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WASHINGTON, DC - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 122 grants totaling more than $28 million to provide approximately 17,000 veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers.

Washington, D.C. - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- NeighborWorks America, one of the nation’s largest community development corporations, today announced that Home HeadQuarters based in Syracuse, N.Y. completed more residential home rehab projects than any other NeighborWorks organization – 720 homes. In all, NeighborWorks organizations completed more than 7,600 housing rehab projects in 2010, preserving quality affordable housing across the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Bob Nielsen joined with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati today to kick off National Homeownership Month at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new residential development in the city’s Bond Hill neighborhood. The development, called Villages at Daybreak, is a product of Cincinnati’s long-running CiTiRAMA® public-private partnership that has helped invigorate urban neighborhoods by encouraging the development of attractive and walkable new communities near the city center.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thomas Vetter, MIRM, Master CSP, CMP, CSP, was appointed 2011 Vice Chair of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC)this month during the NAHB Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C.Vetter is president of the western division at Accelerated Marketing Partners, a full service residential real estate marketing and consulting firm, based in Danville, Calif. He will begin his term as NSMC Chair during the 2012 NAHB International Builders Show in Orlando, Fla.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a settlement agreement with Cornerstone Mortgage Company (Cornerstone), a national mortgage lender based in Houston, which HUD accused of engaging in discriminatory lending practices against expectant mothers. In a separate action, HUD is charging Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and others with engaging in pregnancy discrimination in issuing mortgage insurance in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

BURLINGTON VT - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Jacklyn Santerre of Colchester has been promoted from Assistant Director of Homeownership Programs to Director of Home...

New York, NY - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To make it easier for property owners to assess, fund, implement and measure energy efficiency opportunities that can improve their buildings’ performance and bottom line, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has integrated its portfolio of programs and incentives for multifamily buildings, including condominiums and co-ops

KENOSHA, WI - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announces that his office has obtained a judgment against Jerry L. Wanty in Kenosha County, the owner and operator of the Colonial View Apartments at 337-339 Holy Hill Road, Town of Randall, Kenosha County. Mr. Wanty owns and operates the apartments, including a community water system serving at least 25 people living in 16 apartments.

Washington, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seventeen local and state Realtor® associations have been awarded over $60,000 through the Housing Opportunity Program Grants, a National Association of Realtors® grant program. The funds will be used by the associations to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial and nonprofit veteran Kenny Emson has been named Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). As a member of the Council’s senior leadership team, Emson will oversee the organization’s financial and administrative operations and will participate in the strategic planning process.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that USA4SALE Network, Inc., has agreed to pay $15,000 to settle claims that it violated the Fair Housing Act when it posted ads on its Web sites that discriminated against families with children. In addition, the company has also agreed to change the way its Web sites filter discriminatory language.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced Green Refinance Plus, a program between HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae to allow owners of existing affordable rental housing properties to refinance into new mortgages that include funding for energy- and water-saving upgrades, along with other needed property renovations.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Business Solutions, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, and Freddie Mac today announced plans to help community banks compete in the purchase money mortgage market and help fuel the nation's housing recovery by extending their 9-year old alliance.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kirk H. Kirby, 40, of Capital Heights, Maryland, and Sholonda Y. Johnson, 39, of Philadelphia, were sentenced today to 60 months and 30 months in prison, respectively, in connection with a real estate investment scheme, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Kirby and Johnson pleaded guilty to three counts each of wire fraud in connection with a real estate investment scheme that caused millions of dollars in losses to lenders. Kirby owned and operated Invictus Financial Group ("IFG"), located in Havertown, PA. Johnson was a loan officer at various mortgage brokerage companies.

May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the arrival of summer finally upon us, The City of Springfield will, once again, team up with Daniel J. Flynn & Co., of Quincy, to hold its second auction of 2011. The portfolio for this auction includes twenty-seven (27) properties in tax-title possession and is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Registration begins at 5:00 P.M., and the auction will begin promptly at 6:00 P.M. The ballroom-style Auction will be conducted at Springfield City Hall located at 36 Court Street, Springfield, MA.

May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MHDC Chairman Jeffrey S. Bay convened a special meeting on Thursday, May 26, at which the Board of Commissioners approved a proposal to provide housing to Missouri residents who were displaced as a result of recent disasters. The Board unanimously agreed to provide immediate shelter for people who are homeless and to provide assistance to those in imminent danger of becoming homeless

BIRMINGHAM, AL - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Operation Clean Sweep is in full swing to pick up and remove tornado debris in eligible jurisdictions by the recently extended deadline of July 12. Property owners can help expedite debris removal by completing paperwork allowing debris teams to enter private property.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The “new normal” favors more renting, which requires new thinking about our housing policy, according to speakers at the National Multi Housing Council’s (NMHC) Mid-Year Apartment Strategies/Finance Conference and Board of Directors meeting held this week in Palm Beach, FL.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Trade Commission is offering information to help homeowners avoid unscrupulous sales agents who go door-to-door during the summer months. These scammers use deceptive, high-pressure tactics to get people to buy expensive, and sometimes substandard, home security systems they often don’t need.

AUSTIN, TX - May 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Texas House of Representatives passed HB 2761 which requires Texas Home Owners Associations to operate openly. Under HB 2761, HOAs may no longer foreclose on an assessment lien if the debt consists solely of fines assessed by the association, attorney's fees incurred by the association solely associated with fines assessed by the association or amounts added to the owner's account for open record requests.