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BOISE, ID - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Melody C. Redondo, 33, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for making a false statement to a financial institution, U.S. Attorney We...

WASHINGTON, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) voted for the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 1309), which passed the House by a vote of 406-22. The bill re-authorizes the National Flood Insurance Program for five years, and makes needed reforms to address the financial stability of the program by phasing out non-essential premium subsidies. The legislation is particularly relevant for homeowners in the Santa Maria Valley and the cities of Oxnard and Ventura. The County of Santa Barbara, the County of Ventura, and the City of Santa Maria all written letters to the Congresswoman expressing support for the legislation.

Washington, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) held a press conference call to discuss her bill, the Helping Responsible Homeowners Act of 2011, which would remove barriers that have prevented millions of homeowners with non-delinquent, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed mortgages from refinancing at historically low interest rates. She also urged the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to use its existing authority to eliminate these obstacles to refinancing.

Washington, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the House Financial Services Committee approved legislation introduced by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), the "Housing Trust Fund Elimination Act." Royce’s legislation eliminates the Affordable Housing Trust Fund established in 2008 as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the House of Representatives unanimously approved the Burton-Stark amendment to H.R. 1309, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011, which requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency t...

ORLANDO, FL - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets, motivational advice from top trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Realtors® 2011 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new best practices, discover innovative marketing approaches and boost business.Realtors® from across Florida are expected to attend the state association’s 95th annual convention on Aug. 24-28, 2011, at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando. The event features more than 54 educational sessions on topics as varied as handling short sales, social media trends, personal branding and home pricing strategies.

Boston, MA - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Funders Together to End Homelessness, the national affinity group of philanthropies engaged in solving homelessness, today announced personnel changes to its board of directors, including changes in leadership and the election of two new board members.

Washington, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association applauds the announcement today by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that Carol Galante has been designated by President Barack Obama as the Acting FHA Commissioner and Assistant Secretary of Housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a vote of 18-14, the Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises subcommittee of the House Finance Committee voted yesterday to eliminate the National Housing Trust Fund.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, July 11, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) sent the attached letter to federal regulators outlining MBA's views and recommendations from the commercial and multifamily mortgage finance perspective in response to the proposed risk retention rule under Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 5.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 8, 2011. This week's results include an adjustment to account for the Fourth of July holiday.The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 24.0 percent compared with the previous week.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced an agreement with Prospect Mortgage, LLC (Prospect) to settle allegations the California-based mortgage lender created sham affiliated business arrangements for the purpose of paying improper kickbacks or referral fees in violation of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). Prospect agreed to dissolve these sham joint ventures and pay $3.1 million to resolve the complaint

WASHINGTON, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded more than $1.9 billion to public housing authorities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funds will allow these agencies to make major large-scale improvements to their public housing units. View a full list of public housing authorities receiving funding.

July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Paul LePage issued a statement Monday regarding a recent opinion from Attorney General William Schneider. The opinion involves the purported sale of real estate to a State employee and a subsequent lease ...

Boston, MA - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a $30 million improvement project for the Heritage Apartments in East Boston and Lower Mills in Dorchester, both serving the disabled and elderly communities. The funding will provide energy efficient capital improvements and increased supportive services at both developments.

LANSING, MI - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Rick Snyder today appointed Matt Davis and James Lance to the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons. The board licenses and regulates the practice of real estate brokers and salespersons in Michigan.

BOISE, ID - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A statewide count of homeless persons in Idaho conducted by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) and regional housing coalitions, indicates there are 2,199 homeless in the state, over a six percen...

BISMARCK, N.D. - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- North Dakota residents whose mobile homes have been flooded will need to provide proof that their mobile home insurance has no flood coverage before they can receive disaster housing assistance fr...

NEW YORK, NY - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cushman & Wakefield today announced it has been retained as the exclusive retail leasing agent for “The Corner at Wall Street,” a 178,000-square-foot block of prime retail space located at 23 and 35 Wall Street and 15 Broad Street in downtown Manhattan’s Financial District.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) issued the following statement following remarks by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) this morning at the National Press Club.