Investing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vacation home sales rose strongly in 2013, while investment purchases fell below the elevated levels seen in the previous two years, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 2, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total construction spending in February edged up from January despite adverse weather in much of the nation, as private residential and nonresidential components posted solid growth compared with early 2013, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials noted that the construction spending figures would have been stronger if not for declines in public sector construction and infrastructure investments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 1, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury in Mobile, Ala., returned a one-count indictment against a former real estate investor, charging him with conspiracy to commit mail fraud as part of a scheme related to public real estate foreclosure auctions held in southern Alabama, the Department of Justice announced today

LONDON - January 21, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The competition for prime assets in Europe’s major real estate markets is leading investors to turn to recovering markets such as Ireland and Spain, regional cities and secondary property in search of returns, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Europe 2014, a forecast published jointly by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC

CHICAGO - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- REach, the strategic accelerator for technology startups created and managed by the National Association of Realtors®’ investment fund, Second Century Ventures, announced the opening of applications to join its 2014 class. The deadline to apply for the 2014 program is March 1. The program runs from April through the Realtors® Conference & Expo in November, where participating companies will be showcased at the industry’s largest gathering.

LOS ANGELES - January 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp. (WFC), one of the largest privately held owner-operators of retail properties in the U.S., is reporting its most successful year in its 42-year history with more than $325 million in acquisitions and dispositions in 32 separate trades in 2013. ”We are extremely pleased with 2013 and are expecting 2014 to be more of the same.” said Joe Dykstra, executive VP of WFC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 211 metro areas, declined in 67 and was stagnant in 61 between November 2012 and November 2013, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the employment gains were encouraging, but cautioned that future gains were dependent on continued economic growth and new investments in aging domestic infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Dec. 13, 2013, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in California

IRVINE, CALIF. - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, one of the most dominant retail investment groups in the western United States and a market leader in the sale of retail properties, announced today that Jonathan T. Selznick and Eric P. Wohl represented the seller in the sale of an IHOP in Flushing, NY. The purchase price was $2,900,000, which represented a 5.25% capitalization rate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Melvin Watt was confirmed as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) by the United States Senate in a 57-41 vote yesterday. The FHFA is a powerful federal government agency responsible for regulating government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which invest in more than three-fourths of the nation’s new mortgages

IRVINE, CA - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, one of the most dominant retail investment groups in the western United States and a market leader in the sale of retail properties, announced today that the group has raised awareness and funds for men’s cancers in November, one moustache at a time

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will implement new FHA single-family loan limits on January 1, 2014, as specified by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA). Read FHA’s mortgagee letter detailing the agency’s new loan limits.

SHANGHAI - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real estate fundamentals are expected to remain strong in markets throughout Asia in 2014, with stiff competition for conventional assets in prime markets boosting the popularity of niche property sectors and secondary markets for investments

IRVINE, CA - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, one of the most dominant retail investment groups in the western United States and a market leader in the sale of retail properties, announced today that Patrick G. Kent of Hanley Investment group represented the buyer and seller in the sale of a multi-tenant shopping center in Monument, Colo. The purchase price was $3,762,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On November 8th, President Obama will speak from the Port of New Orleans, one of the nation’s largest ports, where he will reiterate his call to invest in rebuilding America’s infrastructure, including strategic ports along the Mississippi River such as the Port of New Orleans, which support U.S. commerce and trade.

Wherever you may stand on the climate change debate (cue the angry comments!), it’s undeniable that Mother Nature has grown a bit unpredictable in exacting her revenge for hairspray and Styrofoam. Superstorms in New Jersey. Mudslides in Colorado. Cyclones in India. But while we may not know where the next natural disaster is going to hit, one House Republican is doing his best to encourage people to be prepared

Washington D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges and an emergency asset freeze against a group of Pasadena, Calif.-based companies at the center of an ongoing real estate investment scheme.

Northbrook, IL - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boulder Group’s Research Department has released a new research report providing comprehensive numbers and analysis of the activity in the National Net Lease Drug Store Market

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a nonprofit dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for low-income families and communities in the U.S., announced today that it will deploy $500,000 to strengthen the capacity of state and local nonprofits to ensure greater access to products, programs and policies that expand financial asset-building opportunities for low-to moderate-income consumers. The expansion is made possible by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and is part of the firm’s broader efforts to provide $1.4 million in grants to leading nonprofits that promote the financial capability of consumers.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners has successfully arranged $42.5 million in financing on behalf of its client, Upside Investments, for their $60 million acquisition of Crenshaw Village Apartments, a 669-unit multifamily community in Los Angeles, according to George Smith Partners’ Principal and Managing Director Steve Bram and Senior Vice President David Pascale.