RealEstateRama

CLEVELAND, OH - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason and the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force operating under authorization of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and Ohio’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission announced that Susan Alt was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered 2 million dollars in forfeiture

WASHINGTON, DC - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Improvements in consumer spending and consumer confidence, increased demand for goods and services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors for a brighter outlook as we move into 2011, according to the December 2010 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. Downside risks still exist, however, including a weaker than expected employment report, the ongoing economic turmoil in Europe, and potential inflation problems in China

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates increased again this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.62 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.37 discount and origination points.

Washington, DC - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Peter Nickles issued an enforcement statement* recently to clarify that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will not be challenging the validity of completed foreclosure sales based on failures to comply with the recordation obligations imposed by District law.

JACKSONVILLE, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that a federal jury today found David Wesley Vickers (age 48, of Jacksonville) guilty of nineteen counts arising out of a mortgage fraud scheme, including conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud. Vickers faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and 20 years for each of the other counts. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Pittsburgh, PA - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) has approved $2.69 million in grants under its Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The grants will help finance 15 housing projects – one in Delaware, eight in Pennsylvania and six in West Virginia – creating 395 units of housing for very-low, low- and moderate-income individuals and families as well as those with special needs

Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the midst of a struggling national economy, The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) will release results of its 2010 Hunger and Homelessness Report on Tuesday, December 21 at 11:00 a.m. during a CONFERENCE CALL featuring several mayors from around the country. In light of cash strapped local budgets and travel bans, the USCM is hosting a conference call instead of having mayors travel to Washington, D.C

DALLAS, TX - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MRG Document Technologies (MRG), a provider of mortgage document preparation software and compliance technology to banks, credit unions and other lenders nationwide, has developed the forms needed for compliance with upcoming 2011 regulations that mandate changes to both the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and risk-based pricing disclosures. Both updates are meant to provide consumer clarification in regards to loan decisioning and final terms.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its December 16th, 2010 meeting, the CHFA Board of Directors approved the Resolution Authorizing for Public Comment Purposes Amendments to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Procedures

WASHINGTON, DC - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today was elected by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to lead federal efforts to end homelessness. As chair of USICH, Secretary Solis joins the newly elected vice chair, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in implementing Opening Doors, the first federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. Solis succeeds Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, who has been chair since 2009

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates soared again this week, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 5 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.40 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A homeless-prevention program by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which seeks to help Veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation. The program marks the first time that VA will fund services for the spouses and children of Veterans at risk of becoming homeless.

VIENNA, VA - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released two mortgage fraud reports entitled Mortgage Loan Fraud SAR Filings, which together cover the first six months of 2010; one report covers January through March 2010, and the other covers April through June 2010.

December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- NRMLA, last week, published independent research showing high levels of satisfaction among seniors with reverse mortgages and equally positive numbers indicating borrowers understood the transaction they were getting into and felt no pressure getting a loan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Congressional Oversight Panel today released its December oversight report, "A Review of Treasury's Foreclosure Prevention Programs." In the eight months since the Panel's last report on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), Treasury has made minor tweaks to the program, but the changes have not resolved the Panel's core concerns. The Panel now estimates that, if current trends hold, HAMP will prevent only 700,000 foreclosures -- far fewer than the three to four million foreclosures that Treasury initially aimed to stop, and vastly fewer than the eight to 13 million foreclosures expected by 2012

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peterson Companies and The Bozzuto Group, two D.C. area-based and family-owned development companies, announced today a joint venture that will bring the first apartment community to National Harbor

TRUCKEE, CA - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Clear Capital www.clearcapital.comreleased its monthly Home Data Index™ (HDI) Market Report, providing the most current (through November 2010) and granular analysis of how local markets performed compared to the national downward trend in home prices

PELLA, IA - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As builders, remodelers, contractors, architects and students prepare for a new year – predicted to be challenging for the housing industry – Pella Corporation wants to help them "Go for it!"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Justice $2 million settlement with PrimeLending spotlights serious problems on loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The case found inconsistent and abusive pricing on loans to African-American borrowers, revealing that it’s far too easy for lenders making government-backed loans to overcharge home buyers.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new study released today by Fannie Mae finds that most Americans — both those who currently own their homes and those who rent — strongly aspire to own a home and to maintain homeownership, despite ongoing turmoil in the housing market. However, demographic trends such as fewer married couples and less families with children resulting in shrinking households — combined with financial caution among consumers — are contributing to an increased willingness to rent.