Archives

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reflecting the growing demand for apartment homes, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of multifamily firms grew their staff last year and 62 percent increased their merit bonus pool, according to the National Multi Housing Council’s (NMHC) 2012 Apartment Compensation Survey. The annual survey, based upon the data of over 50,000 employees at 93 major apartment firms, provides detailed analysis of industry hiring practices – including salary, variable pay and total compensation of nearly 100 industry positions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New home sales and marketing professionals and designers are encouraged to submit entries for the 2013 National Sales and Marketing Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Sales and Marketing Council. The awards, better known as “The NationalsSM,” pay tribute to superior sales and marketing achievements by individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders and associates.

BOLTON, MS - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Economic Development Initiative-Special Purpose fu...

WASHINGTO, DC - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched Innovation of the Day, a new online platform that will collect and share innovative practices in affordable housing, community development, and urban planning from around the world. Its purpose is to seek new ideas that can be leveraged not only within HUD, but among other agencies, communities, philanthropic organizations, non-profit agencies, and the public.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing production edged down 1.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 746,000 units in July, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, builders pulled more permits for planned new-home projects than they have in any month since August of 2008.

COLUMBUS, OH - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved $750,000 in funding through the Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP) as well as several OHFA program initiatives. HDAP is used to provid...

BISMARCK, ND - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) has pledged $4.25 million to six new Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) projects.

OLYMPIA, WA - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund awarded $6.7 million to six affordable housing projects in four Washington counties. The projects will support an estimated 122 jobs.

Washington, D.C. - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building Information Modeling (BIM) has changed the way construction industry participants interact with each other and communicate internally. Project plans have moved beyond two-dimensional design to multi-dimensional models that have parametric capabilities. The American Institute of Architects is continuously evaluating the development and adoption of BIM and the impact it has on contractual relationships. As a result, the AIA Contract Documents® program is updating its documents for use on construction projects involving digital data or BIM, and will make a draft of these Digital Practice documents available for public review and comment

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a home improvement store are teaming up this week to provide information and advice on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Building Systems Councils (BSC) is now accepting applications for the “Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Marketing and Home Design, presented by the BSC and Log Homes Council.” The annual awards recognize manufacturers and builders who excel in systems-built technologies (i.e., concrete, log, modular and panelized homes) in the categories marketing materials and home design, which is broken down into various square-footage classes.

Los Angeles, CA - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS) was awarded a $1.45 million grant made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (...

WASHINGTON, DC - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $35 million in grants to public housing authorities, resident associations and non-profit organizations across the U.S. to help public housing residents find jobs and achieve economic and housing independence. The funding will also link the elderly and people with disabilities with supportive services that allow them to maintain independent living and age-in-place. Read more about local impact of HUD’s grant funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department announced today that John Wingard Altman has agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a lawsuit involving violations of the Fair Housing Act at Altman Apartments, a 16-unit apartmen...

MINOT, ND - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Work to construct 32 units of affordable housing kicked off today with a groundbreaking for Washington Townhomes.

Washington, D.C. - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Best Buy’s 24-hour tech support task force, today announced a new benefit that provides American Institute of Architects (AIA) members special pricing on all online, in-store and in-home services provided by Geek Squad. In addition to a 10 percent discount on these services, the program also offers free setup with the purchase of any Geek Squad Office Support plan.

Washington, D.C. - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) has selected 15 educational and cultural facilities for this year’s CAE Educational Facility Design Awards. The purpose of the design awards program is to identify trends and emerging ideas, honor excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved for a fourth consecutive month in August with a two-point gain to 37 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This gain builds on a six-point increase in July and brings the index to its highest level since February of 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The cost of key construction materials dropped for the third consecutive month in July, pushing down year-over-year prices for the first time since 2009, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, association officials warned that recent spikes in diesel fuel and steel prices may drive up the cost of construction again, and they urged lawmakers to invest in needed infrastructure projects promptly while prices remain low.

Morgantown, WV - August 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Director Bobby Lewis announced that USDA Rural Development approved a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $20,000 for South Central Educational Development, Inc., Mercer County, WV.