Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- If the nation faced another major economic downturn, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could require an additional taxpayer bailout of around $190 billion, according to stress test results released April 29 by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bloomberg reported.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Supporters of an “enhanced” but expired federal tax deduction for landowners who donate property for conservation or preservation want Congress to reinstate it and make it permanent, CQ Roll Call reported May 2.

TAMPA - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building science experts from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) are available to speak with media about how property owners can prepare for and recover from the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1 – November 30)

TAMPA - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is proud to announce that video and photographs from testing conducted at the organization’s unique Research Center are part of the National Building Museum’s newest exhibit, Designing for Disaster, which opens to the public on May 11.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The health of housing is key for the overall state of the U.S. economy and housing stands poised to serve as an engine of job growth with the right policies in place, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today

PEARL, Miss. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Survivors in Jones, Leake, Montgomery, Simpson and Warren counties whose property was damaged by the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi may now apply for federal disaster assistance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Of the 351 metro markets measured, 300 have seen year-over-year economic gains, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. The index shows that 59 metros have fully returned to or even exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market for the first quarter of 2014 is up year over year, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Compared to the first quarter of 2013, the single-family index increased 4 points to a level of 50, which is the highest first-quarter reading since the inception of the index in 2008 and the 10th consecutive quarter of year over year improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Finding and selling green homes is about to get easier for buyers and sellers with the National Association of Realtors®’ new Green MLS Implementation Guide, a comprehensive guide for helping multiple listing services promote the special features of a green home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Increasingly, banks, credit unions, and other lenders are beginning to offer loan products to homeowners and businesses for the installation of rooftop solar systems. However, barriers to accessing this growing market still remain. The Energy Department’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently convened the Banking on Solar working group to engage lenders and other stakeholders to address these barriers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton’s testimony in advance of tomorrow’s hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Government Operations on legislation passed by the District of Columbia decriminalizing marijuana. Norton is a senior member of the full committee, but is not a member of the subcommittee, which is chaired by Representative John Mica (R-FL). As a member of the full committee, she will be permitted to sit with the subcommittee and ask questions following her testimony as a witness. The hearing will take place on May 8 at 10:00 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) --The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a team of graduate school students from Ohio State University is the winner of HUD’s inauguralInnovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. The Ohio State team developed a design plan for the development of a Revolutionary War-era structure in Bergen County, New Jersey into new permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans. HUD selected a collaborative team from New York University and Columbia University as runner up.

Washington, DC - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today legislation for which U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) serves as the Democratic lead co-sponsor passed the House by a unanimous vote of 395-0. The Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions, H.R. 3584, led by Rep. Beatty and Rep. Stivers (OH-15), would increase capital liquidity for privately insured credit unions. As the lead Democrat on the legislation Rep. Beatty was instrumental in securing support and guiding the legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Steve Stivers (R – OH) today announced the recent passage of H.R. 3584 – the Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act – out of the U.S. House of Representatives. Stivers introduced the bipartisan legislation with Democrat co-sponsor Joyce Beatty (D-OH) to provide regulatory relief for small, community-based enterprises in an effort to boost the housing market.

Waterbury, Vt. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin was joined today by state and local officials, representatives from construction manager PC Construction of South Burlington, architect Freeman French Freeman of Burlington, FEMA officials and others at a groundbreaking ceremony in downtown Waterbury to mark the State of Vermont’s largest capital project ever – the historic rebuilding of the Waterbury State Office Complex

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today joined the national director of AmeriCorps in announcing $3.5 million in AmeriCorps funding to four Virginia organizations. The grants support nonprofit organizations serving at-risk youth, and organizations which train and deploy military veterans to assist other veterans and their families in Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Port Authority will host an information meeting on Thursday afternoon with a public hearing to follow in the evening on the agency's proposed $3.6 billion public-private partnership to build a new Central Terminal Building within an overall redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport for the 21st century.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pathways Vermont has been granted a conditional designation as a Specialized Services Agency (SSA) by Vermont Department of Mental Health Commissioner Paul Dupre.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a snapshot report spotlighting the mortgage debt challenges faced by a growing number of older Americans. These challenges include more mortgage debt, less affordable housing, and greater risk of foreclosure. The CFPB is also issuing a consumer advisory today reminding older consumers approaching retirement to think about their mortgage pay-off date and to consider their retirement income and expenses

SCOTCH PLAINS - May 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Union County elected officials, school administrators, teachers and students today broke ground on the construction of a $11 million expansion of the West Hall building for the Union County Vocational-Technical School High School