receives it, resulting in overwhelming demand and long waitlists. More

Homeowners, Counselors and Lenders Working Together: Still the Most Effective Response to Foreclosure Crisis

At Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries in northeast Baltimore, DHCD’s Kelly L. Vaughn urged homeowners facing foreclosure to look around the crowded assembly hall at the people sitting near them. More

Home for the Holidays: Opening Dialogue With Aging Parents

The holidays can provide a welcome opportunity to visit aging parents. Many of us are part of two-income families, have children, a busy work-day schedule, a tight budget and limited time off work. Maybe we live far away. For whatever reason, we do not see our parents as often as we would like to. More

South Dakota HDA: Funding Available for Housing Opportunities

South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) is inviting developers to submit applications for funding from the HOME Investment Partnerships program, Housing Tax Credit program and the Housing Opportunity Fund. More…

MassHousing Closes $16.1 Million Loan for Affordable Housing in Lowell

MassHousing announced today that it has closed a $16.1 million construction and permanent loan for the acquisition and renovation of the 448-unit River Place Towers in Lowell.
River Place Towers is being acquired by an affiliate of Princeton Properties of Lowell. As a condition of the financing, all 448 apartments will remain affordable for at least 30 years. More

Weather Channel mulling move? Company seeks tax breaks

Cobb County-based Weather Channel says expansion is needed, and is calling on the county to provide tax breaks and grants, reports WABE. Weather Channel has on its wish-list: tech upgrades, state-funded lights on Interstate North Parkway and a bus stop near the building”We need to do all of those things and whether we, you know, do it in the current structure or we look at other locations or structures, we have problems that we need to solve,” said Weather Channel spokesperson Shirley Powell. In… More

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