HUD

WASHINGTON, DC - March 22, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Every day across this country, hundreds of community-based foundations are improving the lives of residents and the neighborhoods where they live. These foundations often do their philanthropic work without much recognition – until now. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is collaborating with the Council on Foundations in the launch of a new awards program to recognize community foundations for the excellent work they do along with their public partners in the area of housing and community development

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $3.8 million to 20 public housing authorities to address emergency, safety and security needs at their properties, including measures necessary to fight crime and drug activity. See attached chart for local impact of this funding.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the availability of up to $25 million to help convert multifamily apartment complexes into assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing for low-income senior citizens. The funding offered through HUD’s Assisted Living Conversion Program will provide grants for the physical conversion of eligible multifamily assisted housing projects (or portions of projects) to assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing. Read the funding notice published today.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the availability of up to $25 million to help convert multifamily apartment complexes into assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing for low-income senior citizens. The funding offered through HUD’s Assisted Living Conversion Program will provide grants for the physical conversion of eligible multifamily assisted housing projects (or portions of projects) to assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing. Read the funding notice published today.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $201 million to support 731 new local homeless programs across the country. This funding provides critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families and is a significant part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 9, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Before implementing a new comprehensive tool to preserve public housing and other federally assisted housing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking public comment beginning today on the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). See Federal Register Notice. In addition to the Federal Register notice, HUD has posted guidance – PIH Notice 2012-18 (HA) – with proposed details for RAD’s implementation.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 9, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- All across the country, owners of aging apartment complexes are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption and save money. In order to test new and innovative ways to cut energy bills and to finance energy efficiency upgrades in existing multi-family residential properties, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $23 million to a dozen organizations on the cutting edge of bringing energy-saving solutions to the housing market.

ATLANTA, GA - March 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the second phase of the Know It. Avoid It. Report It. consumer awareness campaign in Atlanta. The campaign, launched during National Consumer Protection Week, March 4 – 10, is designed to educate consumers on loan modification and foreclosure scams and encourage them to take action.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Acting Federal Housing (FHA) Commissioner Carol Galante announced significant price cuts to FHA’s Streamline Refinance Program that could benefit millions of borrowers whose mortgages are currently insured by FHA. Beginning June 11, 2012, FHA will lower its Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) to just .01 percent and reduce its annual premium to .55 percent for certain FHA borrowers

WASHINGTON, DC - March 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that the owner of Breckenridge Plaza Apartment complex in Phoenixville, PA, has agreed to pay $15,000 as part of a consent decree ...

WASHINGTON, DC - March 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicked off a series of consultations with tribal leaders in preparation for HUD's forthcoming study on the chronic housing needs in Indian Country, "Assessment of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs." During these consultations, tribal leaders will have an opportunity to comment on the scope and design of the pending study. HUD will hold six regional meetings and two national meetings, the first of which in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the February edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard – a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market. Data continues to show signs that the housing market is strengthening, although the recovery remains fragile. The supply of new and existing homes on the market continued to decline last month. However, home prices dipped again as seasonal lows continued for the fourth month in a row.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced $5 million is being made available in Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grantsto help communities begin the comprehensive neighborhood planning process to transform, rehabilitate and preserve public housing and privately-owned HUD-assisted housing. Read HUD’s FY 2011 Choice Neighborhoods Notice of Funding Availability.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of ongoing efforts to encourage the return of private capital in the residential mortgage market and strengthen the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, Acting FHA Commissioner Carol Galante today announced a new premium structure for FHA-insured single family mortgage loans. FHA will increase its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) by 0.10 percent for loans under $625,500 and by 0.35 percent for loans above that amount. Upfront premiums (UFMIP) will also increase by 0.75 percent.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging Bank of America with discriminating against homebuyers with disabilities. HUD alleges that Bank of America imposed unnecessary and burdensome requirements on borrowers who relied on disability income to qualify for their home loans and required some disabled borrowers to provide physician statements to qualify for home mortgage loans.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 22, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Fair Housing Alliance(NFHA) announced today the launch of a new series of radio and print public service advertisements (PSAs). The advertisements are designed to teach individuals and families how to recognize and report discrimination in housing because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status and disability, including discrimination in mortgage lending because of issues related to pregnancy and/or parental leave.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced $108 million in additional Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations to 68 tribes in 19 states. Thesefunds are distributed each year based on a formula to eligible Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes $95 million available today through two grant programs that help residents who receive HUD rental assistance get the necessary education and job training to gain employment and increase their income. One of the grant programs also helps senior citizens connect with supportive services to allow them to stay in their home.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- To improve performance and boost the capacity of state and local governments to implement their federal block grant programs for housing and community development, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making nearly $62 million available through the Office of Community Planning and Development’s (CPD) OneCPD and Core Curricula Programs. Read HUD’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Helen Kanovsky, General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), and David A. Montoya, the Inspector General of HUD, announced today that the United States has filed, and simultaneously settled, a civil fraud lawsuit against CITIMORTGAGE, INC. (“CITIMORTGAGE”), a subsidiary of CITIBANK, N.A. The Government’s Complaint seeks damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRREA”) for over six years of misconduct in connection with CITIMORTGAGE’s participation in the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) Direct Endorsement Lender Program