RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Ballot Comment Period to update the nation’s leading computer-aided design (CAD) standard is now open. The Steering Committee for the United States National CAD Standard® (NCS) is accepting comments on ballots until October 13, 2013.

Washington D.C. - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- With President Obama’s climate action plan addressing the government as the largest energy consumer in the U.S. and calling on federal leadership in energy efficiency, a new survey of federal agency decision makers shows 74 percent agree energy efficiency is among the most powerful means of meeting increasing energy needs, achieving cost savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Zogby International survey was sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy and Schneider Electric

LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- One of Los Alamos, New Mexico’s low-income housing communities has reopened following extensive renovations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- LISC will be expanding work around housing preservation and healthy food access thanks to a new $4.5 million grant from the CDFI Fund. The funding will support food-related economic development as well as help keep rental housing affordable for low-income families. It connects to our broad-based efforts to make distressed neighborhoods safer, healthier places to live

KINGWOOD, TX - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives from Amegy Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) were on hand earlier this month to celebrate the ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Village at Hickory Glen Apartment Homes

BARABOO, WI - September 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Habitat for Humanity of Sauk-Columbia Area (HFHSCA) joined forces with Neighborhood Housing Services of Richland County to host a Community Workday today to highlight the extraordinary works happening locally to provide affordable housing to area families.

WASHINGTON, - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Equal Rights Center (ERC)—a national non-profit civil rights organization — announced that it has been awarded two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Morris County Heritage Commission has received a grant of $18, 684 from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State, to provide re-grants for local history projects and General Operating Support to history organizations and other non-profit groups that have a history-based project.

WASHINGTON - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The performance of first-lien mortgages serviced by large national and federal savings banks continued to improve in the second quarter of 2013, according to a report released today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Energy Department’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently issued a new report, “Non-Hardware (‘Soft’) Cost-Reduction Roadmap for Residential and Small Commercial Solar Photovoltaics, 2013–2020,”PDF funded by DOE’s SunShot Initiative and written by NREL and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). The report builds off NREL’s ongoing soft-cost benchmarking analysis and charts a path to achieve SunShot soft-cost targets of $0.65/W for residential systems and $0.44/W for commercial systems by 2020.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for projects in 22 states that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs. Funding will also allow producers to use renewable energy technologies in their operations and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O' Brien made the announcement on behalf of the Secretary.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced $39.9 million in continuation funding for 10 current Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grantees, strengthening the agency’s investment in local nonprofits that are best positioned to transform lives and communities. These funds allow recipients to meet and exceed program goals, expand reach, and execute rigorous evaluation models

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) released the following statement concerning reports that the Federal Housing Administration will require a bailout:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- WQED's Filmmakers Corner will feature the Creative Arts Corner's recent production: "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve" on Saturday, October 5, 2013, 10:00 p.m

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Georgetown University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement on September 17 to collaborate on the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a competition to encourage innovative, replicable, and scalable approaches to reducing energy use in communities across the United States. Aimed at increasing the number of municipalities, utilities, and individuals working to save energy in their homes and communities, the MOU supports President Obama's Climate Action Plan by pursuing greater energy efficiency that reduces greenhouse gases and saves consumers money

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Sept. 20, 2013, 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 Arizona, California, Minnesota and Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Represented by Public Justice Center, three homeless families filed a class action lawsuit on September 20 against the Baltimore City Public Schools for failing to provide transportation, school uniforms, and fee waivers for homeless students. Under the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Education Assistance Improvements Act, schools are required to provide these services to homeless students to ensure that their education continues even when their housing is disrupted

ASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment increased in 26 between July and August and in 35 states for the year, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials cautioned, however, that construction employment remains below peak levels in most states and warned of the potential impact of a halt in federal construction investments

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Since the credit collapse of 2008, securing a mortgage – even for a first home – has become more difficult, even for extremely well qualified buyers. The most important thing to consider is whether or not your second home is an investment property or truly a “second home.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thank you so much for having me here today as you discuss the aftermath of the financial crisis and the future of banking regulation. I know many of you are interested to know what is on our agenda at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so I would like to describe where we have been and where we are going