Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mike Calhoun says: Rep. Maxine Waters has presented a solid proposal on how to carefully reform the nation’s housing finance system. The Home Forward Act of 2014 rightly recognizes that any reform to this market must ensure broad credit access for qualified borrowers and a level playing field among lenders of every size

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18) introduced a bill that would encourage the development of a robust private flood insurance market that can offer homeowners options in terms of pricing and coverage. The Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act of 2014 would remove excessive restrictions placed on insurance companies by the federal government and would give states more flexibility to license and regulate private flood insurance.

Santa Rosa, CA: - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A homeowner and several consumer advocate attorneys will speak on one of three panels at a hearing sponsored by State Senator Noreen Evans, the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, today from 10AM-12PM. The hearing will focus on the California Homeowner Bill of Rights.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan will keynote the 2014 National Healthy Homes Conference in Nashville May 28 through 30. Secretary Donovan is joined by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, Rebuilding Together President and CEO Charley Shimanski, and HGTV’s Jack Thomasson as plenary speakers in Nashville

DALLAS - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Albuquerque flood control authority is one of 14 recipients nationwide of part of $860,000 to expand the use of green infrastructure to reduce water pollution and boost resilience to the impacts of climate change. The funding is in support of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which directs federal agencies to identify climate-resilient investments such as agency grants and technical assistance for communities across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., the chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and John Hoeven R-N.D., today introduced legislation that would immediately authorize TransCanada’s application with the State Department to build the Keystone XL pipeline. The binding bill is cosponsored by Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Mark Warner, D-Va., Kay Hagan, D-N.C., Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., John Walsh, D-Mont., and by all Senate Republicans. A vote on the bill is expected in the coming days

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its ranking of the top 10 countries for LEED® outside of the United States, demonstrating the global reach of the movement that is transforming the built environment into healthy, high-performing structures that benefit the planet and all of its people.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The bipartisan Northern Virginia congressional delegation today announced that the Dulles Metrorail Project has received final approval for a nearly $1.9 billion low-interest, long-term federal loan. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has signed the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program loan after the U.S. Department of Transportation Credit Council voted to approve it. This financing represents the largest loan in the TIFIA program's history. The loan is expected to close in the coming weeks, and will allow the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and its partners to proceed with its construction plans for phase two of the project.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Congressman Kevin Cramer introduced legislation to create uniform standards for the placement of Native American children into foster homes. The Native American Children’s Safety Act finally implements an across-the-board minimum protection for children placed in foster care under the direction of a tribal court. Senator John Hoeven has introduced the legislation in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to public pressure, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced adjustments to its mortgage rules to ensure access to credit for some nonprofit organizations. The proposal consists of two changes meant to help nonprofits continue to provide mortgage credit and servicing to underserved populations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) is once again calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to stop plans for new energy capacity zones that will raise electric rates for New York homeowners and businesses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) applauded the State of New Jersey today for agreeing to revise its policy for Sandy-stricken homeowners seeking relief through its Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Representative Steven Horsford (NV-4) formally joined two subcommittees as a new member of the House Financial Services Committee. He will serve on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- At a Board meeting held on April 24, 2014, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors approved the draft 2014 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and Procedures for public comment.

HARTFORD, CT - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the creation of a $15 million Transit Oriented Development Pre-Development and Acquisition Fund to provide financing that will encourage developers to carry out transit oriented development in communities with station stops along the CTFastrak and New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) transit corridors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to a new National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers survey, high-performing, Low-emissive (Low-E) windows are the most common green building products used by residential remodelers. To kick off National Home Remodeling Month in May, NAHB released the survey results, which highlight the most common building features that home owners are using to improve the energy efficiency of their homes

NEW YORK - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- HAP Investments, a New York based international real estate investment and development company along with designer Karim Rashid announced today the ground breaking for 329 Pleasant Avenue, to be known as “HAP 5.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, April 24, 2014, Larry McGill, Nicholas Mitchell and Helen Johnson pled guilty to Racketeering (O.C.G.A. § 16-14-4(c)) for their role in a home improvement scam targeting senior citizens. The three defendants were charged with conspiring to defraud 25 elderly victims of over $74,500 in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Walton Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today’s Financial Times featured an editorial on the “moribund” state of support for infrastructure in the United States and argued that Congressman John K. Delaney’s Partnership to Build America Act (H.R. 2084) should be a part of the solution. The Financial Times concluded, “the Delaney bill deserves to be passed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement in response to today’s GAO report on the Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR). The study was conducted as the result of a 2012 request by Congresswoman Waters, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Reps. Brad Miller (D-NC) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). Waters released the following statement: