Monthly Archives: March 2011

SIOUX CITY, IA - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MyPad Down Payment Assistance Program was created to overcome the greatest barrier to homeownership, down payment. MyPad provides an opportunity for qualified low to moderate income individuals and families to purchase affordable homes by receiving money from the Home Investment Partnership for down payment on a home. Homebuyers will never have to repay the gift from MyPad as long as the home purchased remains owner occupied throughout the 5 year period of the deferred payment loan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 6.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 25, 2011. The results do not include an adjustment for the Presidents’ Day holiday

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, applauded the Obama Administration's announcement to streamline the portfolio and reduce the management cost of federal property. Sen. Carper plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to help achieve the cost savings goals set forth by the President in his budget proposal and in executive orders.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the February edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard. The latest housing figures show increased existing home sales as home affordability remains high, but officials caution that the market remains fragile, as prices are unsettled.

Washington, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today released its 2010 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with 25 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2010, with Nevada being the leading state, with 10.92 square feet per person in 2010.

IRVINE, CA - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac™ (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today announced the launch of a new foreclosure search widget for real estate agents and brokers, allowing them to easily insert a fully functional nationwide foreclosure property search to their websites. The new product will help agents drive more traffic to their websites and generate exclusive leads from end-users.

Lake Buena Vista, FL - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2011 RESNET Building Performance Conference was the venue for the U.S. Green Building Council’s launch of a new online scoring tool for green homes. The LEED for Homes Scoring Tool is a web-based application that offers anyone an easy way for anyone to explore the LEED for Homes green home building program. By easily and simply breaking the LEED for Homes rating system down into either a Quick Score path and a deeper dive Credit by Credit path, all project team members can better understand which green features they want to incorporate into a new green home

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today is awarding $7.8 million in grants to 14 local projects in nine states to conduct a wide range of activities such as research on the cost effectiveness of home-based interventions for children with asthma and novel strategies for reducing risks from lead-contaminated soil and house dust (see attached). For the first time, HUD is awarding $2 million of those grants to improve indoor environmental conditions and links to education and medical services for asthmatic children and other residents living in public and assisted multifamily housing

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 250 communities across the country will be able to increase the economic impact of their local community development and affordable housing programs through nearly $50 million in “capacity-building” grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds awarded today will support three national organizations and are ultimately expected to produce approximately 8,000 units of affordable housing nationwide, and generate more than $1 billion in total development investment.

Washington, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Throughout this month, consumers across the country can engage Realtors®, local officials, and their neighbors on an issue that literally hits close to home – home ownership – as the National Association of Realtors® kicks off a month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour in cities across the nation.

EUGENE, OR - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Searching for homes around Oklahoma City, Oklahoma just became monumentally simpler, thanks to the joint partnership between broker Ray Roman and IDX, Inc. The innovative IDX solution Roman has enabled o...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Multifamily home owners and developers, property managers, architects, interior designers and multifamily industry professionals are invited to enter the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2011 Pillars of the Industry Awards competition.The Pillars Awards highlight excellence in apartment and condominium design and development, innovative financing strategies, and superior property management and marketing. Since its inception in 1990, the Pillars Awards program has earned its reputation as the most prestigious awards program of its kind

Destin, FL - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The erosion of the syndrome known as the “Wealth Effect” is showing that fall out from the housing slump is having a major lingering impact on the U.S. economy, according to Housing Predictor analysts

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Due to federal budget cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) applicants will receive lower average payments beginning March 2, 2011.

Washington, D.C. - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) told Congress today in a written statement that Main Street community banks need a financially strong, impartial secondary market that provides equitable access and pricing to all lenders regardless of size or volume. ICBA also outlined its own proposal for secondary mortgage market reform.

AUSTIN, TX - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeAway ®, Inc. – the world’s leading network of online vacation rentals – today introduced Community from HomeAway, a site for vacation rental owners and managers to share expertise and opinions, and access blogs and resources to optimize their vacation rental businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the wake of in the House of Representatives’ passage last week of H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, housing and community development advocates continue their push for funding for communities with a letter to Senate leadership.

McLean, VA - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC:FMCC) announced today the results of its fourth quarter Conventional Mortgage Home Price Index (CMHPI).

McLean, VA - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today issued the company's Monthly Volume Summary for January 2011.

EUGENE, OR - March 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtor Jeffrey King of Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace has opted to integrate the premier IDX technology, IDX Broker software, for his professional real estate website. Now, thousands of Knoxville MLS (KAARMLS) listings are displayed conveniently on the search page that he hosts. King has chosen an IDX solution for his website, and in the process he has changed the online real estate market for himself, his business and countless potential Knoxville buyers.