Yearly Archives: 2014

HEMPSTEAD, NY, WASHINGTON, D.C., NEW YORK, NY - April 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Judge Arthur D. Spatt of the Eastern District of New York entered final judgment in the discriminatory zoning case brought by New York Communities for Change and affordable housing developer MHANY Management, Inc. against the Village of Garden City in Nassau County on Long Island. The Village of Garden City and its Board of Trustees must now implement changes to their residential housing practices to remedy the effects of their prior intentionally discriminatory conduct

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $29 million in grants to assist more than 1,200 extremely low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS annually. This funding will provide these households with a stable living environment, which is essential to accessing healthcare and HIV related services. In addition to housing assistance, these local programs will provide access to the needed supportive services such as life skills, job readiness services and employment training.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has reached a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) with the Aurora, Illinois, Housing Authority (AHA), settling allegations that AHA's rebuilding plan for a demolished public housing complex would have illegally denied housing to persons with disabilities, displaced families with children, and people on AHA's waiting list, the majority of whom are African American. Under the agreement, AHA will develop 100 units of affordable family housing on the site of the demolished complex and in other locations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Building Systems Councils (BSC), in partnership with the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA), Operation Finally Home and the members of the New Braunfels Home Builders Association, last week hosted a dedication ceremony to present Army Specialist Cody Nusbaum with a new mortgage-free home in New Braunfels, Texas. Nusbaum was severely wounded in 2011 while serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A growing economy, pent-up demand, competitive mortgage rates and affordable home prices will keep housing on an upward trajectory through 2015. However, several obstacles including tight consumer credit, shortages of lots and labor and rising materials prices are hindering a more robust recovery, according to economists who participated in yesterday’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2014 Spring Construction Forecast Webinar

Syracuse, NY - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Dan Maffei will speak at the Cayuga County Economic Development Agency Luncheon in Auburn and host an infrastructure roundtable in Oswego tomorrow, Thursday, April 24th.

TRENTON - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the spring boom in home, landscape and gardening activities kicking up now, the Department of Environmental Protection today urged New Jersey residents to use caution when applying pesticides, and to employ only licensed commercial pesticide applicators when hiring for pest control services that include pesticide product applications

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today published a report which finds that many consumers are frustrated by the short amount of time they have to review a large stack of complex closing documents when finalizing a mortgage. The Bureau also released guidelines for an upcoming eClosing pilot project to assess how electronic closings can benefit consumers as they navigate the mortgage closing process.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thank you all for joining us today. We have convened this forum to discuss one of the most significant, yet stressful times in the lives of consumers – mortgage closing time. Mortgage closing comes after the neighborhoods have been scoured. Schools have been evaluated. Countless websites have been perused. Wish lists were made and deal breakers considered. But finally, a home has been found. An offer was made and accepted. The consumer has applied for and been approved for a mortgage – hopefully after careful shopping and thoughtful evaluation of the future. Now it is down to the final hours before the consumer can take ownership of the new home, and standing between the consumer and those keys is a mountain of paperwork

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Karen Jackson can't wait to start hosting big Sunday family dinners at the newly remodeled Speedway Circle house where she grew up.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lawmakers and those involved in the nation’s housing industry remain frustrated by a lack of communication and guidance from the office of Mel Watt, who became director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency in January, regarding his plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Reuters reported April 14

Washington, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched its new online data visualization resource that highlights real-time green building data for each state in the U.S. and Washington, D.C. The enhanced state market briefs — highlighting LEED projects, LEED-credentialed professionals and USGBC membership in each state — provide green building advocates and the general public a look into LEED’s impact within any U.S. state.

ATLANTA, GA - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the Congressional Forum at the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit today, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) underscored Drug Take Back Day as an effective means for individuals and families to help fight the epidemic of prescription drug abuse by removing from homes and communities expired, unwanted, or unused medications and controlled substances that are prone to abuse and theft

ARLINGTON, Va. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Officials from Arlington Public Schools (APS) and Arlington County today announced that APS has decided to retain its Wilson Boulevard property in western Rosslyn for possible redevelopment as a new secondary school

NEW YORK, NY - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Piquet Realty, a leading luxury real estate firm with offices in Miami and Orlando, known for their deep ties to the high-end Brazilian investor community, has announced the signing of a new lease at The Coates Building, located at 555 Madison Avenue. The company will utilize the space to grow their New York presence. The firm’s expansion plan includes accommodating roughly 100 agents at this location.

HOUSTON - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Global real estate developer Gerald D. Hines, Hugh F. Kelly, chair of the Counselors of Real Estate, and ULI healthy communities expert Rachel MacCleery will join leading economists and top talent from the world of online real estate sales to offer remarks and take questions from reporters attending the National Association of Real Estate Editors’ 48th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in Houston

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Against the backdrop of unusually severe winter weather, the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) declined to 53 in the first quarter of 2014, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This reading is down from the historically high level of 57 in the two most recent quarters, but remains above the key break-even point of 50

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 14.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 units in March, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau

New York - April 24, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Warburg Realty®, one of Manhattan’s leading residential real estate companies, today announced Michael Guerra has joined the firm as its Brooklyn Sales Director. In this newly created role, Guerra will be responsible for heading Warburg’s expansion into Brooklyn

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) will help address the city’s growing demand for affordable housing by opening its Housing Choice Voucher Program to new applicants, with the goal of adding 5,000 families to its waiting list through a lottery system. Applications will be accepted online between April 28 and May 11, 2014. At the conclusion of the application period, a lottery process will determine which applicants will be placed on the HACP’s waiting list as well as the order of placement on the list.