Yearly Archives: 2016

Home prices maintained their robust, upward trajectory in a vast majority of metro areas during the second quarter, causing affordability to slightly decline despite mortgage rates hovering at lows not seen in over three years, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®. The report also revealed that for the first time ever, a metro area – San Jose, California – had a median single-family home price above $1 million.

Mortgage applications increased 7.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 5, 2016

Consumers Energy’s interns made an impact on communities across Michigan this summer, helping feed over 3,000 people, picking up nearly 450 pounds of trash and providing educational programming for 120 children.

Eighteen happy families were officially welcomed to their new homes in Franklin Park Estates today. The three bedroom, two bath, two car garage homes were made possible through the efforts of Broward County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Broward Housing Finance Authority

Consumers Energy is offering free tours of the Mio Dam for 275 visitors Aug. 27. The tours are in celebration of the dam’s first 100 years of service to Michigan, and are part of the Oscoda County Riverfest, being held Aug. 26-28.

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) announced today that it has successfully deployed $100 million in financing to low- to moderate-income communities through the United States Treasury Department’s CDFI Bond Guarantee Program (BGP) program. Clearinghouse CDFI is the first bond recipient to reach the $100 million milestone. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) served as the Qualified Issuer of the bond, which was closed in August of 2014

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Treasury released the July Housing Scorecard earlier this month. The report says higher sales of new and previously owned homes, a lower mortgage rate, and higher home prices show that the housing market recovery is continuing

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is steering borrowers toward a down payment assistance program with a funding scheme that violates federal law, forces borrowers to accept a higher interest rate, and poses a risk to the FHA’s insurance fund, according to the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she wrote to District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment Director Tommy Wells, referring to his office, D.C. United, and Pepco several health and environmental concerns raised by D.C. residents in ANC 6D06 related to the planned Buzzard Point D.C. United soccer stadium construction, the nearby Pepco substation, and a concrete facility in Southwest. Norton said that she was referring the concerns raised to the appropriate D

Members of 32BJ SEIU, the nation’s largest property services union, have spent the past week knocking on doors for Democrat Christine Peters, whom they endorsed last week in the Westchester County Legislature special election to replace Bernice Spreckman.

Now is time to spotlight the newest buildings, initiatives and innovations that are shaping, informing and catalyzing the high-performance planning, design, construction and operations processes. The Beyond Green™ Awards are a great way to recognize those projects and activities that contribute to making high-performing, resilient buildings and communities. Today, the National Institute of Building Sciences Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) issues the Call for Entries for its 2016 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building and Community Awards.

Building managers can now track energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions and waste together in Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager WASHINGTON - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental...

Today, the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC) announced the appointment of Heidi Kunka as the director of USGBC Central Pennsylvania. In this role, Kunka will work to advance USGBC’s mission to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated through localized engagement and outreach throughout the state.

Kicking off its second decade of partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Nissan North America today announced a $1 million grant to help build more homes with families in need of decent, affordable housing. Nissan’s cash contributions to Habitat for Humanity in North America total more than $14 million over the past 11 years

Selecting where to place your business plays a big role in the success and your overall profits. You’ll want a location that draws people in; for example, a shopping center is a great place for a fast food restaurant. Hungry shoppers will be drawn to the idea of a quick bite to eat. There are many choices available in terms of actual premises (meaning the building and property location).