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WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored that President Obama has nominated me for this position, and I am deeply grateful to Secretary Geithner for his confidence in me.

West Hartford, CT - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, is announcing its 1st annual Business and Entrepreneur Summit. This event will take place on Saturday May 21, 2011, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Rocky Hill Marriott, 100 Capitol Boulevard in Rocky Hill, CT. Pricing for this event varies and is dependent on which ticket option is chosen. For ticket options, please visit bizsummit.info.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial and multifamily mortgage origination volumes increased 44 percent in 2010 over the previous year, with mortgage bankers reporting $118.8 billion of closed commercial and multifamily loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's 2010 Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance: Annual Origination Volume Summation.

Washington, DC - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.84 percent based on loans closed in March. This is an increase of 0.05 percent from the previous month.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eighteen national, regional and local lenders will participate in a new two-year pilot program that will offer qualified borrowers living in certain parts of the country low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following statement was issued by the Center for Responsible Lending, the Community Mortgage Banking Project, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors in advance of the April 14th House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises hearing on the Qualified Residential Mortgage:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Henry V. Cunningham Jr., CMB, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) board member and chairman of the MBA Residential Board of Governors, testified today on behalf of MBA before the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises at a hearing on, "Understanding the Implications and Consequences of the Proposed Rule on Risk Retention," providing the perspectives of both the commercial and residential real estate finance markets.

New York, NY - April 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) today announced the refinancing of 3 Columbus Circle and repayment of the $250 million acquisition bridge loan that was originated in January 2011 by SL Green and Deutsche Bank. The new five-year $260 million mortgage loan, provided by The Bank of China, has an earn-out option that increases the loan up to $300 million upon achievement of certain performance thresholds

April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A report released today by NYU’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy finds that the housing crisis has taken a toll on New York City’s multi-family rental properties. The report, the State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods 2010, also examines commuting patterns within the city, highlights new data on subsidized rental housing, and shows housing and demographic trends in each of the city’s 59 community districts.

Washington, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The NAACP will announce the opening of the NAACP Financial Freedom Center, the next phase of an historic agreement with Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) to provide financial education and banking resources to consumers. The Center will be the headquarters of the NAACP Financial Freedom Campaign, an initiative to influence change in the banking industry, prevent unfair mortgage lending practices, protect the community against predatory mortgage lending practices, improve fair credit access, and promote sustainable homeownership, financial education and wealth building strategies in historically disadvantaged communities. The agreement with Wells Fargo and NAACP was initiated last year, and also includes a process for sharing data, assessing Wells Fargo's lending and servicing practices, and shared accountability for progress.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing entitled “Public Proposals for the Future of the Housing Finance System.” The hearing was part of the Committee’s ongoing discussion regarding the future of the American housing finance system.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) today launched the Enterprise Community Impact Note to provide an easy way for individuals and organizations to invest in green affordable housing. The innovative financial product raises money from investors to build or preserve affordable housing and community enhancing projects, while providing financial returns that rival those of traditional CDs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Member of the Media: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Quarterly Data Book for the fourth quarter of 2010. The Data Book compiles the most up-to-date information on topics of interest to commercial/multifamily real estate finance industry participants and observers.

March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Finance is announcing the publication of the 2010 Combined Financial Report (CFR) of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks). This report has been prepared from the audited financial information of the 12 FHLBanks. Each of the 12 FHLBanks has filed its 2010 Form 10-K with the SEC. Current financial reports and other SEC filings for individual FHLBanks can be obtained by searching the EDGAR database.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Congress and the Administration debate potential reforms of the housing finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to develop a workable housing finance system before it moves forward with policies that would further destabilize the struggling housing market."A finance system that provides liquidity for the housing sector in all geographic markets throughout the economic cycle is a prerequisite to achieving housing policy objectives," NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev., told members of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises.

Small business owners with eligible commercial real estate mortgages maturing after Dec. 31, 2012, will be able to secure more stable, long-term financing through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s temporary 504 refinancing program as a result of a change that will be published in The Federal Register by April 6.

VIENNA, VA - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released its analysis of suspicious activity reports (SARs) that call attention to possible fraud in the commercial real estate financing arena. The analysis, Commercial Real Estate Financing Fraud Suspicious Activity Reports by Depository Institutions, found that reported incidences of suspicious activity in commercial real estate financing as reported by depository institutions filing SARs almost tripled between 2007 and 2010, the period which FinCEN examined.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, testified today before the Senate Banking Committee at hearing titled, “Public Proposals for the Housing Finance System.”

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.79 percent based on loans closed in February. This is an increase of 0.08 percent from the previous month

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) WHAT:The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) 2011 National Policy ConferenceOn March 30-31, 2011 the real estate finance industry will convene in Washington, D.C. to educate the Administration and the Congress on issues that matter most to our industry. MBA's National Policy Conference 2011 gives attendees the opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers about what they do in their community, as well as the practical effect proposed changes may have on their business and the industry