Monthly Archives: December 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its October 2010 survey data today which estimates the industry completed more than 1.54 million permanent loan modifications for at-risk homeowners from January through October 2010.

LAKE CHARLES, LA - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and First Federal Bank of Louisiana are pleased to announce they have awarded Habitat for Humanity of Calcasieu Area (HFH of Calcasieu) in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a $70,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The grant will assist seven very low-income homeowners in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes with down payment and closing cost assistance.

Chicago, IL - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In Chicago Agent’s newly released Chicagoland’s Best Offices 2010 issue, a survey of the magazine’s readers reveals that there are a number of reasons that agents choose one office over another

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 3, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 0.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 22.8 percent compared with the previous week, which included the Thanksgiving Holiday.

NEW YORK, NY - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $339,000 in back wages for 27 workers employed as electrical mechanics by Sant-Tec Electric Inc., a company incorporated in both New York and New Jersey.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 400 participants from across the country are expected to take part in a two-day national forum on ending homelessness among Veterans by strengthening preventative measures and collaboration among government and private-sector organizations.

DENVER, CO - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Karen Brinckerhoff, a top-producing real estate professional and fourth generation Denver native, has joined Kentwood Real Estate as a Broker Associate in the company’s Denver Tech Center office. Known for her exceptional marketing and negotiation skills, Brinckerhoff was among her former company’s top 10 real estate agents in Colorado in 2004 and 2007. Brinckerhoff brings more than 17 years of experience and achievements to Kentwood Real Estate, including numerous awards recognizing superior sales production. She is a member of the Denver Board of Realtors and holds several special designations recognizing the successful completion of stringent continuing education courses in real estate.

DENVER, CO - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kentwood Real Estate, Colorado’s Premier Real Estate Company, has surpassed $1 billion in total sales volume for 2010. The landmark milestone, recorded in mid-November, was the leading real estate firm’s tenth such accomplishment and firmly establishes Kentwood Real Estate as a national leader in marketing expertise and customer service. Kentwood’s total sales volume through mid-November was $1,050,247,563 representing a total of 2,404 real estate transactions. After nine consecutive years of posting more than $1 billion in sales, Kentwood Real Estate recorded more than $900 million in total sales volume in 2009, which still ranked 95th in the United States with only 157 real estate agents

Denver, CO The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) congratulates the National League of Cities (NLC) and its membership for its leadership in endorsing a national green building policy agenda that calls on the federal government to support critical green building efforts that are working to help cities save money, save energy and create jobs

SHERMAN, TX - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of American Bank of Texas and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) presented a $14,000 Partnership Grant Program (PGP) award to Four Rivers Outreach on Friday, December 3, 2010. The grant will assist with operational costs associated with the Four Rivers Outreach men’s transitional living center. The staff and Board of Directors of Four Rivers Outreach were accompanied by Bill Magers, Mayor of the City of Sherman, and Robin McCoy, regional coordinator for State Senator Craig Estes.

Washington, D.C. - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over the last several years there has been increasing demand for housing options within close proximity to public transit, employment centers, retail and entertainment options, and access to open space for recreation. Houses with porches that allow for more neighborhood connection, durable and low-maintenance products for home exteriors, sustainable features and solar reflective roofs also remain popular.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, December 6, 2010, The Mortgage Bankers Association, (MBA) submitted the attached comment letter to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on the proposed guidance for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Housing Administration Single Family Insurance process: Eligibility, Indemnification, and Termination. The proposed rule, which would affect lenders who participate in the Lender Insurance (LI) process, would provide more stringent indemnification requirements regarding mortgagee indemnification to HUD

WASHINGTON, DC - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) will reinstate a Native American family’s rental assistance under a voluntary agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that settles allegations that?SFHA employees said they did not work with Indian tribes and refused to accept the family’s tribal documents.

McLean, VA - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) announced today that it expects to begin providing on a monthly basis pool-level delinquency disclosures on its single-family Mortgage Participation Certificate (PC) and Giant PC securities

HELENA, MT - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that all flags on property of the State of Montana be flown at half staff on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010, to honor the memory of Montana State Highway Patrol T...

Des Plaines, IL - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homes react to weather changes, too, and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry has tips that can help homeowners protect their homes this winter and prevent minor trouble spots from becoming major repairs

MONROE, LA - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ouachita Independent Bank (OIB), Community Trust Bank, Progressive Bank, Richland State Bank, Cross Keys Bank, BancorpSouth Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) are pleased to announce they have awarded $24,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) awards to Family Promise of Ouachita (Family Promise). The checks were presented during a media event at OIB on Wednesday, December

Los Angeles, CA - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Brett White, Chief Executive Officer of CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc., has been selected as Service Company Executive of the Year in Commercial Property Executive's 2010 CPE Executive of the Year Awards. This year’s selection marks Mr. White’s third time receiving this prestigious award

Nashville, TN - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Morris Property Management, an Associa company, is proud to announce that Bill Chance, Michael Hagewood, Matthew Purvis and Bethann Saggese have all earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designations. The CMCA designation is issued by the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A deceptive advertising operation has been banned from the debt relief business under a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission. As part of a continuing crackdown on scams that target consumers in financial distress, the FTC charged the defendants with deceptively claiming they could save consumers thousands of dollars by reducing their credit card debt.