Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 13, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- REALTOR® Magazine and the Good Neighbor Society have announced the recipients of the sixth annual Volunteering Works, a program that matches Realtors® who work on small-scale charitable efforts with mentors and awards them grant money.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 13, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week nearly 8,500 Realtors® from across the country will advocate policies that impact the residential and commercial real estate markets during the Realtor® Party Convention & Trade Expo. Realtors® will meet with legislators, congressional and regulatory staff, as well as top industry executives during the meetings, which run here through May 17

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- I am glad to be with you today and to have the chance to reflect further on some of the changes that have followed the most damaging and frightening financial crisis of our lifetimes. As we all know, the effects of that crisis were severe and widespread. For the first time in decades, many people saw their housing values decline. Millions lost their jobs and millions lost their homes. Most Americans saw their life savings shrink, and although the stock markets have recovered, many households did not. A considerable number of people will work much longer before they can retire because of the damage that was done.

CHICAGO - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today announced the formation of a new certification organization: the International Center for Valuation Certification.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Bob Foster, Vice Mayor Robert Garcia and the Departments of Parks, Recreation & Marine and Public Works invite the public to a dedication ceremony for a new park to be located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Alamitos Avenue and Sixth Street on Tuesday, May 13, at 10 am

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-MI) joined his colleagues Representatives Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), David McKinley (R-WV) and Peter King (R-NY) to introduce the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act, supported by the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, brings our nation’s mortgage industry into the 21st century by providing lower rate mortgage financing for homeowners and builders to make cost effective energy improvements to their homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Housing and Custom Residential Knowledge Community, in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), recognized four recipients of the 2014 AIA/HUD Secretary Awards. The categories of the program include (1) Excellence in Affordable Housing Design (2) Creating Community Connection Award (3) Community-Informed Design Award and (4) Housing Accessibility - Alan J. Rothman Award. These awards demonstrate that design matters, and the recipient projects offer examples of important developments in the housing industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) --The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the April edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard – a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that 27 affordable housing providers and service providers across the nation have committed to installing more than 150 megawatts of on-site renewable energy, more than doubling the amount of renewable energy on HUD-assisted multifamily buildings

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) and its coalition partners in the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network (LMSPN) will host an important town hall discussion about the impact of attorney involvement in foreclosure rescue options for distressed homeowners on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Lawyers’ Committee’s offices, 1401 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. This event is a follow up to the Lawyers’ Committee’s April 15, 2014 release of a comprehensive national report“Foreclosure Rescue, Inc.”, which examines the foreclosure rescue fraud epidemic, scam trends and efforts to combat these fraudulent activities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although strong year-over-year price growth continued in most metropolitan areas in the first quarter, increases were somewhat smaller, according to the latest quarterly report by theNational Association of Realtors®. A companion breakout of income requirements to purchase a median-priced home on a metro basis shows the typical buyer was in a good position to buy an existing home in many cities in the Midwest and South.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Analysis of data collected for the Realtors® Confidence Index shows the market share of all-cash purchases is on the rise, despite declines in distressed sales and investor activity, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Drawing on its expertise in green building for affordable housing and a national track record that spans decades, Global Green USA today announced its commitment to solar installs across California that will collectively total 1MW by 2017. The CA-based, national non-profit made the announcement at a press conference hosted by the White House today in Mountain View, California where President Obama outlined his vision for more investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. #ActOnClimate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which called for efficiency standards that cut carbon pollution and save money by saving energy, the Energy Department today announced two new energy efficiency standards for electric motors and walk-in coolers and freezers. These standards combined will help reduce harmful carbon pollution by up to 158 million metric tons – equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 21 million homes – and save businesses $26 billion on utility bills through 2030

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC), with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the expansion of Green Preservation Plus. Formerly known as Green Refinance Plus, Green Preservation Plus supports the preservation of quality affordable multifamily housing in the United States by providing additional funds to improve the energy and water efficiency of properties.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mercy Loan Fund, a subsidiary of national nonprofit Mercy Housing, announced their commitment to the “Youth Opportunity Pledge” created by Opportunity Finance Network, a national network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) investing in opportunities that benefit low-income, low-wealth and other disadvantaged communities across America. The “Youth Opportunity Pledge” was inspired by President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative that takes a collaborative approach to create opportunities for young minority men in disadvantaged communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- WHAT: Top energy efficiency stakeholders from all sectors will participate in the Alliance to Save Energy's Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global), the world’s premier, invitation only energy efficiency conference May 20-21, 2014. A key component of the agenda is the annual EE Visionary Awards Luncheon, which will take place the second day of EE Global. These awards honor officials from around the world for their leadership and commitment to promoting energy efficiency and increasing energy productivity through innovative programs and policies. The 2014 EE Visionary Award recipients represent a spectrum of local, national, and global government entities

LAS VEGAS, NV - May 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Faris Lee Investments, a leading retail advisory and brokerage services firm, has completed the $11.5 million sale of a 60,105-square-foot portion of Spring Valley Town Center in Las Vegas. The retail property was 92 percent occupied at the close of escrow with tenants including The UPS Store, 7 Eleven, GNC, Fatburger, and others. Tenants within the center that weren’t a part of the sale include anchor tenants La Bonita Supermarkets, Lee’s Discount Liquor and Bank of America.

JERSEY CITY - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) --– Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency have partnered on a LEED Green Building Training by the U.S. Green Building Council – New Jersey Chapter for city employees and agency staff who are involved in the construction and development process.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- If regulators had conducted a comprehensive review of bank foreclosure files, they could have netted an additional $1.5 billion in cash payments, the Government Accountability Office reported April 29, The Wall Street Journal reported