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Washington, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- ICBA Mortgage, the mortgage-lending subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), today announced the renewal of its alliance agreement with Fannie Mae, which allows ICBA-member community banks to access a package of special benefits that helps them better serve their customers' housing-finance needs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairwoman Biggert, Ranking Member Gutierrez and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to share insights resulting from the Administration’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the most serious housing crisis since the Great Depression.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts rose 14.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 596,000 units in January, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. The gain was entirely due to a 77.7 percent increase in the multifamily sector, where significant month-to-month swings in activity are not unusual and where new building has been below expectations for the past several months. Meanwhile, single-family housing starts remained virtually flat for the month, with a 1.0 percent decline.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday President Barack Obama released his FY12 budget, which would freeze non-defense discretionary spending for five years in an effort to reduce the budget deficit. While some housing and community development programs are spared the knife, critical HUD programs that provide housing stability, promote economic mobility and job creation, and stabilize communities would be significantly reduced

WASHINGTON, DC - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to promote a new generation of data-driven and evidence-based policymaking, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled a new quarterly publication intended to inform housing and community development advocates, state and local policymakers, Congress and researchers on new approaches to issues related to housing and community development. Evidence Matters is an objective, unbiased publication intended to inform the broad housing and community development field on future policy directions based on research and data – in short, the evidence

February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives is expected to vote on its FY11 spending bill, H.R. 1, this week. The bill would cause devastating reductions to non-defense discretionary programs and cut more than $5.7 billion from HUD programs compared to the FY10-enacted level of about $43.5 billion. In addition, the bill would make more than $394 million in rescissions from unobligated balances in HUD programs.

Washington, DC - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Jan. 18 announced a joint initiative to consider alternatives for a new mortgage servicing compensation structure. As part of that effort, FHFA has established a dedicated web link to post information, including background materials and issues for consideration

WASHINGTON, DC - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) capital reserves, FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens today announced a new premium structure for FHA-insured mortgage loans increasing its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) by a quarter of a percentage point (.25) on all 30- and 15-year loans. The upfront MIP will remain unchanged at 1.0 percent. This premium change was detailed in President Obama’s fiscal year 2012 budget, also released today, and will impact new loans insured by FHA on or after April 18, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes remained unchanged at 16 for a fourth consecutive month in February, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. "While builders are starting to see more interest among potential home buyers, we are also dealing with a multitude of challenges, including competition from foreclosure properties and inaccurate appraisals of new homes, which are limiting our ability to sell," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "On top of that, an extremely tight lending environment continues to make it almost impossible to obtain credit for viable new and existing projects, and most do not see that situation improving anytime soon."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Most home buyers who claimed the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for buying their first home in 2008 are required to start repaying the credit in 15 annual installments, beginning with their 2010 tax returns. The credit—some form of which was offered for qualified home purchases in 2008, 2009 and 2010—has different repayment rules depending on when and under what circumstances the home was purchased. As tax season approaches, this may cause confusion among home buyers who received the tax credit.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joanne Theunissen, CGP, has been elected 2011 Chair of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Sales and Marketing Council. The announcement was made Jan. 11 at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. Theunissen is owner/designer for Howling Hammer Builders, Inc. in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and is also an active member of the HBA of Central Michigan and the Michigan Association of Home Builders.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing research on development patterns and transportation provides no causal link between residential land use and greenhouse gas emissions and leaves tremendous uncertainty as to the interplay of these factors, according to a new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The publication, “Climate Change, Density and Development,” provides a fact-based overview of the state of research on the relationship between development, density, transit and the production of greenhouse gases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thomas Vetter, MIRM, Master CSP, CMP, CSP, has been elected 2011 Chair of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Institute of Residential Marketing, the education branch of the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC). The announcement was made Jan. 11 at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, after the U.S. Treasury Department issued a white paper proposing several pathways to reform the mortgage markets, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement

Washington, D.C. - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today issued the following statement on the fiscal 2012 budget President Obama presented to Congress this morning

Washington, D.C. - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the Administration's release of its report, “Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market”, John H. Dalton, President of the Housing Policy Council issued this statement:

Swarthmore, PA - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia (FHCSP), a single mother, and her minor child settled federal housing discrimination complaints filed against Bucks County property management company Quality Realty Associates (QRA) and agents Vincent Quattrocchi, Louis Quattrocchi and Cecelia Quattrocchi.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac need serious reform, we must get these reforms right. Among the Administration’s several proposals, only one—the one that maintains a limited role for the GSEs—even has potential for ensuring all families have access to home loans and achieving stability in the housing market.

February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of current homeowners in the New Orleans area say their homes were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Of these, more than four in 10 reported their homes had suffered major damage and required repairs of $15,000 or more for which most owners received federal flood insurance.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled HUD’s fiscal year 2012 budget proposal. Titled Creating Strong, Sustainable, Inclusive Communities and Quality Affordable Homes the budget seeks to help lead America out of an unprecedented economic crisis and ensure our economy is competitive – growing and working for all Americans. HUD is taking responsibility for our deficit, by investing in what makes America stronger and cutting what doesn’t.