Yearly Archives: 2016

The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) fell slightly in the second quarter of 2016, dropping three points to 50. This is the 18th consecutive reading of 50 or above

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced new procedures to strengthen the process mortgage servicers use to help struggling families avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes. FHA is streamlining its loss mitigation protocols that servicers must use when evaluating and deploying ‘home retention options,’ foreclosure alternatives that allow delinquent borrowers to retain their home.

Nevada -- it’s become ground zero for the solar industry, with its intense levels of sunshine; iconic solar projects, such as the Mandalay Bay Convention Center’s 8.3-megawatt rooftop installation; and equally intense policy debates over net energy metering and rate reform.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a second round of funding to help provide permanent homes to an estimated 108 veterans experiencing homelessness in seven states. The rental assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA (see attached list of HUD's voucher awards below).

As part of President Obama’s ongoing efforts to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector, today the Administration is announcing awards totaling $38.8 million for 29 economic and workforce development projects -- in and across multiple states -- that are building a stronger economic future for their communities, businesses, and workers.  The awards are administered by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

Slowed by frustratingly low inventory levels in many parts of the country, existing-home sales lost momentum in July and decreased year-over-year for the first time since November 2015, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Only the West region saw a monthly increase in closings in July.

Mortgage applications decreased 2.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 19, 2016.

In the wake of the flooding in Louisiana, the Federal Trade Commission has developed a series of blog posts with useful information for homeowners and people affected by the floods, and for those who want to help victims with charitable donations

Sales of new single-family houses in July 2016 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is 12.4 percent (±12.7%)* above the revised June rate of 582,000 and is 31.3 percent (±19.9%)* above the July 2015 estimate of 498,000

Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 12.4 percent in July from a downwardly revised June reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000 units, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the highest reading in almost nine years.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today an agreement with Delvista Towers Condominium Association, Inc., of Aventura, Florida, and its property management company, resolving allegations of housing discrimination against residents with disabilities. HUD claimed the condo association and its property managers denied the reasonable accommodation requests of residents with disabilities who needed assistance animals. Read the Conciliation Agreement.

Woodstock Institute joined together with 280 consumer, civil rights, labor, community, and non-profit organizations to emphasize strong and broad-based support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB’s) proposed rule to restrict the financial industry’s use of forced arbitration – a tactic used by Wall Street banks and predatory lenders to block consumers from challenging illegal behavior in court.

A 5-hour electric interruption has been scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. Tuesday in the Interlochen area to allow utility crews to work on equipment in the Interlochen substation

Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the exclusive global certification body forLEED projects and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), announced The LEED Performance Challenge today, which enables Indian cities to competitively share their latest performance data and benchmark it against other cities locally, nationally and globally. The LEED Performance Challenge aims to develop more sustainable, healthy buildings, communities and cities and to benchmark how they are planned, developed and measured against global standards.

Following its first-ever call for abstracts for its Building Innovation Conference Series, the National Institute of Building Sciences has developed a program schedule to engage the entire building community and foster collaboration during Building Innovation 2017: The Institute’s Fifth Annual Conference and Expo, to be held January 9-12, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a second round of funding to help provide permanent homes to an estimated 108 veterans experiencing homelessness in seven states. The rental assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA (see attached list of HUD’s voucher awards).

Frank Wuest died on August 13, 2016, while participating in a fundraising swim in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. At the time of his passing, Frank was president of Marcus Partners in Boston, Massachusetts, having established a successful career in real-estate investment and development

 The Energy Department announced today it is investing $19 million to improve the efficiency of our nation’s homes, offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants and stores. These projects will develop advanced building technologies that will help American consumers and businesses save money on their utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs

Forced arbitration clauses have no place in solar leasing contracts. These “rip-off clauses” hidden in the fine print rob consumers of the ability to take a company to court if it breaks the law or engages in abusive practices.