Monthly Archives: January 2011

Washington D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the construction industry’s markedly changed economic conditions and rapid adoption of new technologies and green building goals, ConsensusDOCS today released a comprehensive update to its library of construction contract documents, as well as new contracts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to newly released figures by the U.S. Commerce Department. While this was the slowest pace of starts activity since October 2009, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 from the previous year. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December to a rate of 635,000 units, the strongest pace since March of 2010

DENVER, CO - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX, LLC today announced the promotion of two key executives as the Denver-based franchise continues to dominate the real estate industry both domestically and internationally

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) elected four senior officers to top leadership positions within the federation during the association's International Builders' Show in Orlando.With more than 800 affiliated state and local home builders associations and more than 160,000 members across the country, NAHB is the "voice of the housing industry," representing the interests of the nation's housing professionals through advocacy, education and research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) today announced southern West Virginia housing programs have been awarded nearly $1.4 million in grant funding for housing assistance to homeless individuals a...

Washington, DC - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding $1,665,449 in federal grants to organizations and government agencies throughout North Dakota to combat homelessness in the state

Anchorage, AZ - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Qualifying Alaskans will have greater access to homeownership through a $625,000 loan approved by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation board of directors. The loan will allow Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (FNHS) to continue its down-payment assistance loan program for under-served markets and provide assistance to borrowers who would not qualify for home ownership due to income limitations, down-payment requirements, loan-to-values, or other considerations

Washington, DC - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the newly elected officers and new directors to its 2011 Board of Directors. At elections that closed in December, USGBC’s membership elected the following individuals to serve as directors:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 14, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week

Denver, CO - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Defying the seasonal trend, December home sales rose by 13.2% from November in a survey of 54 metropolitan areas. Home sales dropped 5.0% from December 2009, but this is the lowest year-over-year drop the survey has seen in five months.

EUGENE, OR - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX Broker software is now enabled on the website of Grant Pearman, thanks to his partnership with IDX, Inc. the innovative IDX solution can easily be displayed and utilized on his professional website. With the additional Colorado Real Estate Network (CREN) MLS listings, thousands of properties are automatically synced to the website Pearman hosts, giving his clients and other western Colorado home seekers the unique ability to experience a comprehensive property search online. Never before has such an easy-to-use real estate solution been so widely accessible and available to potential buyers, as now thanks to Pearman and his IDX solution

Portland, OR - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today visited the North Portland home of a family who is struggling to keep their home and unveiled his plan to address the ongoing foreclosure crisis and boost the nation’s troubled housing market. A range of economists have concluded that repairing the housing market is critical to adding jobs and accelerating the slow recovery.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thanks to strengthening in consumer spending and growing policy clarity at the end of 2010, the economy is finally poised to accelerate and sustain above-par, less volatile growth, according to the January 2011 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. The economy is expected to grow by 3.6 percent in 2011, compared to an estimated 2.8 percent in 2010. The group expects some increase in housing activity during 2011, however, a growth-oriented view of housing is not expected until 2012.

McLean, VA - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its 27th Annual Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Survey of prime loan offerings, which was conducted January 3 to January 5 of this year

Washington, DC - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to work on a joint initiative, in coordination with FHFA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to consider alternatives for future mortgage servicing structures and servicing compensation for their single-family mortgage loans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a relatively low level of 16 for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today."As we emerge from the traditionally slow holiday season, builders continue to look for signs of improvement in the economy, home buyer demand and builder and consumer credit conditions," said 2011 NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Unfortunately, a severe lack of construction financing, and widespread difficulties in obtaining accurate appraisal values, continue to limit builders' ability to prepare for anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) members, home builders and remodelers who are certifying their projects to the federal Department of Energy’s Builders Challenge program say that affordability, not cutting-edge technology, is key to their ability to seal the deal with home buyers.The builders spoke at press conference during the NAHB International Builders’ Show, which observed its fourth annual Green Day on Jan. 13.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2011 edition of The New American Home (TNAH) features leading-edge green building technology woven seamlessly into the elegant architecture of the well-crafted house. The home has achieved “Emerald” status under the National Green Building Standard certification program.Featuring American Empire design with Greek Revival elements, the home combines an inviting layout with graceful style, eccentric interiors and easy classicism. Built in a quiet Orlando neighborhood, it offers lake views with the Orlando skyline beyond.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing will see gradual improvements in activity this year as the nation’s economy and job market continue to move to higher ground, establishing momentum that will produce more considerable gains in 2012, according to economists who appeared at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando on Jan.

Destin, FL - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The best and worst housing market forecasts for 2011 have been issued by Housing Predictor, which selects the 25 best and 25 worst markets annually. Markets selected have the highest probability of reaching their forecasts, and are updated over the entire year as housing market conditions change