Yearly Archives: 2011

Washington, D.C. - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A group of 18 U.S. Senators, led by Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), urged government agencies to take action to prevent foreclosures and help families keep their homes.The senators made their request in a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke

Alexandria, VA - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An analysis in the March issue of the ABI Journal found that several bankruptcy courts are dealing with the foreclosure crisis through the adoption of loss-mitigation programs (LMPs). As Congress examines a possible repeal of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) due to ineffectiveness in modifying mortgages, John Rao of the National Consumer Law Center Inc. in Boston writes that several bankruptcy courts have provided a useful solution through the adoption of LMPs.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In conjunction with National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 6-12, NeighborWorks America, The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, HOPE Now, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and a coalition of national government agencies, nonprofit organizations and financial institutions are empowering homeowners to combat loan modification scams.

EUGENE, OR - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Janice Bolton of Bolton Realty to the growing network of agents and brokers that have adopted an IDX solution for their professional real estate search pages. As a member of the Natchitoches MLS (NMLS), Bolton has long had access to the detailed property listings NMLS supplies to real estate professionals. Now, potential buyers can experience the same level of accessibility to the NMLS database by utilizing the IDX-enabled search tools Bolton hosts online.

BLUE BELL, PA - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With minimum bids starting at just $75,000, 36 two- and three-bedroom condominiums in Blue Bell, Pa., that had previously been on the market for as much as $301,400 are set to go on the auction block in April.

NEW YORK, NY - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action to seek debarment of Lettire Construction Corp., a New York City general contractor, and Nicholas Lettire, president of the company, from working on future federally funded contracts for a period of three years.

Ladera Ranch, CA - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 300 homeowners attended a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop hosted by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) and the Orange County Home Ownership Preservation Collaborative. Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-44) was a special guest at the event, which was held Saturday, February 26, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) urges members of the House of Representatives to show their support for homeownership and the mortgage interest deduction by co-sponsoring H. Res. 25."This resolution acknowledges the importance of homeownership to individual households, the economy and the nation," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. The resolution also states that the mortgage interest deduction "may well be the most important component of housing-related tax policy in America today" and should not be further restricted, he said

Los Angeles, , CA - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. (NYSE:CBG) today announced that CB Richard Ellis has been named the premier global brand in commercial real estate, according to a survey of industry professionals worldwide by The Lipsey Company. CB Richard Ellis has been voted the industry’s top brand for ten consecutive years, ever since Lipsey inaugurated its survey in 2002.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the fourth quarter of 2010, commercial and multifamily mortgage delinquency rates remained low for life insurance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; fell for banks and thrifts for the first time since the 2006 and rose slightly for loans held in commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report.

Washington, DC - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The total number of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed foreclosure prevention actions in 2010 more than doubled from one year earlier, according to the FHFA’s Fourth Quarter 2010 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report. Although loan modifications declined for the second consecutive quarter, refinancings through the Home

McLean, VA - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®(PMMS®), which shows a drop in long-term fixed rates for the third consecutive week.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Multifamily Information and Transactions Standards (MITS) initiative, the apartment industry’s coordinated effort to create data standards so different software programs can “talk to each other,” has released a new "Renters’ Insurance 4.0" standard.

March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Even as 50,000 new foreclosures start every week, the House Financial Services Committee votes tomorrow on four bills to dismantle programs aimed at helping homeowners. Industry figures show that more households than ever are in some stage of foreclosure, with over five million mortgage holders now at risk of losing their homes. Avoiding unnecessary foreclosures and encouraging loan modifications will be key to economic recovery, as the nation is sorely missing the jobs and growth provided by a healthy housing market.

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.