Housing & Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The remodeling market slipped under pressure from a sluggish economy according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI), which dipped during the second quarter to 43.9 from the first quarter result of 46.5. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity, like calls for bids. Current market conditions for the second quarter of 2011 fell to 44.8 from 46.1 in the first quarter. Future market indications dropped to 43.0 from 46.8 in the previous quarter.

Los Angeles, CA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) has been awarded the architectural contract for the College of the Desert’s new Palm Springs West Valley Campus, which sets new benchmarks for integrating sustainable design and high-performance building technologies into the academic curriculum. HGA is directing master planning, programming, design and sustainability of the multi-phase campus.

BOSTON, MA - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boston area is bucking a national trend of falling home prices, meaning many metro residents cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. Solving this issue tops the agenda at a regional forum on Thursday, July 28, in Boston. The Bring Workers Home forum, sponsored by the National Housing Conference (NHC) and National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) brings together national, state, and local leaders to explore the issues and identify effective housing strategies.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Vincent C. Gray and D.C. Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) Director Matt Cary today announced a furniture-donation program for homeless veterans and their families who live in the District.

NEW YORK, NY - July 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Company LLP signed a 15-year renewal for 44,851 square feet at the Class A, 457,250-square-foot office building.

ST. PAUL, MI - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer announced recently that applications are being accepted for grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes.

BOLTON, MS - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Suppo...

July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — Hillsborough County Affordable Housing and the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) are considering a merger of their Section 8 programs - the housing assistance program for low-income families. Following are answers to some questions that are important in the decision.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Former NFL football players are working side-by-side with local home builders and contractors this week to renovate a section of St. Ann's Infant & Maternity Home in Hyattsville, Md. The Home Builders Care Foundation (HBCF) of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association (MNCBIA) is coordinating the community service project, which is converting an older, institutional-like section of the children's residential wing into a warm, comfortable living space."Every child and every family should have a safe, comfortable place that feels like home, whether it is temporary like here at St. Ann's, or a permanent home to call their own," said Calvin Snowden, president of the Washington, D.C. NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) former players' chapter. "It is incredibly rewarding to be able to give back to the Washington, D.C., community through a project like this."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 312,000 units in June, according to figures released today by the U.S. Commerce Department today."Today's report shows that new-home sales remain in a holding pattern at relatively low levels," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "This reflects what we are hearing from builders in the field, who continue to see uncertainty in the marketplace and are reacting accordingly by keeping inventories at a record low. With inventories at razor-thin margins, any uptick in demand will generate increased building activity in the months ahead."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment declined in 26 states and D.C. between June 2010 and 2011 and dropped in 22 states and D.C. between May and June, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of state employment data released by the Labor Department. The construction industry continues to suffer from a difficult combination of weak private sector demand and declining public sector investments in construction.

NEW YORK, NY - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Halstead Property Development Marketing today announced that it has been named the exclusive sales and marketing agent for 109 Gold Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Elgin, IL - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX agents in the northern Illinois real estate market say that homeowners can take several steps to increase their home's appeal both inside and out without spending a fortune. In fact, homeowners can breathe new life into their homes and increase its appeal by spending $100 or less.

Washington, D.C. - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NeighborWorks® America announced that the deadline for the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program has been extended to Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in order to give homeowners at risk of foreclosure in the participating 27 states and Puerto Rico more time to apply for the program.

BURLINGTON, VT - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Vermont Housing Data Website (www.housingdata.org) has added hundreds of Census data including Census 2010 demographic information and detailed estimates on home heating sources and housing cost ...

Washington, DC - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority has been awarded $212,520 in federal funds to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in the Mid Hudson Valley. The funds were awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program of which Hinchey is a steadfast supporter

Washington, D.C. - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Mike Thompson joined with two House Republicans Wednesday in introducing legislation to protect the government-financed home and business energy retrofit programs that have run afoul of federal housing regulators.

Washington, D.C. - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A government program that helped homeowners finance and install green upgrades before a technical roadblock stalled it last year may be resuscitated by Congress.

Raffles Place, Singapore - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Petra Ecclestone, the daughter of F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, has bought the Los Angeles home of Amercian film and television producer, Aaron Spelling.

LITTLE ROCK, AR - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Franklin County area residents will have a chance to talk with experts in hazard mitigation building techniques July 25 and 26 in Ozark