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USGBC’s Chief Operating Officer Honored with SmartCXO Award
Washington, DC - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington SmartCEO has recognized Chris Smith, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), as one of 40 SmartCXO award honorees. The SmartCXO Awards celebrate Greater Washington’s finest management executives.
HUD MAKING NEARLY $65 MILLION AVAILABLE TO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES SEEKING TO IMPROVE HOUSING AND...
WASHINGTON, DC - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a competition for nearly $65 million to confront housing, infrastructure and employment challenges faced by tribal communities nationwide. The funds are intended for communities seeking to improve or create housing and economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families.
HUD SELECTS LENDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR...
WASHINGTON, DC - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eighteen national, regional and local lenders will participate in a new two-year pilot program that will offer qualified borrowers living in certain parts of the country low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.
The Princeton Review and U.S. Green Building Council Release Free ‘Guide to 311 Green...
NEW YORK, NY - April 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the nation gears up to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com), in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (www.usgbc.org), today released the second annual edition of its unique, free guidebook saluting the nation's most environmentally responsible "green colleges."
National Call for Entries: 16th Annual MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing
COLUMBIA, MD - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 16th Annual MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing is officially open for entries. Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and MetLife Foundation have focused this year’s competition on best practices in the area of green and service-enriched affordable housing for seniors. The deadline for entries is May 31, 2011.
New FBI Field Office to Be High-Performing Green Building
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. General Services Administration will break ground on the new Federal Bureau of Investigation field office building to be located at 5425 West Amelia Earhart Drive, Salt Lake City. Th...
The American Institute of Architects Select Five Recipients for the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building...
Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected five recipients to receive the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards. Biennially, representatives from the AIA and the American Library Association (ALA) gather to celebrate the finest examples of library design by architects licensed in the U.S. The 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards honor five separate projects.
Housing Starts Rise 7.2 Percent in March
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts rose 7.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 549,000 units in March from an upwardly revised number in the previous month, the U.S. Commerce Department reported today. Coming on the heels of disappointing declines in February, this gain was represented in both the single- and multifamily sectors, and was mirrored by substantial improvements in building permit issuance for the same period."While the overall rate of new-home production remains quite low and is still being weighed down by significant uncertainties among both home builders and buyers, this latest report is encouraging," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "It means that some builders are cautiously beginning to re-stock their extremely thin inventories of new homes in anticipation of gradual improvement in consumer demand as the economy slowly inches toward recovery."
Home Improvement Tips
April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- There are certainly lots more ways to increase the value of your home by making additions or repairing without disturbing the existing house layout. Indeed this process involves more risks, investment and time it will add value and fresh look. Though property owners don’t aware of getting permission from the local government authorities but this should be one of the crucial steps to start work in construction field
“Fair Housing in Siouxland” Event
Sioux City, IA - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sioux City Human Rights Commission in partnership with the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and Midtown Family Community Center will host an educational event “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
NEW HUD CAMPAIGN EMPOWERS HOMEOWNERS TO RECOGNIZE, AVOID, AND REPORT SCAMS
WASHINGTON, DC - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is launching a new campaign in Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles called Know It. Avoid It. Report It. This campaign has two objectives. First, it aims to direct homeowners facing foreclosure to trusted resources and housing counselors.
Builder Confidence Slips Back a Notch in April
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes slipped back one notch to 16 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for April, released today. The index has now held at 16 for five of the last six months.
THE IDI GROUP COMPANIES HIRE SHELDON GOOD & COMPANY TO CONDUCT CLOSEOUT AUCTION OF...
NEW YORK, NY - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sheldon Good & Company, a Racebrook Portfolio Company and America’s leading real estate auctioneer, has been hired by The IDI Group Companies, one of the region’s premiere developers, to conduct a closeout auction of the 30 remaining luxury condominiums in Riverview, a 242-unit residential building located in Leisure World® of Virginia, a 91-acre active adult community in Lansdowne, VA on Sunday, May 22nd. Ten of these one, two, and three-bedroom residences will be sold subject to low minimum bids from just $95,000
Joint Statement: Proposed Downpayment Rules Harm Creditworthy Borrowers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following statement was issued by the Center for Responsible Lending, the Community Mortgage Banking Project, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors in advance of the April 14th House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises hearing on the Qualified Residential Mortgage:
South Carolina REALTORS® release March market numbers
COLUMBIA, S.C. - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its March 2011 Market Reports. On the housing supply front, the largest gain occurred in the $100,000 and Below rage, with an increase of 8.8 percent to 12,420 units; while Pending Sales in the state were down 7.4 percent from the same period one year prior.
Utah Division of Housing and Community Development to Host COSCDA Academy Housing Conference
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Some of the nation’s leading housing professionals will offer insight into basic federal housing programs that are used today to assist low and moderate income persons during a three-day co...
GULF WIDENS IN MARCH BETWEEN SOARING CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL COSTS AND STAGNANT FINISHED BUILDING PRICES,...
April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Contractors’ financial position grew more precarious in March as prices for key materials escalated while prices construction firms charge for completed projects stayed flat, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said contractors’ inability to pass costs along imperils the industry’s comeback and urged federal officials to act on a series of recovery measures the group outlined last month.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES TO CONGRESS: BUDGET DEAL HURTS COMMUNITIES, LOW INCOME FAMILIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House and Senate are set to vote today on a budget deal that cuts nearly $40 billion from non-defense discretionary programs. Members of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF), a coalition of 72 national affordable housing and community development groups, believe those cuts should not come at the expense of low income households who cannot afford housing or from communities that desperately need assistance. In reality, lawmakers have proposed exactly that by cutting HUD’s budget 6.4% below the FY10 funding levels.
Research Center Partners with N.C. Home Builder Associations, Green Councils to Keep Local Builders...
Upper Marlboro, MD - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Now more than ever, homebuyers are looking for homes that are comfortable year-round with no hot and cold spots, healthy indoor air quality, and lower operating and maintenance costs. A home built to the National Green Building Standard and third-party certified by the NAHB Research Center delivers all the benefits homebuyers are looking for in a new home in a cost-effective way.
Proposed QRM Harms Creditworthy Borrowers and Housing Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following statement was issued by the Center for Responsible Lending, the Community Mortgage Banking Project, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors in advance of the April 14th House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises hearing on the Qualified Residential Mortgage:“In the midst of a very fragile housing recovery, the government is throwing a devastating, unnecessary and very expensive wrench into the American dream. First time homebuyers will have to choose between higher rates today or a 9-14 year delay while they save up the necessary down payment. And 25 million current homeowners would be locked out of lower refinancing rates because they lack the required 25 percent equity in their homes.”