WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced that John A. Courson, the association’s President and CEO, will be leaving the association, effective June 1, 2011. Courson will be replaced by David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May. Stevens had announced earlier that he would be resigning from his position at HUD. He will leave HUD on March 31, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts and issuance of permits for new housing construction both posted disappointing declines in February as concerns about a growing number of factors caused builders to pull back on production of new homes, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. Total housing starts declined 22.5 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 479,000 units, the second-slowest pace on record. Equally disconcerting, total permit issuance for new homes fell 8.2 percent to a record low pace of 517,000 units in February.

EUGENE, OR - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. and Park City, Utah real estate broker Jeff Lykes have created a dynamic real estate search page on the Talisker Mountain Realty website. The Park City MLS (PKCMLS) is now synced to Lykes' sea...

BEDFORD, N.H. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its recent meeting, New Hampshire Housing’s Board of Directors approved the commitment of nearly $7.5 million in tax-exempt bonds, federal HOME Investment Partnership funds and Greener Home Prog...

FRANKFORT, KY - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Visitors to this year’s Kentucky Crafted: The Market will have the opportunity to shop for art on a grand scale. A special exhibit featuring handcrafted pergolas, garden sculptures, ceramic mural work, doors, light fixtures, chandeliers, hardware, stair rails, sinks, stained-glass windows and architectural signage will be presented in the center of the exhibition hall.

PHOENIX, AZ - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Associated General Contractors of America released a new national plan today detailing measures to stimulate demand for construction. Officials said the plan was needed to reverse construction employment declines that have taken place in 317 out of 337 metro areas since January 2007, according to new data the association released today.

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) “Neighborhoods Go Green! Scaling up Sustainability” exhibit opened in Washington, DC. The exhibit uses LEED for Neighborhood Development, the first comprehensive benchmark for green neighborhood design, as a framework to explore the key elements of a sustainable community. Co-curated by USGBC, the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) and Farr Associates, “Neighborhoods Go Green!” is on display at the Washington, DC headquarters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

DENVER, CO - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Dee Chirafisi, Broker Associate and co-owner of Kentwood City Properties, and Deviree Vallejo, one of the company’s top-producing real estate professionals, will co-sponsor and participate in the 9t...

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Owning a home offers myriad benefits throughout the year, but some of the financial advantages of home ownership are most apparent at tax time,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “As many of today’s hard-working American families are feeling a financial squeeze, the tax benefits that can come from owning a home can be a welcome relief.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the April 18 federal income tax filing deadline approaches, many American home owners are realizing the financial benefits of homeownership—savings that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over several years."The mortgage interest deduction is one homeownership tax incentive that has been part of the tax code for nearly 100 years," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Incentives such as this have helped millions of American families be able to afford a home of their own."

COLUMBIA, S.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its February 2011 Market Reports. Throughout the state, the price range with the strongest sales activity was the $100,001 and below range, where sales were up 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. Median Sales Price was up the most in the single-family segment with a 1.5 percent gain to $157,250, while prices were down 5.2 percent for condos, to $125,000. The price range with the shortest market Days on Market time was among homes in the $100,000 and below price range

Miami Beach, FL - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federated Companies, a leading vertically integrated national real estate investment and development firm, has recently closed on the acquisition of a mortgage from KeyBank that is secured by Bayside Village in Portland, Maine. The asset is located in downtown Portland between the Old Port and Back Cove on 132 Marginal Way and consists of 100 units and 400 bedrooms and operates as a student housing complex that was completed in 2008.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning. Last month, we released a report outlining our vision of the next steps for reforming the housing finance market. My testimony today summarizes the content of that report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- After four consecutive months hovering at the same low level, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved by a single point in March, rising to 17 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the highest level the HMI has reached since May 2010, when the survey period corresponded with the final days of the federal home buyer tax credit program.

San Francisco, CA. - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP has expanded its Affordable Housing practice on the West Coast with the arrival of new partner Tuan Pham. Mr. Pham joins Nixon Peabody’s San Francisco office from Goodwin Procter, where he also served as the hiring partner for the San Francisco office and a co-chair of the West Coast Diversity Committee.

Washington, DC - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- NeighborWorks America, one of the largest community development corporations and the sponsor of one hundred full-service Home Ownership Centers around the U.S., today announced that more than 16,700 families became homeowners last year through the efforts of NeighborWorks organizations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The Secret Millionaire" features nonprofit organizations working in poor communities all around the country. It films what the organizations do and the people they impact. In this week’s episode, a "volunteer" comes to help YouthBuild Detroit, which is sponsored by Young Detroit Builders. Tune in for the wonderful surprise ending for YouthBuild Detroit and Young Detroit Builders.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Responding to widespread evidence of improper accounting, unwarranted fees, false documentation, and arbitrary foreclosure decisions, the 50 state Attorneys General are crafting a long-overdue plan to hold the mortgage servicing industry accountable. The plan would address accusations that banks and servicers have engaged in illegal and negligent servicing practices that have been a continued drag on the U.S. housing market and economy.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While the buzz over 3D, tablets, and other hot technologies has been a global phenomenon, upon a closer look, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has found that homeowners have different expectations for their technology depending on where in the world they call home.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Millions of U.S. families face health and safety hazards like mold, lead, pest infestation and the physical deterioration of their homes. These problems are particularly common among some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations: children, seniors, the disabled and low-income families.

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 latest trends in bathroom remodeling showcase a deliberate blend of beauty and practicality. Homeowners are seeking spaces that cater to essential functions and provide a comfort level that befits the modern lifestyle. Spaces are designed to be zones of relaxation - a place to unwind after a long day or to energize and prepare for the day ahead

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