Yearly Archives: 2014

INDIO, Calif. -- INDIO, Calif. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- BH Properties LLC, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment firm, has completed an $8.8 million transaction for approximately 100 acres of land located in Indio, California. The property, which was owned by Wells Fargo Bank, is located at 42nd Avenue and Monroe Street adjacent to Interstate 10.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kevin Kelly, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., issued the following statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions

WASHINGTON - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced a second round of grants totaling $140 million to nearly 900 local homeless assistance programs across the country. Provided through HUD’s Continuum of Care Program, this funding will ensure additional permanent and transitional housing renewal projects are able to continue operating in the coming year, providing critically needed housing and support services to those persons and families experiencing homelessness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is celebrating 70 years of investment in the education and economic prosperity of America’s Servicemembers and Veterans. The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the “GI Bill” was enacted on June 22, 1944. The law provided a wide range of benefits for Veterans returning from World War II, including low-cost home loans, education and vocational training. The original GI Bill was heralded as a success and major contributor to America's stock of human capital that sped long-term economic growth across the Nation. Today, a new group of Veterans is accessing the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other education benefits, following in their footsteps.

Anaheim, Calif. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Tradesmen International, Chrysler Group LLC and the Trimmer Construction Education Foundation will honor ABC’s Craft Professional of the Year, Robert Stuart, this Friday at Stronghold Engineering’s office at 2000 Market Street in Riverside, Calif. Stuart, a superintendent at Stronghold Engineering was named ABC’s Craft Professional of the Year this May during ABC’s National Craft Championships and Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala

JACKSON, Miss. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Residents in the Jackson area can learn how to build or rebuild to reduce the likelihood of damage the next time severe storms, tornadoes or floods hit. Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists know how and they are sharing their knowledge.

Reston, Virginia - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the Court of Appeal of the State of California Second Appellate District affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s complaint, holding that California does not permit a preemptive challenge to the authority of a foreclosing party. Additionally, it ruled that a borrower lacks standing to challenge an assignment.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction firms added jobs in 40 states and the District of Columbia over the past 12 months and in 30 states and D.C. between April and May, according to an analysis today by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the employment gains help, but that construction employment remains below peak levels in every state and the District of Columbia, except North Dakota

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 20, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Insurance Committee Chair Kevin Cahill announced the passage of legislation this week to establish the Homeowners Bill of Rights to protect insurance policyholders from the problems experienced by individuals who suffered significant property losses and damages during Superstorm Sandy and Tropical

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 20, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the June 20, 2014, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming

WASHINGTON, DC - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to make communities safer, healthier, and more environmentally aware, Rebuilding Together and Philips are partnering to host six large volunteer projects across the country this summer and fall. As part of these projects, hundreds of volunteers will provide critical repairs and renovations to homes and community centers through the Philips Cares employee community service program. Additionally, Philips is donating its Philips LED lighting to the recipient homeowners to improve both the quality of their light and the energy efficiency in their homes

CHICAGO - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Energy, jobs, and the far-reaching influence of the Millennial generation are the issues that will have the most significant impact on real estate both near-and long-term, according to The Counselors of Real Estate® organization, which today released its official 2014 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate, a list it compiles annually.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Cleaver is pleased to announce that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded eleven municipalities and organizations within Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District with a combined total of nearly $1.9 million dollars as part of the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program to be utilized in the fight against homelessness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The residential market continues to improve with architects reporting an increase in demand for larger homes. Additionally, architects are seeing a greater interest in accessibility features as well as outdoor living space.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- On the heels of consecutive months of decreasing demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has returned to positive territory. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May ABI score was 52.6, up sharply from a mark of 49.6 in April. This score reflects an increase in design activity (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 63.2, up from the reading of 59.1 the previous month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Top Construction Official Says Bipartisan Proposal Reflects the Kind of "Courage" Needed to Tackle Funding Challenges That Have Already Forced Many States to Delay or Cancel Highway Repair Projects This Summer

WASHINGTON - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced a second round of grants totaling $140 million to nearly 900 local homeless assistance programs across the country (see attached chart). Provided through HUD’s Continuum of Care Program,  the funding announced today will ensure additional permanent and transitional housing renewal projects are able to continue operating in the coming year, providing critically needed housing and support services to those persons and families experiencing homelessness.

WASHINGTON - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published a Mortgagee Letter today reminding lenders participating in the agency’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Program to make certain senior borrowers are fully informed of all their options when applying for reverse mortgages. FHA’s Mortgagee Letter also reinforces the agency’s prohibition against misleading or deceptive advertising and that this prohibition extends to misleading or deceptive descriptions of the HECM program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A group of nationally renowned land use, property development and urban planning experts has been convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to make recommendations to the communities of Loveland, Fort Collins and Estes Park on improving the resiliency of riverfront properties along the Big Thompson River. The ULI representatives will be recommending redevelopment approaches to help minimize damage in flood-prone areas and expedite communitywide recovery efforts following floods. Many neighborhoods in the three communities were damaged by severe flooding in the fall of 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced that T. Justin MacDonald of Kerrville, Texas, has been elected as chairman of the NAHB Multifamily Council.