RealEstateRama

Charleston, WV - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02) announced today that affordable housing projects in Fairmont, Fayette County, Huntington, McDowell County, Wheeling and White Sulphur Springs have been awarded nearly $800,000 in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing is recognizing states and localities with innovative public policies and practices in workforce housing development through a major new award program, the Robert C. Larson Workforce Housing Public Policy Award.

NORFOLK, VA - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- ForRent.com, anchor website for For Rent Media Solutions and a division of Dominion Enterprises, has seen a dramatic increase in traffic just one month after introducing the exclusive new partnership with Marketplace on Facebook.

San Francisco, CA - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Zephyr Real Estate, a long-established market leader in San Francisco, has made the leap across the Golden Gate and opened a new location in Marin County. With a number of agents whose market expertise extends north, the new location in Corte Madera connects Marin County and San Francisco to better serve client interests on both sides of the 1.7-mile span.

COLUMBIA, MD - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Right in time for Earth Day, Enterprise Green Communities (Enterprise) has awarded $150,000 to owners of affordable housing for resident engagement programs. The programs will provide residents with practical and cost-effective practices for everyday usage that will extend the benefits of their green homes. Through a grant from The Home Depot Foundation, Enterprise awarded six organizations $25,000 each. Awards will be used to develop tools to encourage residents including children and seniors to properly operate and maintain their green homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has just released national data showing that the number of homeless people was essentially unchanged from 2009 to 2010. The number, based on counts conducted by localities and states across the nation in January 2010 (called Point-In-Time [PIT] counts), went from 643,067 to 649,879, an increase of one percent. However, there was a three percent increase in the number of homeless people who were unsheltered.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Las Vegas man was arrested yesterday on charges that he defrauded distressed homeowners in Las Vegas who were attempting to refinance or adjust their home mortgages, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that this afternoon, a federal jury convicted Albuquerque real estate agent Kevin Powers, 51, of 17 counts of wire fraud in connection with an unlawful scheme to defraud mortgage lenders and to obtain over $5.5 million in loan proceeds through false pretenses, misrepresentations, and omissions. At sentencing, Powers faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum $250,000 fine on each count of conviction. Powers remains on release under pretrial supervision pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for July 18, 2011.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eighteen national, regional and local lenders will participate in a new two-year pilot program that will offer qualified borrowers living in certain parts of the country low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.

Brookfield, WI - April 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Inlanta Mortgage announced today that it carries the new LendRIGHT™ seal of excellence for the mortgage industry.

The following statement can be attributed to Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President: April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Today’s findings by OSHA are more proof that the owners of Flatbush Gardens have no regard for the health and safety of their workers or the welfare of their tenants,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “The workers - who have been locked out since November - have for years voiced concerns about deteriorating structural conditions at the complex; their concerns have been ignored by the building’s owners.”

COLUMBIA, MD - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 16th Annual MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing is officially open for entries. Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and MetLife Foundation have focused this year’s competition on best practices in the area of green and service-enriched affordable housing for seniors. The deadline for entries is May 31, 2011.

CHICAGO, IL - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeFinder.com, one of the most trusted websites for consumers to search for a home and connect with a real estate professional, today announced a new agreement with Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, where HomeFinder.com will become an integral part of the CENTURY 21 Showcase Advantage Listing Program.

NORFOLK, VA - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For Rent Media Solutions™, a division of Dominion Enterprises, announces the promotion of Brock MacLean to the position of Executive Vice President of Dominion Homes Media effective May 9. MacLean is currently the Senior Vice President of National Sales and Development for For Rent Media Solutions, and will retain this responsibility as he assumes his new role. For Rent Media Solutions President, Terry Slattery, says of MacLean’s promotion:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following statement was issued by the Center for Responsible Lending, the Community Mortgage Banking Project, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors in advance of the April 14th House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises hearing on the Qualified Residential Mortgage:

Silicon Valley, CA - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Intero Foundation (www.interofoundation.org), a non-profit organization, founded by Intero Real Estate Services founders in 2002 to benefit children in need, announced that it has donated over $170,000 to 22 charities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in 2010 as part of its mission to positively impact the growth and well being of children in our communities. The Intero Foundation is funded, promoted and governed by Intero agents – each of whom are vested in the health of the communities in which they work and live. An executive committee, led by Intero President and CEO Gino Blefari, provides strategic guidance. All members of the Intero community – executives, staff and agents – donate their time to further the Foundation?s mission.

PELLA, IA - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sun., April 17, episode of ABC television network’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (EMHE) will include energy-efficient Pella windows and doors donated by Pella Windows & Doors. The episode will air at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on ABC-TV.

Incline Village, NV - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a firm footing in both the Lake Tahoe and the Reno real estate markets, Chase International realtor Sandi Solomonson was the perfect choice to discuss current housing trends on a regionally televised talk show. As a guest on Lawyers, Guns and Money, Solomonson’s television debut will be aired on Reno’s KRNV on April 24, 4:30 p.m., channel 4 and Tuesday, April 26, 10:30 p.m., channel 3.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced his appointment of 10 outstanding professionals to posts in the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHDC) and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Board of Trustees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) issued the following statement regarding agreements reached between federal regulators and mortgage servicers addressing improper and fraudulent mortgage servicing practices.