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Washington, DC - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent a final rule to the Federal Register on private transfer fees. The final rule limits Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks from dealing in mortgages on properties encumbered by certain types of private transfer fee covenants and in certain related securities. Transfer fees are contractual arrangements where an owner pays a fixed amount or a percentage of the sales price at the time of transferring the property.

Washington, DC - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed more than 2.1 million foreclosure prevention actions since the start of conservatorship including 1.1 million permanent loan modifications. These actions, designed to help borrowers stay in their homes, are detailed in the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s fourth quarter 2011 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report. The report also shows that after nine months, fewer than 20 percent of Enterprise loans modified in the four quarters ended March 31, 2011, had missed two or more payments, an improvement over prior years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The green share of new single-family residential construction has grown dramatically—increasing from two percent in 2005 to 17 percent in 2011, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. Builders and remodelers looking to expand their knowledge of building green, and find out where the market is going, are invited to attend the 2012 National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville April 29-May 1.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was unchanged in March from a revised level of 28 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This means that following five consecutive months of gains, the HMI is now holding at its highest level since June of 2007.

JEFFERSONVILLE, IND - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- So much for the winter doldrums for area realtors. According to the latest housing data compiled by RE/MAX of Indiana, the Southern Indiana real estate market recorded strong growth for the ear...

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The business of real estate and community building will be permanently transformed by the evolution of the “sharing economy,” an era in which non-personal items such as cars and office space will be shared with increasing frequency by urban residents, according to internationally renowned communications technology entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Case. The co-founder of America Online (AOL) was the keynote speaker last night at the National Building Museum’s Honor Award gala, which recognized ULI as the 2012 Honor Award recipient. The award recognizes ULI’s 75-year legacy of leadership in land use and innovative community building worldwide.

March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Susan Svikhart knows how to manage a sales force. Having previously spent six years recruiting retail sales teams, leading training and continuing education programs for commission-based sales workers and developing...

March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Foreclosure-Response.org team— the Center for Housing Policy, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Urban Institute—has released the newest data on seriously delinquent mortgages for all 366 U.S. metro areas as of September 2011

Paris, France - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A pivotal LEED International Roundtable meeting of European roundtable members ended in Paris today. The meeting convened leaders from across Europe to address regional issues in LEED for existing and historic structures in the E.U. At the meeting it was announced that the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED green building program will now recognize credits from BREEAM, the U.K.’s widely used green rating program. The recognition will begin with LEED for New Construction and the most recent International version of BREEAM.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $3.8 million to 20 public housing authorities to address emergency, safety and security needs at their properties, including measures necessary to fight crime and drug activity. See attached chart for local impact of this funding.

HONOLULU - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Arlington’s Pentagon renovation project was the most significant construction projects of 2011, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the project’s contractor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co., was the grand award winner while 15 other firms received the association’s Alliant Build America Award in other categories.

New Haven, CT - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) applauded the renewal of $423,581 in funding for three Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance programs in Connecticut’s 3rd District.

BOLTON, MI - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $1,037,535 in Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance funds to th...

Washington, D.C. - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has appointed 13 individuals to participate on the 2012 Diversity Council. The AIA believes that diversity is a cultural ethos—a way of thinking or acting that fosters inclusion, enhancing AIA membership, the profession, and the quality of life in our communities. Embracing this culture of diversity, all programs and initiatives of the AIA and its members shall reflect the society that we serve, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, religious belief, geographic location or practice.

Washington, D.C. - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) will dedicate the 2:00 p.m. general session on Saturday, May 19th at the annual national convention to honor the architects who orchestrated rebuilding initiatives and designed the memorials following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the availability of up to $25 million to help convert multifamily apartment complexes into assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing for low-income senior citizens. The funding offered through HUD’s Assisted Living Conversion Program will provide grants for the physical conversion of eligible multifamily assisted housing projects (or portions of projects) to assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing. Read the funding notice published today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The cost of construction materials accelerated dramatically in February after moderating for several months, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, construction firms will be forced to pay more for key materials even as demand for construction remains weak, association officials noted.

Morrow, GA - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The real estate arena is in an uproar, housing prices are at an all time low, but - still people are afraid, buyers and sellers are afraid. These are indeed troubling times for so many. Here in the midst of the madness, there is a tiny book called "Keeping Hearts Fed". It is filled with 25 of life's most potent and contagious Expressions.

Denver, CO - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX LLC, the title sponsor for the World Long Drive Championship, will continue to headline power golf’s premier event. RE/MAX has signed an agreement for 2013 and 2014, with an option for 2015. This year, 2012, marks the 18th year of collaboration between the real estate company and Long Drivers of America (LDA)

HONOLULU - March 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Dozens of volunteer contractors renovated the facility of a Honolulu-based charity group named HUGS that supports families with seriously ill children free-of-charge. The renovation project was organized by the philanthropic organization AGC Charities, Inc., was the group's third annual Operation Opening Doors effort.