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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.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown

Washington, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Land Title Association released the following statement today on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) final rule for integrated mortgage disclosures.

Low mortgage rates are not pushing most renters to consider homeownership Washington - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The worst housing crisis in generations...

Washington, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing a rule today requiring easier-to-use mortgage disclosure forms that clearly lay out the terms of a mortgage for a homebuyer. The new “Know Before You Owe” mortgage forms will replace the existing federal disclosures and help consumers understand their options, choose the deal that’s best for them, and avoid costly surprises at the closing table.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) --Thank you to President Jim Bullard and everyone at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for inviting me to speak today on the impact of rising student debt on the balance sheets of young American households. As the name of St. Louis Fed’s Center indicates, household financial stability is a key ingredient to the health of our economy and financial system.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action against Republic Mortgage Insurance Corporation (RMIC), for allegedly paying illegal kickbacks to mortgage lenders in exchange for business. The CFPB filed a complaint and proposed consent order against RMIC to stop these practices, which have been prevalent for more than 10 years. The proposed order will require RMIC to pay a $100,000 penalty to the CFPB, and follows