Monthly Archives: May 2011

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home improvement store shoppers are more satisfied with store facilities, merchandise and pricing in 2011, compared with 2010, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction Study^SM released today.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its March 2011 loan modification data, which shows that an estimated 210,000 homeowners received permanent, proprietary loan modifications from mortgage servicers for the first quarter of 2011. This estimate does not include loan modifications through Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), and industry totals will be updated once official government reports are published.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications increased 4.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 29, 2011.

May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) - A: Costs for construction of both vary across the United States. The cost for constructing a safe room which can double as a master closet, bathroom, or utility room, inside a new home or small business can range from approximately $4,500 to $8,500. This budget would provide an 8-foot by 8-foot safe room. A 14-foot by 14-foot safe room could cost $15,000 to $25,000.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is recognizing 14 State and local governments with its coveted "Door Knocker Award" for their outstanding work in producing affordable housing. From creating a stable living environment for those with disabilities to providing rental assistance to homeless veterans, each community represents a model for developing innovative housing solutions to meet their specific needs. Read a summary for each Door Knocker Award winner.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Mississippi and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding last week.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored that President Obama has nominated me for this position, and I am deeply grateful to Secretary Geithner for his confidence in me.

Washington, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched its first-ever Multifamily Midrise Design Competition. Based on USGBC’s LEED for Homes Multifamily Midrise green rating system, the competition offers professionals and students a unique opportunity to present their solutions for sustainable design for multifamily buildings of four to six stories.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Muller Company, a full service real estate company specializing in management, investment and development of commercial real estate in the western United States, announced today that the leasing team at the Taj Mahal Medical Center located in Laguna Hills, Calif. has signed its first medical lease since the start of construction and the official rebranding of the project in March, 2011

Lewis Center, OH - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Property Management, an Associa company, is pleased to announce that Stephanie Soroky and Clint Grigley have earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designation.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) announced today he returned more than $1 million in Unclaimed Property to just eight account owners. Five individuals and three businesses each have received more than $100,000 since mid-February. The recipients are not being identified for privacy reasons.

Phuket, Thailand - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following a series of delays over the last two years, construction of the new International terminal at Phuket International Airport is now scheduled to get underway at the beginning of November.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $23 million in grants to organizations which will help state and local communities, as well as non-profit organizations, improve their use of federal funds to revitalize neighborhoods, help the homeless and produce more affordable housing.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Berzack Group, led by its President, Warren Berzack, has joined Lee & Associates - LA North/Ventura, Inc., a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm and member of the Lee & Associates group of companies, specializing in multifamily investment sales throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles markets.

Sarasota, FL - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 11-story office building located at the corner of South Pineapple Avenue and Ringling Boulevard has undergone complete renovations of its common areas, upgraded security and revitalized the grounds. Recognizable by an exterior façade of uninterrupted dark glass framed with sleek sand-colored archways around the entire building, the interior of the M&I Bank Building has been elevated to today’s definition of contemporary design. This first phase of renovations exceeds $1 million in expenditures

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thirteen builders, remodelers and other home building industry professionals were honored yesterday as winners of National Green Building Awards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at the 13th annual National Green Building Conference in Salt Lake City.“These awards recognize and celebrate the most forward-thinking builders and remodelers in green building,” said Bob Jones, immediate past chairman of NAHB and a builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “These award winners are pushing the envelope of what we can achieve with energy and resource efficiency.”

ST. LOUIS, MO - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United States Attorney’s Office announced the guilty pleas of Joshua Gould, a former financial representative with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. and affiliate of Spetner Associates; and David Rubin, employee and operator of two local offices of Coral Mortgage Bankers Corporation.

May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company announced the sale of a Single Tenant Net Lease Retail Portfolio, consisting of 16 properties spanning several U.S. markets. The portfolio was purchased by an affiliate of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc., one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate and finance groups. Details of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

Washington, D.C. - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced that it is sponsoring a briefing for Congressional staff and press on how sustainable design practices and operations can effectively reduce the consumption of resources at U.S. Embassies and other diplomatic facilities, while enhancing security.

WASHINGTON DC - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Alabama and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding this week