RealEstateRama

White River Jct., Vt. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing and energy efficiency advocates unveiled a new high-performance, energy efficient manufactured home today that is the first of its kind in the nation. It is specifically designed for northern climate conditions and uses one-third of the energy of a typical ENERGY STAR rated manufactured home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Essentials of a Functioning Housing Finance System for Consumers.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building upon the success of its first Capacity Building Initiative series for Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs), the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) today launched The Leadership Journey II: Continuing Native CDFI Growth and Excellence. The training series is open to a new cohort of Native CDFIs to participate in a comprehensive program of targeted training and technical assistance. The series is provided by NeighborWorks® America with specialized input from the Seven Sisters Community Development Group.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has issued its recommendation on the federal government’s use of third party green building certification systems. GSA is required by law to issue a recommendation to the Department of Energy (DOE) on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government’s construction and major renovation projects.

Northbrook, IL - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boulder Group’s Research Department has released a new research report providing comprehensive numbers and analysis of the activity in the National Net Lease Drug Store Market

SAN DIEGO, - October 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- DataQuick®, a provider of advanced real estate information solutions powered by data, analytics and decisioning, has enhanced its National Property Database to include expanded property transaction intelligence through the release of the new Derived Transaction Record (DTR). The company also announced the introduction of the Assessor History Database and enhancements to its Standard Recorder Record (SR) and Pre-Foreclosure coverage

Torrance, CA - October 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp., a national owner-operator of shopping centers, is celebrating the opening of a new, state-of-the-art LA Fitness in 45,000 square feet at the Old Town Shopping Center, located at 5500 Greenville Ave. in Dallas, Texas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has issued its recommendation on the federal government’s use of third party green building certification systems. GSA is required by law to issue a recommendation to the Department of Energy (DOE) on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government’s construction and major renovation projects.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new $1 million grant from JPMorgan Chase will help fund LISC's affordable housing work in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area. "Affordable housing is the cornerstone of the work we are doing with JPMorgan Chase to improve the quality of life for low-income residents across the country," said Michael Rubinger, President and CEO of LISC.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today filed a lawsuit in federal district court against a Kentucky law firm, Borders & Borders, PLC, and its principals, for illegally paying kickbacks for real estate settlement referrals through a network of shell companies

SAN DIEGO, - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- DataQuick, a provider of advanced real estate information solutions powered by data, analytics and decisioning announced that home price growth resumed at a rapid rate in September and spread to all 42 reported markets. The increase comes after overall prices decreased during the summer months of July and August

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community and the St. Catherine board of directors today announced they are entrusting the national affordable housing leader, Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL), with the management and governance of St. Catherine Residence in Milwaukee. The merger is part of MHL’s overall affordable housing strategy to strengthen community development in the city and bring additional investment dollars and jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan joined Mayor Thomas Menino Thursday to kick off a major federal investment in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The Pearl Meats meatpacking plant in the Quincy Corridor is benefiting from a significant grant from HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program. Once an economic scar on the area, the meatpacking plant will undergo redevelopment as part of a massive public-private effort to attract new business, build quality affordable housing and create jobs.

ERIE COUNTY, NY - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz joined Daniel Burstein, Executive Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services’ (“DFS”) Real Estate Finance Division, along with other members of the Division and homeowners at the Mobile Command Center (“MCC”) during the MCC’s daylong visit to the ELIM Christian Fellowship on Chalmers Avenue in Buffalo. The MCC is staffed with DFS personnel equipped to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners, assess individuals’ specific situations, and intercede on behalf of homeowners with their mortgage lenders or servicers, among other services

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a nonprofit dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for low-income families and communities in the U.S., announced today that it will deploy $500,000 to strengthen the capacity of state and local nonprofits to ensure greater access to products, programs and policies that expand financial asset-building opportunities for low-to moderate-income consumers. The expansion is made possible by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and is part of the firm’s broader efforts to provide $1.4 million in grants to leading nonprofits that promote the financial capability of consumers.

White Center - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeSight and the King County Housing Authority will mark the groundbreaking of eight new affordable homes located in Greenbridge with a celebratory pre-sales event. Greenbridge is a 96-acre, Three-Star Built Green™ master-planned community in White Center. The event will be held at noon on Saturday, October 26th in Umbrella Park, located at the corner of SW 100th Street and 7th Avenue SW, across from the Educare Early Learning Center in White Center.

Reston, VA - October 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Calkain Companies' David Sobelman, Executive Vice President and Managing Partner, and Rick Fernandez, Managing Director, have been named exclusive sales agent for the sale of The Starbucks Building in the heart of Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. Dupont Circle is one of the most iconic and cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the United States, recognized the world over as the home of DC's Embassy Row. David Sobelman commented, "Offered for Sale is the premier retail property directly on the busiest and most prominent corner of Dupont Circle itself, the intersection of the Circle and Connecticut Avenue. The Starbucks Building is at the heart of the commercial district with shopping, dining, office and residences within one of the most walkable neighborhoods in America, central to the entire D.C. metro region.”

ATLANTA, Ga. - October 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Harry Norman, REALTORS®, Atlanta’s leading luxury real estate brokerage, won two prestigious real estate awards at the 18th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference recently held in Atlanta at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead on October 6-9, 2013. The conference is one of the largest luxury specific real estate conferences in the world. Harry Norman, Realtors was honored with the ‘Best Overall Marketing Package’ award, which is given to the Luxury Real Estate member displaying the most comprehensive package to market their company (website, marketing gear, listing presentation materials, etc.). Harry Norman offers a vast array of world-class services that provide home buyers and sellers with the best possible tools to look for and sell their home

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building on President Obama’s broad-based plan to cut carbon pollution and support clean energy innovation across the country, Energy Secretary Moniz announced today about $60 million to support innovative solar energy research and development. As part of the Department’s SunShot Initiative, these awards will help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Richard Hunt, president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association, issued the following response after the Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, OCC, and NCUA issued an interagency statement on fair lending compliance with the Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule