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WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today released FHFA’s 2013 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) detailing the Agency’s progress as regulator and conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and regulator of the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). The PAR discusses accomplishments, ongoing efforts to assist homeowners, challenges and continued efforts to meet FHFA’s strategic goals for FY 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Four federal financial institution regulatory agencies today issued a statement to clarify safety-and-soundness expectations and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) considerations related to Qualified Mortgage loans and non-Qualified Mortgage loans offered by regulated institutions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The defendants in two separate alleged scams have settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission and will be banned from providing mortgage- and debt-relief services. The cases are part of the FTC’s continuing crackdown on scams targeting consumers in financial distress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- For anyone thinking about buying a home or shopping for a mortgage, the Fall 2013 issue of FDIC Consumer News features an overview of important rules taking effect soon that are intended to protect consumers from risky loans. The coverage includes practical tips when shopping for a loan and for avoiding mortgage scams. Additional articles offer suggestions on options to consider if an institution turns you down for an account based on a report of a previously closed checking or savings account, as well as information on using a financial institution's social media site to communicate or conduct business with a bank. Here's an overview of this issue, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the FDIC newsletter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- GSA’s Green Proving Ground program is exploring new ways to mitigate the impact of our built environment on the natural environment. The Green Proving Ground tests promising sustainable building technologies in the real-world setting of federal facilities to evaluate their potential to reduce resource consumption and improve building performance. Additionally, the Green Proving Ground seeks to provide data and insights that will accelerate the broader commercialization and deployment of sustainable building technologies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earl Gross, 74, of Las Vegas, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Mortgage, a loan servicing company, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for his role in an $8 million scheme to defraud Wells Fargo Bank.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Statement by National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Sheila Crowley on the Confirmation of Mel Watt as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, marking a great day for the millions of low income Americans in need of decent, affordable homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today took additional steps toward fulfilling the Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorships that FHFA published in February 2012. That Plan established a conservator goal of gradually contracting Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s dominant presence in the marketplace while simplifying and shrinking their operations. The basic premise behind the “contract” goal is that with an uncertain future and a general desire for private capital to re-enter the market, the companies’ market presence should be reduced gradually over time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Markets in 54 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide market is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today approved a total of more than $7.5 million in grants to 26 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local affordable housing initiatives, which will assist more than 2,000 Iowa families. The funding is provided from the State Housing Trust Fund’s Local Housing Trust Fund program.

SAN DIEGO, - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- DataQuick®, a provider of advanced real estate information solutions powered by data, analytics and decisioning, has expanded its Standard Recorder layout to create a custom bundle devoted specifically to key loan transaction intelligence, including, 12 million loan modifications, loan term on 4 million mortgages, interest rates on 600,000 mortgages and details on 525,000 reverse mortgages.

Atlanta, Georgia - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On December 3, 2013, an Order to Cease and Desist issued by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) to SureSource Mortgage, Inc., located in McDonough, Georgia, became final

Washington, DC - December 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have completed the first major overhaul of mortgage insurance master policy requirements in many years. FHFA’s 2013 Conservatorship Scorecard calls for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop aligned requirements for master policies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown: “Realtors® welcome today’s announcement from the Federal Housing Finance Agency that the current limits on conforming loans will remain in effect until further notice.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the 2014 maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will remain at $417,000 for one-unit properties in most areas of the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Note: Kansas may not be the first state you think of for solar training, but Derek Reilley, Renewable/Sustainable Energy Program Director at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas, may make you think differently. Colby Community College is a partnering training organization working with Salt Lake Community College in the Rocky Mountain RTP. Derek is the project lead for CCC’s solar training program. Here’s his update. eds.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The state has awarded $18.3 million in grants and loans to help fund 13 affordable housing developments across the state, including projects in Westport and Danbury, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Thursday. “Increasing the availability of affordable housing is a top priority because the benefits extend far beyond the families and communities immediately impacted,” Malloy said in a statement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Powers and Structure of a Strong Regulator.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The dream of having a place of one’s own has long been part of our American way of life. For many people today, even after all the heartache we have experienced in the past five years since the financial crisis and the collapse of the housing market, owning a home still means something special. It means a solid and certain foundation of stability and even a kind of permanence. It means the prospect and the tangible opportunity to climb the economic ladder. It means putting a stake down on a better life. As T.S. Eliot said, “Home is where one starts from.”