WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its March 2011 loan modification data, which shows that an estimated 210,000 homeowners received permanent, proprietary loan modifications from mortgage servicers for the first quarter of 2011. This estimate does not include loan modifications through Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), and industry totals will be updated once official government reports are published.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications increased 4.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 29, 2011.

May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) - A: Costs for construction of both vary across the United States. The cost for constructing a safe room which can double as a master closet, bathroom, or utility room, inside a new home or small business can range from approximately $4,500 to $8,500. This budget would provide an 8-foot by 8-foot safe room. A 14-foot by 14-foot safe room could cost $15,000 to $25,000.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is recognizing 14 State and local governments with its coveted "Door Knocker Award" for their outstanding work in producing affordable housing. From creating a stable living environment for those with disabilities to providing rental assistance to homeless veterans, each community represents a model for developing innovative housing solutions to meet their specific needs. Read a summary for each Door Knocker Award winner.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Mississippi and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding last week.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored that President Obama has nominated me for this position, and I am deeply grateful to Secretary Geithner for his confidence in me.

Washington, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched its first-ever Multifamily Midrise Design Competition. Based on USGBC’s LEED for Homes Multifamily Midrise green rating system, the competition offers professionals and students a unique opportunity to present their solutions for sustainable design for multifamily buildings of four to six stories.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Muller Company, a full service real estate company specializing in management, investment and development of commercial real estate in the western United States, announced today that the leasing team at the Taj Mahal Medical Center located in Laguna Hills, Calif. has signed its first medical lease since the start of construction and the official rebranding of the project in March, 2011

Lewis Center, OH - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Property Management, an Associa company, is pleased to announce that Stephanie Soroky and Clint Grigley have earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designation.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) announced today he returned more than $1 million in Unclaimed Property to just eight account owners. Five individuals and three businesses each have received more than $100,000 since mid-February. The recipients are not being identified for privacy reasons.

Phuket, Thailand - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following a series of delays over the last two years, construction of the new International terminal at Phuket International Airport is now scheduled to get underway at the beginning of November.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $23 million in grants to organizations which will help state and local communities, as well as non-profit organizations, improve their use of federal funds to revitalize neighborhoods, help the homeless and produce more affordable housing.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Berzack Group, led by its President, Warren Berzack, has joined Lee & Associates - LA North/Ventura, Inc., a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm and member of the Lee & Associates group of companies, specializing in multifamily investment sales throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles markets.

Sarasota, FL - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 11-story office building located at the corner of South Pineapple Avenue and Ringling Boulevard has undergone complete renovations of its common areas, upgraded security and revitalized the grounds. Recognizable by an exterior façade of uninterrupted dark glass framed with sleek sand-colored archways around the entire building, the interior of the M&I Bank Building has been elevated to today’s definition of contemporary design. This first phase of renovations exceeds $1 million in expenditures

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thirteen builders, remodelers and other home building industry professionals were honored yesterday as winners of National Green Building Awards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at the 13th annual National Green Building Conference in Salt Lake City.“These awards recognize and celebrate the most forward-thinking builders and remodelers in green building,” said Bob Jones, immediate past chairman of NAHB and a builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “These award winners are pushing the envelope of what we can achieve with energy and resource efficiency.”

ST. LOUIS, MO - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United States Attorney’s Office announced the guilty pleas of Joshua Gould, a former financial representative with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. and affiliate of Spetner Associates; and David Rubin, employee and operator of two local offices of Coral Mortgage Bankers Corporation.

May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company announced the sale of a Single Tenant Net Lease Retail Portfolio, consisting of 16 properties spanning several U.S. markets. The portfolio was purchased by an affiliate of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc., one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate and finance groups. Details of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

Washington, D.C. - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced that it is sponsoring a briefing for Congressional staff and press on how sustainable design practices and operations can effectively reduce the consumption of resources at U.S. Embassies and other diplomatic facilities, while enhancing security.

WASHINGTON DC - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Alabama and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding this week

San Francisco, CA - May 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jim Beitzel, Paul Christopher, Harry Clark, and Jan Medina are busy logging hundreds of training miles and raising thousands of dollars for the 10th Annual AIDS/LifeCycle, June 5 – 11. They and 3000 other riders will be spending seven days on their bicycles, and sleeping on the ground at night, riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles. They are all agents with Zephyr Real Estate.

Moving can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, but choosing the right company can make the process much smoother. Whether you’re relocating across town or the country, the importance of finding a reliable mover cannot be overstated.

You’re about to list your home for sale. Is your home ready for what’s coming? If you haven’t crossed these six items off your to-do list yet, the answer is a resounding “no.” Here’s what you need to do, roughly in order, to make sure your place is in the best possible shape to show to buyers. 

Exposure to air pollution leads to approximately 7 million premature deaths annually and deprives millions of healthy years of life. The heightened battle against climate change and environmental degradation has once again taken centre stage, with an urgent appeal from the World Health Organization (WHO) for countries to slash air pollution limits to save millions of lives.

For this week’s “Tuesday’s Tips,” the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is sharing tips to help New Yorkers identify and avoid rental scams. Rental scams are executed in a variety of different ways, but the goal is the same: bilk potential tenants out of as much money as possible or steal their personal information.

Asphalt production is a critical aspect of our built environment. It's the material we use to pave roads, construct driveways, lay airport runways, and create pathways in public parks. Manufacturing asphalt involves heating and combining aggregates, like sand or gravel, with binders, such as bitumen, to create a versatile and durable construction material.

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