Yearly Archives: 2015

Guildhall - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Farmers Chris and Hannah Fay were able to expand their dairy farm by selling a conservation easement to the Vermont Land Trust on property they had just purchased. As part of the conservation project, they also donated land to The Nature Conservancy that will become part of the Great Guildhall Swamp Preserve. The Fays had been renting the parcel for several years and using it for hay to support their dairy herd. The sale of the easement made buying the land more affordable.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal jury sitting in Providence, Rhode Island, convicted a Cranston, Rhode Island, man of one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), one count of tax evasion and two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false corporate tax returns, the Justice Department and the IRS announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Obama Administration is committed to taking responsible steps to address climate change, promote clean energy, and help ensure a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations. That is why, today, Secretary Castro, of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Governor Brown of California are announcing a number of actions to expand financing for energy efficiency and solar energy in multifamily housing. Today’s actions also set us on a track to reach the President’s goal of installing 100 megawatts of renewable energy across federally subsidized housing by 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $191,794,858 in federal funding has been awarded to 680 different organizations in New York State working to end homelessness. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. The CoC Program provides funding to non-profits, as well as local and state governments, to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families and promote access to programs that encourage self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness

COLUMBUS - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Wednesday, January 21, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved more than $35 million for affordable housing initiatives across the state of Ohio, including

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee has officially announced subcommittee memberships for the 114th Congress. Senator Susan Collins will serve as Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee in addition to serving on five other subcommittees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction spending rose in December to a six-year high of $982 billion as public construction for the year increased for the first time since 2009, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said President Obama's budget proposal and his suggested infrastructure funding program should help construction spending continue to grow by accelerating debate about the best way to fund repairs to the nation's aging roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- REALTOR® Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, of Romeoville, has been named the 2015 Illinois REALTOR® of the Year by the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR). She is the managing broker of Century 21 Affiliated in La Grange Park

BOSTON - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- With forecasters predicting heavy snowfall today and subzero temperatures tonight into early Tuesdaymorning, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and public health officials are reminding residents to take precautions due to the extreme cold. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and help the City’s vulnerable populations during this dangerous cold snap, particularly homeless and elderly residents. In such cold conditions, health officials stress that all precautions must be taken to stay warm, as hypothermia or frostbite set in quickly in freezing temperatures.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Single family housing experienced limited growth in 2014 over 2013 yet still reached the highest number since 2007 according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. The year ended with 4,220 single family permits compared to 4,090 in 2013. Including multi-family units, the total for 2014 was 8,130 compared to 6,969 in 2013 for an overall 17 percent increase. Looking at housing production over the past 35 years, single family permit activity stands at 66% of the average during that time period. The 3,910 multi-family units permitted during 2014 is 131% of the average over the past 35 years

NEW ORLEANS - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of New Orleans today issued a reminder that Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, is the payment deadline for 2015 property taxes. Residents are strongly encouraged to pay their property taxes online or by mail on or before Saturday, Jan. 31 to avoid long lines. City Hall will extend its office hours on Friday, Jan. 30, accepting payments from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Because Jan. 31 falls on a weekend, the City will only accept in-person payments on Monday, Feb. 2, and will do so at City Hall during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All other payments – including those submitted online or by mail – must be submitted or postmarked on or before Jan. 31, 2015, to receive timely credit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) --– The White House has announced that President Obama’s 2016 Budget proposal will include international tax reform to pay for new infrastructure projects. This is the same framework Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) has advocated for two years, building a bipartisan coalition in Congress around combining international tax reform and infrastructure.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- An Ohio funeral home operator has agreed to pay a civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges for violating the agency’s Funeral Rule, which requires funeral providers to provide information consumers need to compare prices and buy only the funeral services and goods they want.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today issued a new policy under its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Program giving FHA-approved lenders the option to delay calling HECMs with eligible ‘non-borrowing spouses’ due and payable. A delay would postpone foreclosure normally triggered by the death of the last surviving borrower. FHA’s new guidance will allow reverse mortgage lenders to assign eligible HECMs to HUD upon the death of the last surviving borrowing spouse, thereby allowing eligible surviving spouses the opportunity to remain in the home despite their non-borrowing status

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Jan. 30, 2015, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in California, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington

Los Angeles - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert A. McDonald and attorneys representing homeless veterans in Los Angeles announced an agreement that dedicates the West Los Angeles VA campus to serving veterans in need, and commits the department to design a plan to help end homelessness among veterans in Los Angeles County. The agreement is an important step forward in carrying out President Obama’s commitment that no veteran should live on the streets, or forego necessary medical and psychological services

WASHINGTON - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite interest rates being at their lowest level of 2014, pending home sales cooled in December but remained above year-over-year levels for the fourth consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions experienced declines in December.

BOSTON, - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three innovations from Massachusetts are among 26 finalists in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Innovation of the Day initiative.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) strongly supports the CFPB’s willingness to propose changes to its mortgage rules to provide more exemptions for small creditors and new safe harbor provisions related to rural or underserved markets. If enacted as proposed, the revisions would give more banks flexibility to make loans to their customers, show discretion in credit decisions, and engage in relationship lending

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) -- In real estate, location still matters – a lot. In fact, for the majority of Americans, the right neighborhood trumps the right house, according to a new report by The Demand Institute. But perhaps more surprising is that most people (59%) who move won’t go far, staying within 30 miles of their current home