Monthly Archives: November 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HBI has once again been named one of The Washingtonian’s 50 Great Places to Work in the Washington, D.C. area. The recognition marks HBI’s fifth consecutive award since 2005. Upon hearing the news of the recognition, HBI’s President & CEO, John Courson, stated “achieving the honor of being named a Great Place to Work only happens because of HBI’s great team of dedicated and committed employees. The collegial work environment created by the HBI team enhances our mission of Building Careers, Building Individuals and Building Homes.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it has issued a “green bond” consisting of a three-year, fixed-rate bond that is $500 million in aggregate principal amount. This issuance of bonds is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to advance renewable energy initiatives and promote energy efficiency

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The dream of having a place of one’s own has long been part of our American way of life. For many people today, even after all the heartache we have experienced in the past five years since the financial crisis and the collapse of the housing market, owning a home still means something special. It means a solid and certain foundation of stability and even a kind of permanence. It means the prospect and the tangible opportunity to climb the economic ladder. It means putting a stake down on a better life. As T.S. Eliot said, “Home is where one starts from.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A unique software application created by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) could improve the efficiency of commercial buildings by allowing occupants to interact with buildings more directly

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- For Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS^®) mortgage-backed securities (MBS) with issue dates beginning on or after January 1, 2014, Fannie Mae will provide enhanced transparency related to affordable housing programs associated with the underlying properties. Fannie Mae will also begin providing additional data elements related to Other Debt, when applicable

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rob Couch, a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Housing Commission, will testify before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at a hearing tomorrow on housing finance reform.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2014 economic forecast for the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industry is consistent with ongoing recovery in nonresidential construction spending next year. However, the recovery remains constrained by a lack of conviction regarding overall macroeconomic and budgetary prospects in the United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown

IRVINE, CA - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, one of the most dominant retail investment groups in the western United States and a market leader in the sale of retail properties, announced today that Patrick G. Kent of Hanley Investment group represented the buyer and seller in the sale of a multi-tenant shopping center in Monument, Colo. The purchase price was $3,762,000.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lee & Associates, one of the nation’s largest broker owned commercial real estate firms, (Lee) has named Jeffrey M. Rinkov president and chairman of the board. Rinkov, a 17 year industry veteran who has served in Lee Leadership positions for eight years, will be serving in an interim position; it was announced recently at the firm’s annual Summit in Las Vegas.

Washington, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Land Title Association released the following statement today on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) final rule for integrated mortgage disclosures.

Low mortgage rates are not pushing most renters to consider homeownership Washington - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The worst housing crisis in generations...

National Healthy Homes Conference to address serious health and safety concerns in housing WASHINGTON - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 9 million American...

Washington, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing a rule today requiring easier-to-use mortgage disclosure forms that clearly lay out the terms of a mortgage for a homebuyer. The new “Know Before You Owe” mortgage forms will replace the existing federal disclosures and help consumers understand their options, choose the deal that’s best for them, and avoid costly surprises at the closing table.

Philadelphia, Pa. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces that LEED v4, the newest version of the LEED green building program, launched today at the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia. LEED has revolutionized the marketplace since 1998 as the world’s premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED v4 builds on the fundamentals of previous versions while offering a new system that prepares all LEED projects in a portfolio to perform at a higher level

Columbus, OH - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As 93.3 million Americans prepare to travel to visit loved ones or go on vacation this holiday season, Nationwide Insurance wants to ensure consumers are taking the proper precautions to protect their homes and belongings while they are away

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Mercy Housing launches Home Is, a national cause-marketing campaign that brings attention to the importance of “Home.” In our busy lives, it is easy to take for granted the importance of a home to come to every night – a place where you are safe, where you are comfortable, and that belongs to you and your family

Washington, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today filed a request for an injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against an Aug. 27 rule from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that drastically alters federal contractors’ existing affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations for individuals with disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners across the country should not be forced to pay for the sudden and dramatic flood insurance premium increases that are the unintended consequence of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, insisted the National Association of Realtors® today in testimonybefore the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales declined for the second consecutive month in October, while constrained inventory means home prices continue to see double-digit year-over-year gains, according to the National Association of Realtors®.