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WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of rental apartments in Jaffrey, N.H., for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against families with children.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved four points to a 58 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for December, released today. This gain reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations and traffic of prospective buyers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Dec. 13, 2013, 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today released FHFA’s 2013 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) detailing the Agency’s progress as regulator and conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and regulator of the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). The PAR discusses accomplishments, ongoing efforts to assist homeowners, challenges and continued efforts to meet FHFA’s strategic goals for FY 2013

WASHINGTON - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for $452 million to finance the Downtown Crossing section of the Louisville and Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- – The Council of Large Public Housing Agencies (CLPHA), Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise), and National Equity Fund, Inc. (NEF), an affiliate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), have partnered to provide a workshop and an online tool for public housing authorities (PHAs) and others interested in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). A Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program authorized in 2012 Congressional appropriations, RAD is a strategy for preserving deeply affordable housing at risk due to a lack of federal funds to address unmet capital backlog needs. CLPHA, Enterprise, and NEF’s workshop in Chicago this week will offer guidance to PHAs on putting together a successful RAD deal, including assembling a development team and financing, while the “R

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement on Friday about the $1.3 billion projected shortfall at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Washington, - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement on Friday about the $1.3 billion projected shortfall at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

WASHINGTON (December 13, 2013) - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown: “NAR is a strong supporter of the Federal Housing Administration and its vital role in the mortgage marketplace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- There has been a pronounced shift in housing and neighborhood preferences over the last decade, with strong and growing demand for infill development, mixed-use projects, access to public transportation, and high-density development. There is also an emerging desire for communities that promote a healthy lifestyle through more pedestrian-friendly design and increased access to recreational activities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Statement from the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) by Cindy Chetti, NMHC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, in response to Representative Mel Watt’s Confirmation as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- GSA’s Green Proving Ground program is exploring new ways to mitigate the impact of our built environment on the natural environment. The Green Proving Ground tests promising sustainable building technologies in the real-world setting of federal facilities to evaluate their potential to reduce resource consumption and improve building performance. Additionally, the Green Proving Ground seeks to provide data and insights that will accelerate the broader commercialization and deployment of sustainable building technologies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- With sea levels anticipated to rise at accelerated rates and catastrophic flood events occurring at great frequency, the Center for American Progress released an analysis of the value of a coastal buyout program both to communities and the environment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its final rule which defines a ‘Qualified Mortgage (QM)’ that is insured, guaranteed or administered by HUD. The final rule will be effective on January 10, 2014 and will apply to mortgages with a case number assignment on or after that date.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published revised guidelines for lenders when they manually underwrite mortgage loan applications of borrowers applying for FHA-insured mortgages. This change will improve a lender’s ability to objectively consider a borrower’s risk and reduce additional credit requirements or ‘overlays’ that exceed FHA’s own lending standards.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- GSA’s Green Proving Ground program is exploring new ways to mitigate the impact of our built environment on the natural environment. The Green Proving Ground tests promising sustainable building technologies in the real-world setting of federal facilities to evaluate their potential to reduce resource consumption and improve building performance. Additionally, the Green Proving Ground seeks to provide data and insights that will accelerate the broader commercialization and deployment of sustainable building technologies

SAN FRANCISCO - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the ConsensusDocs Coalition is announcing a new tool to effectively address alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the design and construction industry. Guided Choice is a new approach to mediation for a more active and holistic approach role for a mediator to actively guide parties towards resolution. ConsensusDocs is now including information on how to implement Guided Choice in the ConsensusDocs Guidebook, and is educating users on the process at its 2nd annual Construction SuperConference Workshop being conducted today in San Francisco, Calif. The American Arbitration Association (AAA) will honor requests from the parties to use the Guided Choice process in AAA administer mediation through arbitration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Statement by National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Sheila Crowley on the Confirmation of Mel Watt as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, marking a great day for the millions of low income Americans in need of decent, affordable homes.

WASHINGTON - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today’s confirmation of Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is a hopeful sign for the progress of housing finance reform in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Co. has partnered with Touchstone to develop the Troy Block property on Fairview Avenue in South Lake Union, Seattle. USAA Real Estate Company will be the equity partner in the 820,000 square foot, 2-building office project, located at 307 Fairview Ave North. The project, which was entitled under the 2013 South Lake Union rezone, was acquired by Touchstone from The Seattle Times in June 2011. The office space is being marketed by David Abbott and Tom Abbott of Colliers International