WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Potential home buyers rely on open houses to help them find the home of their dreams. This weekend buyers can have a greater chance of doing just that during Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend, which is organized by state and local Realtor® associations across the country. This Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, Realtors® from coast to coast will host thousands of open houses while engaging consumers on the benefits of homeownership and bringing buyers and sellers together.

Washington, D.C. - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged H&R Block subsidiary Option One Mortgage Corporation with misleading investors in several offerings of subprime residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) by failing to disclose that its financial condition was significantly deteriorating.

Washington, D.C. - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced its opposition to a Senate proposal to hike taxes on small businesses who file as so-called Subchapter S Corporations, many of whom are architects.

NORFOLK, VA - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- For Rent Media Solutions™ (FRMS),a leading resource for searching apartments nationwide and a division of Dominion Enterprises, continues its stronghold in the multifamily industry as comScore reports continue to position FRMS as the leading internet listing service website for total year-to-year growth in unique website visitors for 2012 thus far and second overall in monthly unique website visitors for February and March.

La Jolla, CA - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of California homes entering the formal foreclosure process during the first quarter declined to its lowest level in almost five years, the result of a more stable economy and housing market, as well as policies that increasingly favor short sales, a real estate information service reported.

New York, NY - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Shareholders of AvalonBay Communities Inc. (NYSE: AVB) were urged today to vote against the REIT’s questionable executive compensation plan in an open letter sent to investors by 32BJ SEIU, one of the largest property sector unions in the country. In the dispatch sent to shareholders representing nearly 80% of the company, the union criticizes the current executive pay plan for providing an incentive to hire unscrupulous contractors, overlook federal health and safety requirements, and evade industry standards in the operation of AvalonBay buildings.

Miami, Florida USA - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- QWR.GoFightForeclosure.com today announced a powerful QWR (qualified written request) is the best foreclosure defense for favorable short sale approvals on properties located in Miami, Florida. Citing, QWR Attack! system is being used to help homeowners in Miami Florida overwhelmed with foreclosure notices and short sales presents a way out with also possible money in their pockets.

Phoenix, AZ - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- "Good morning and welcome to the Mortgage Bankers Association's National Technology and Fraud conferences.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 3.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 20, 2012.

CHICAGO, IL - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will visit Circle Center Grade School, 901 Mill St., Yorkville, Ill., on May 4 when the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.

Destin, FL - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than half of all homeowners with a mortgage are unable to move or make a change in their housing situation as a direct result of being underwater on a mortgage, according to a new Housing Predictor survey.

ROSEMONT - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- To further Governor Pat Quinn’s commitment to protect Illinois families and communities from foreclosure, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today helped kick off the free Help for Homeow...

Jefferson City, MO - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Chris Koster announced today he has reached a $76,000 settlement with Pinnacle Security, LLC, a home alarm system company based in Utah.

DALLAS, TX - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- MRG Document Technologies (MRG), a leading provider of mortgage document preparation software and compliance technology, and Georgia-based Xerox Mortgage Services are combining their experience and expertise for an educational webinar that will provide lenders valuable insight into the ever changing regulatory challenges facing the market, and innovative approaches to overcoming them.

EUGENE, OR - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Potential buyers in Chicago, Illinois now have a great resource for finding homes online: David Nadler of City Ranch Real Estate Services, LLC and IDX, Inc. The newly IDX enabled website features thous...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 7.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 units in March from an upwardly revised, robust pace of 353,000 units in February, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Commerce Department.

EUGENE, OR - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. a nationally known leading provider of real estate search applications, today announced it has acquired RealLead, LLC, a real estate lead generation technology company that matches buyers an...

Phoenix, AZ - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today awarded eleven industry innovators with the Mortgage Banking Tech All-Stars award at the Association's 2012 National Technology in Mortgage Banking Conference & Expo held in Phoenix, AZ. This is the 10th anniversary of Mortgage Banking's technology awards celebrating individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of mortgage technology.

AUSTIN, TX - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Redfin, the technology-powered real estate broker, today launched its direct service for Austin home-buyers and sellers, delivered by its own Austin-based agents. When Redfin first introduced its websit...

Washington, D.C. - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) today called for Congress to pass legislation that includes architecture school graduates in the same programs that offer other graduates loan debt assistance if they donate their services to their communities and elsewhere.

Last week, U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (R-OH-15) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced H.R. 9012, the Affordable Housing Credit Carryback Act to strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). This legislation will change the LIHTC carryback period from one year to five years, which will increase the uptake of these important credits and spur more investment in affordable housing production.

On Wednesday, 29 credit unions from across New York State delivered a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Luis R. Sepúlveda and State Assembly Banks Chair Clyde Vanel, urging lawmakers to crack down on predatory payday loan apps by passing the Stop Taking Our Pay Act (STOP) Act (S8939–Brouk, Rochester/A9644–Raga, Queens).

Speaker Johnson released the following statement after an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House voted to pass H. Res. 1299, an amended version of the Senate-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

In many Iowa communities, the biggest barrier to growth isn’t a lack of jobs or schools — it’s housing. Too often, the beautiful Victorian on Main Street that should welcome a new family is sitting empty and deteriorating because federal programs designed to help restore and finance rural housing are outdated and buried in red tape.

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,693,508 in federal grant funding for infrastructure upgrades to four Virginia airports. This funding is awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for FY26, which is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped negotiate and pass.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about the dangers of television (TV) tip-over hazards. Millions of New Yorkers will watch the Super Bowl this Sunday either on TVs at home or at parties with friends. DCP is taking this TV-focused occasion to remind consumers of critical TV safety tips.

Fast-growing Florida has been a favorite of real estate investors for many years. With so much interest having been focused on the state, though, investors need to take care to seek the best available opportunities.

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced that the Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building located at 65 Court Street in Buffalo will be sold at auction in 2020. A work group formed earlier this year made up of City, County, and State officials working with professional real estate consultants CBRE, determined that in the current competitive and robust Buffalo real estate market

The Bureau of Land Management today announced that Karen Mouritsen has been named the new California State Director—a key leadership position based in Sacramento. As State Director, Mouritsen will direct a team that manages lands encompassing 15% of the Golden State’s total land mass

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the opening of the new JLC Recovery and Wellness Center in New York City. JLC is operated by Exponents Inc. and provides free help and support services for people affected by addiction and for their families.

In spite of a robust U.S. economy, a strong employment rate, and steadily increasing 401(k) plan earnings, Black homeownership rates continue to drop. Drawing from the 2019 release of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked the Department of the Interior about its commitment to the Yakima River Basin during a hearing on the president’s FY 2017 budget request. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor agreed with Sen. Cantwell that the Yakima River Basin plan “is a model for the rest of the nation in water management.”

“Consumers Energy is thankful to be a part of holiday celebrations across the state as warm Thanksgiving memories are being made, and we are committed to providing many more generations of Michigan families with reliable, affordable energy in all seasons,” said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy’s vice president and chief customer officer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a final rule that creates exemptions from certain appraisal requirements for a subset of higher-priced mortgage loans. The exemptions are intended to save borrowers time and money while still ensuring that the loans are financially sound

Atlanta, Georgia - November 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) entered into a Consent Order with Equity Loans, LLC, License Number 23300, located at 1150 Hammond Dr., Building E, Suite 650, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, to resolve allegations pertaining to violations of the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act