Yearly Archives: 2016
USGBC’s New Report Reveals Hospitality Industry Poised for Tremendous Growth in Green Building
USGBC released its LEED in Motion: Hospitality report, which showcases tremendous industry growth in green building and defines the scale-up opportunities for the hospitality sector. More than 109 million square feet of hotel space is currently LEED-certified, and the report highlights some of the most impressive LEED-certified hotels throughout the world.
Affordability Edges Up in Fourth Quarter
Modest home price and interest rate decreases resulted in a slight increase in nationwide housing affordability in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today.
Los Angeles’ New Homes in Eagle Rock Opened Four Days Ago, Over Half the...
Planet Home Living’s community in Eagle Rock, PRISM, has only been open four days now and over half the homes have already been sold. “We wanted to build something truly unique and are happy with how well the community has been accepted and how extremely popular it has become,” said Planet Home Living CEO Michael Marini.
Norton to Host ‘Ask Me About DC’ Reception with D.C. Hospitality Industry to Showcase...
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), in conjunction with Destination DC, the District of Columbia’s official tourism and marketing office, will host a Capitol Hill event on Friday, February 19, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., in 345 Cannon House Office Building (Cannon Caucus Room) to showcase D.C.’s local restaurants, nightlife, museums, shops, theaters, neighborhoods, and other tourist attractions to congressional and other regional staffers.
NCRC Calls on Financial Regulatory Agencies to Declare Flint, MI a Disaster Area
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) sent a letter to Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, and Martin J. Gruenberg, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, asking that they declare Flint, Michigan a designated disaster area in response to its water crisis and encourage banks to make loans to the city and its residents to help repair or replace tainted pipes
Housing Starts Fall 3.8 Percent in January
Nationwide housing starts dropped 3.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.099 million units in January, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Overall permit issuance edged down 0.2 percent
Builder Confidence Drops Three Points in February
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes fell three points to 58 in February from an upwardly revised January reading of 61 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Statement from NAHB Chairman Ed Brady on Hillary Clinton’s Housing Proposals
Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill., issued the following statement regarding former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recently announced economic revitalization agenda
EPA Awards Grants to 38 Student Teams for Innovative Sustainable Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 38 People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grants to university student teams for proposed projects to develop new, sustainable products and strategies. Each team will receive up to $15,000 for their proposals.
EPA Proposes More Stringent Stormwater Rules for Municipal Stormwater Programs
May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes (link is external) to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the “maximum extent practicable” (MEP).
Clinton Unveils Economic Revitalization Initiative with Housing Policies
Presidential candidate Secretary Hillary Clinton on February 12 released her “Economic Revitalization Initiative,” which includes a number of housing-related policy proposals she would support should she be elected president. The plan envisions an investment of $25 billion in various initiatives supporting community revitalization, connecting high-poverty neighborhoods to opportunity, removing barriers to homeownership, and increasing the supply of rental housing.
HUD AND CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCE NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN JANUARY
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for January 2016
Former Army Reserve Staff Sergeant Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Bulk Cash...
A Fort Buchanan Army Reserve Staff Sergeant was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for bulk cash smuggling of $113,050 and theft of government property worth $6,302.69 while serving in Afghanistan
Diane Yentel to be New President of National Low Income Housing Coalition
Diane Yentel, veteran affordable housing policy expert and advocate, has been named as the new President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) by the coalition’s board of directors. She will replace Sheila Crowley, the coalition’s long time President and CEO, who is retiring. The transition will take place in April.
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty Endorses Denham Legislation
In a letter sent to the chairmen and ranking members of two House committees, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) yesterday announced their support for U.S. Representative Jeff Denham’s Federal Asset Sale and Transfer Act (FAST Act) and the changes it contains to Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Remarks by MBA Vice-Chairman J. David Motley, CMB During MBA’s National Mortgage Servicing Conference...
Orlando, FL (February 17, 2016)- J. David Motley, CMB, President of Colonial Savings, F.A. and its divisions -- Colonial National Mortgage and CU Members Mortgage, and 2016 Vice-Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), offered the following remarks this morning during MBA's National Mortgage Servicing Conference and Expo 2016 in Orlando, FL.
“Desserts and Discussion” in Richmond to Focus on Virginia Wetlands and Clean Water
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is hosting a "Desserts and Discussion" talk on February 25, featuring a conversation about the importance of wetlands to clean water.
Refinance Applications Drive Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications increased 8.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 12, 2016.
Francis & Mailman Establishes Fellowship in Consumer Law At Community Legal Services
Community Legal Services (CLS) is pleased to announce that Francis & Mailman (link is external), a leading consumer rights and protection law firm in Philadelphia, has established a fellowship in consumer law at CLS and has named Supervising Attorney Joanna Darcus as the fellowship’s recipient. CLS, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016, has a long history of excellence in consumer litigation.
HUD Announces February 26 PBCA Industry Day in DC and Satellite Locations
On February 11, HUD announced that it will hold an “Industry Day” on its Performance-Based Contract Administration (PBCA) program contracting process on Friday, February 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time in Washington, DC, with satellite locations in San Francisco, Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York. Interested parties must register by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 19
