Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON - December 5, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced enhancements to programs under Making Home Affordable (MHA) to better assist struggling homeowners and communities still recovering from the effects of the financial crisis. The enhancements are designed to motivate homeowners in MHA to continue making their mortgage payments on-time, strengthen the safety net for those facing continuing financial hardships, and help homeowners in MHA programs build equity in their homes, an important factor in stabilizing

TAMPA, FL - December 5, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Duncan Duo and RE/MAX Dynamic will host their inaugural holiday open house celebration on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The award-winning office, which is home to the top RE/MAX real estate team in Florida, recently moved to its new offices at 6320 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Tampa. The new location is an 8,000 square-foot office building located just a block from MacDill Air Force Base and the office assists numerous military personnel with their housing needs

WASHINGTON - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- I’ve really been looking forward to this opportunity ever since Joanna Shapiro extended the invitation to me when we first met at a Bipartisan Policy Center conference on housing finance reform in September. The housing finance landscape is rapidly evolving, so we have lots to catch up on

PHILADELPHIA - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- If this winter is anything like last year’s, brace yourself for some high heating bills again. One way to lessen the squeeze on your wallet is by taking steps to make your home more energy efficient. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program offers energy and money-saving changes people can begin to make today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today awarded $10 million in “sweat equity” grants to four non-profit self-help housing organizations which will create at least 540 affordable homes for hard-working, low-income families and individuals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced enhancements to programs under Making Home Affordable (MHA) to better assist struggling homeowners and communities still recovering from the effects of the financial crisis. The enhancements are designed to motivate homeowners in MHA to continue making their mortgage payments on-time, strengthen the safety net for those facing continuing financial hardships, and help homeowners in MHA programs build equity in their homes, an important factor in stabilizing neighborhoods

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 228 metro areas, declined in 64 and was stagnant in 47 between October 2013 and October 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the construction job gains come as new federal figures show year-over-year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- On November 17, the Filipino American Real Estate Professional Association (FAREPA) of Northern California (with assistance from SAMCAR) served as host for the California Association of REALTORS®'® biannual Ethnic Real Estate Industry Associations' Leadership Summit. The Summit is a gathering of the leaders of ethnic real estate organizations from throughout the state and C.A.R. to discuss issues affecting the organizations and how they can collaborate to better serve their constituencies, the overarching goals of C.A.R., and to meet the needs of home owners.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Brett Guthrie today voted in support of H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) has joined 90 of his colleagues in sending a letter to the leadership at the House Committee on Appropriations requesting they stop any funding which can be used to change the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act (CWA)

FORT LAUDERDALE - December 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Stiles is proud to announce that its owned and managed office buildings, the historic Plaza at Las Olas and The AutoNation Building in downtown Fort Lauderdale, were honored with The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) awards from the Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Overall, Stiles received six distinguished TOBY awards for quality office and retail projects as well as its management personnel. The TOBY Awards were held at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 7, 2014.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rebuilding Together, a national organization devoted to safe and healthy housing, and the American Chemistry Council’s North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA), a group that represents manufacturers of flame retardants, today  jointly launched a campaign to improve home fire safety over the holidays.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has recently expanded its business and environmentally friendly online permitting system and now offers electronic plan submission for commercial building permits. Additionally, DPS recently added fire alarm and fire protection to its ePermits and ePlans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Area home builders are preparing for the spring buying season as they plan for winter construction.  With 465 single family residential permits issued during October, the total for 2014 stands at 3,591–129 units more than last year at this time according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report.   Multi-family housing production continues to climb as October added another 78 units, bringing the yearly total to 3,246. Combined single family and multi-family permits take the year-to-date total to 6,837

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The ideal home and neighborhood is elusive for many American households today, concludes a new report by The Demand Institute. Americans believe in the importance of energy efficient homes; they desire updated kitchens and ample storage space. As for more basic housing needs, families want safer neighborhoods and more affordability. However, there’s a substantial gap between what Americans have and what they say they need or want—the “Satisfaction Gap.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United States Senate today confirmed President Obama's nomination of Nani Coloretti to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As the second most senior official at HUD, Coloretti will manage the Department's day-to-day operations, including a $45 billion annual budget and approximately 8,500 employees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction spending increased in October amid growing public-sector demand for construction and continued modest growth in residential, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new spending figures underscore the need for measures to increase the supply of qualified construction workers as firms worry about growing labor shortages

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Envision work zones aptly named Focus, Collaborative, Team and Quiet; seamlessly integrated lighting, power and HVAC systems; and yes, treadmill desks. Ware Malcomb shared its future office space concept at Development ’14, delivered by Ted Heisler

LONDON - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new white paper by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) finds that while the insurance industry is a leader in developing risk standards for natural disasters, the real estate sector and governments must also play an active role in climate change adaptation. Entitled What the Real Estate Industry Needs to Know about the Insurance Industry and Climate Change, the report draws upon data and analysis provided by Lloyd’s of London, to conclude that accurately priced insurance alone cannot mitigate the effects of climate change on the built environment.

Oakland Park, FL - December 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- CBRE arranged the sale of Oakland Park Industrial Center, an industrial portfolio consisting of seven multi-bay warehouses totaling 145,260 square feet, located in Oakland Park, FL. OPIC, LLC, acquired the portfolio from GMACK, LLC, for $7,777,040. CBRE represented the seller in the transaction