Housing & Development

WASHINGTON, DC - May 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released two reports on the impact of HUD-approved housing counseling has for those families who purchase their first homes and those struggling to prevent foreclosure. In both studies, HUD found housing counseling significantly improved the likelihood homeowners remained in their homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing affordability hit a new record high for a second consecutive quarter in the first three months of this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today. Yet tight lending conditions continue to pose a major obstacle to many prospective home buyers

Washington, D.C. - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is partnering with Broadcastr on a project that will raise public awareness of architectural accomplishments, elevate appreciation of the profession, and provide reasoning behind design.

Washington, D.C. - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- After five months of positive readings, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has fallen into negative terrain. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the April ABI score was 48.4, following a mark of 50.4 in March. This score reflects a decrease in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 54.4, down from mark of 56.6 the previous month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The foreclosure and economic crisis significantly increased homelessness and the number of families at risk of homelessness in cities and counties across the nation.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes $85 million available to state housing agencies to provide affordable supportive housing for extremely low-income persons with disabilities.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A sustainable housing recovery requires that policymakers move forward with the difficult decisions regarding the future of the mortgage market. That's according to Federal Reserve Board Governor Elizabeth Duke, who spoke to Realtors® at a joint Real Estate Services and Regulatory Issues Forum—Prescriptions for Housing Recovery session today during the

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing and the economic recovery will play a large part in deciding the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, according to public policy experts at today's Legislative and Political Forum during the Realtors® 2012 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, leading Democratic strategist Celinda Lake, and National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling provided their unique insights into issues affecting the long-term direction of the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing production gained 2.6 percent from an upwardly revised pace in March to hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 717,000 units in April, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD. This modest gain was seen in both the single- and multifamily sectors, which registered growth of 2.3 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE: ADC) today announced that it has acquired the southeast corner of Indian Avenue and S. Tamiami Trail and will ground lease the parcel to JPMorgan Chase. The Company and Chase have previously executed a twenty-year ground lease. Chase intends to construct a retail bank branch on the site.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a budget climate where state and local governments are challenged to do more with less, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $70 million in grants to help communities and non-profit organizations, improve their use of federal funds to revitalize neighborhoods, help the homeless and produce more affordable housing.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The income and business of Realtors® is growing after many years of decline, according to the 2012 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous month to reach a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This is the index’s strongest reading since May of 2007.

NEW YORK, NY - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City multifamily sales remained strong in March, maintaining a healthy level of consistency from a very active February, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifamily Month in Review: New...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Stuart F. Delery, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Helen Kanovsky, General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), and David A. Montoya, Inspector General of HUD, announced today that the United States has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against DEUTSCHE BANK AG, DB STRUCTURED PRODUCTS, INC., DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC. (collectively “DEUTSCHE BANK” or the “DEUTSCHE BANK defendants”) and MORTGAGEIT, INC. (“MORTGAGEIT”)

WASHINGTON, DC - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has reached a $22,500 settlement agreement with the owner and managers of at Cheyenne Villa Apartments, a 56-unit, HUD-assisted townhome complex in Sydney, Nebraska. The settlement resolves a complaint filed by a resident who uses a wheelchair and walker, who alleged that management the development failed to accommodate her request to transfer to the first available ground-floor unit. The resident also claimed that management denied requests for a parking space and a ramp to ease her access to her unit

WASHINGTON, DC - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtor® Magazine, an online and print publication of the National Association of Realtors®, has received three awards for Media Innovation from the Association Media & Publishing EXCEL Awards. The EXCEL Awards honor the best and brightest in association media and publishing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Despite the fact that Americans overwhelmingly support homeownership, legislative and regulatory proposals now under consideration would greatly harm home owners, home buyers, the housing market and the nation's economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors®, has sold ePropertyData (ePD) to Xceligent to create a competitive national alternative in commercial real estate information.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Five of the nation’s largest construction trade associations have teamed up to form the Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace (CCDAFW). The coalition’s mission is to create a drug- and alcohol-free construction industry by providing companies and organizations with the resources necessary to implement drug- and alcohol-free policies into their business practices.