Yearly Archives: 2014

Washington, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has named the recipients of the 2013 LEED for Homes Awards, recognizing projects, developers and homebuilders that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in residential green building. The award categories recognize innovative multi- and single-family projects, production builders, affordable housing projects and developers, an overall commitment to LEED for Homes and Project of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $7,650,550 via its Continuum of Care (CoC) Program to several local agencies and organizations throughout Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district to address homelessness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) --In the closing days of the 2014 session, the General Assembly enacted 4 bills to put Maryland on a path towards preventing, mitigating the effects of, and ending homelessness. The successful legislative package reflects in large part the recommendations of a Statewide Task Force on Housing and Supportive Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (the “Task Force”), which the Public Justice Center helped to create and operate. A summary of its components follows

HARTFORD, CT - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that $27.9 million in grants have been approved to build four new supportive, affordable multifamily housing developments in Bridgeport, Hamden, Hartford and ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today at an Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development hearing held on the topic of rail safety:

WASHINGTON, DC. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit with a vision of a safe and healthy home for every person, today announced it has earned a 4-star charity rating (the highest rating) for the 10th consecutive year from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator. With this year’s rating, Rebuilding Together is now included in the top group of only one percent of the charities rated, which have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star Charity Navigator evaluations, demonstrating the nonprofit’s outstanding performance

Washington DC - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano hosted a briefing for Congressional staff on the issue of rental-backed securities, institutional investors in the home buying market and the potential consequences.

TAMPA - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the annual hurricane season prediction coming this week from Colorado State University and the start of hurricane season only eight weeks away, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) urges residents to start their hurricane preparedness efforts now. Regardless of whether or not a busy season is predicted, IBHS reminds residents that it only takes one storm to significantly affect their lives and property, and no prediction can ensure the season will be cyclone-free

New York, NY - April 10, 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, is expanding its foothold in the New York City luxury and commercial marketplace with the acquisition of Portman Realty, Inc., which includes Portman Realty Management, which manages north of 1.0-million-square-feet in New York. Cristiano Piquet, who first established his firm in 2008, will be the President and CEO. New York-based Benjamin Benalloul, formerly President of Portman Realty, will be the Vice President. Benjamin will work in tandem with Cristiano to lead business development and client service initiatives for Piquet Realty in all regions where the firm operates

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) praised today’s U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce markup of The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act (H.R. 4320) and The Employee Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 4321), which halt key elements of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) “ambush” election proposed rule.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 175 metro areas, declined in 106 and was stagnant in 58 between February 2013 and February 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that despite the gains construction employment remained below peak levels in all but 19 metro areas

Washington, D.C. - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced today that 3 billion square feet of green construction space has earned LEED® certification around the globe.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Of the approximately 350 metro markets nationwide, 59 returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. This represents a net gain of 11 metros year over year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) opened its call for entries for the 2014 NAHB Pillars of the Industry Awards competition. Multifamily owners and developers, property managers, architects, interior designers and multifamily industry professionals are invited to enter the competition

Newark, NJ - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Private security officers in New Jersey have won a historic, 3.5 year industry-wide contract improving wages and benefits for over 1,200 security officers who protect commercial office buildings in Essex, Hudson and Union Counties, including the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The first-ever union contract between New Jersey’s top private security contractors and 32BJ of Service Employees International Union is the result of one of the largest unionization drives occurring in New Jersey in recent memory. The contract will be effective in April and is expected to be ratified by the workers on April 12. Most officers will see a minimum wage increase from $9 to $11 over the life of the contract and all security officers will receive nearly two dollars an hour in raises by the end of the contract.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced nearly $1.6 billion in grants to renew support for 7,100 local homeless housing and service programs across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see attached chart). Provided through HUD's Continuum of Care Program, the funding announced today will ensure these local projects remain operating in the coming year, providing critically needed housing and support services to those persons and families experiencing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 9, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing (DOH) and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) are pleased to announce the State-Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

CHICAGO - April 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Appraisers need to get up to speed on the latest energy efficient home features and should learn to determine how green a property is, according to a new book by the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Forty-five percent of highway contractors had motor vehicles crash into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials added that the study found work zone crashes are more likely to kill vehicle operators and passengers than construction workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 8, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Recent attack ads from the 60 Plus Association use scare tactics to get in the way of the housing finance reform that we need to create housing opportunities for Americans. The ads attack senators who have supported the Senate Banking Committee’s bipartisan legislative proposal from Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Crapo, which winds down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and lays out a path to a new, stronger housing finance system that combines a necessary government backstop with regulation and competitive private capital participation all aiming to provide broad access to affordable homeownership and rental homes