WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 2.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 1, 2011.

Harrisburg, PA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $105 million to aid homeowners facing foreclosure through the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is launching a national media campaign to kick off Fair Housing Month, celebrated across the country each April to commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act. The "Live Free" campaign will use newspaper and magazine ads, as well as the latest digital media, including social networking sites, to increase the Department’s efforts to educate the public and housing providers about their fair housing rights and responsibilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced the promotion of Jim Gross to Vice President of Financial Accounting and Public Policy. In this capacity, he will advise Steve O’Connor, MBA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations on emerging industry policy issues and assist in setting strategic priorities.

BOISE, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Help is on the way for hundreds of unemployed Idaho homeowners who are in jeopardy of losing their homes. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the State of Idaho’s bid to administer its Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP), and Idaho Housing and Finance Association is accepting applications for the $13 million program effective immediately.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Senate today approved legislation supported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to repeal a burdensome tax paperwork requirement that could cost small businesses thousands of dollars each year. The bill now goes to President Obama for his approval.“During the past several months, NAHB has led the effort along with other industry groups to strike all new expanded IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements for small businesses and owners of rental real estate,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “In testimony before Congress and in ‘key vote’ letters to House and Senate leaders, we have spelled out how failing to overturn these rules would kill jobs and place a major paperwork and cost burden on home builders. We applaud Congress for acting to rectify this situation and urge the President to quickly sign this measure into law.”

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Wells Fargo Bank was the top commercial/multifamily mortgage originator in 2010, according to a set of listings released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Other originators in the top 10 include HFF, L.P.; Meridian Capital Group, LLC.; CBRE Capital Markets, Inc.; Prudential Mortgage Capital Company; MetLife Real Estate Investments; Deutsche Bank Commercial Real Estate; PNC Real Estate; Northmarq Capital, LLC; and Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC

NAMPA, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homebuyers in Nampa will soon have the opportunity to become more informed about purchasing a home with the help of Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education. The Nampa Association of REALTORS® is a new regional training partner for the program, and regular classes will be offered in Nampa starting April 16th

Washington, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Wells Fargo Securities LLC agreed to settle charges that Wachovia Capital Markets LLC engaged in misconduct in the sale of two collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) tied to the performance of residential mortgage-backed securities as the U.S. housing market was beginning to show signs of distress in late 2006 and early 2007.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) was named one of the 10 organizations world-wide to win the latest Gone Google advertising contest. Interested organizations were invited to submit written details about the impact that Google Apps for Business has had on their organization and why they believe that they should be featured in a Gone Google ad.

IRVINE, CA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today unveiled new site features that help users quickly see the amount of equity — or negative equity — in a property based on its estimated market value and total outstanding loans, along with a simple list showing the position of those loans.

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 10,000 homes across the U.S. have earned LEED certification through the LEED for Homes program, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED-certified home projects span the residential market, from multi- and single-family, to market rate and affordable housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While the housing industry celebrates New Homes Month in April, home builders want Americans to know just how much of a positive, direct impact residential construction has on the U.S. economy throughout the entire year."Home building is a key driver of the American economy," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "By generating economic activity including new income and jobs, purchases of goods and services, and revenue for local governments, housing—which has historically accounted for around 17 percent of the GDP—can put America back to work."

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today released Help for Unemployed Borrowers: Lessons from the Pennsylvania Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, the latest article in its Current Issues in Economics and Finance series from the Research and Statistics Group.

RUTLAND, VT - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An affordable housing revolving loan program in West Rutland that provides Vermonters with services, technical assistance and loans to rehabilitate their homes will receive a $1 million grant from the state, Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today.

Lincoln, Neb. - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy announced the line-up for the 2011 Nebraska Infrastructure Protection Conference (NIPC). Nebraska businesses and private industry representatives are encouraged to participate ...

Washington, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The NAACP will announce the opening of the NAACP Financial Freedom Center, the next phase of an historic agreement with Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) to provide financial education and banking resources to consumers. The Center will be the headquarters of the NAACP Financial Freedom Campaign, an initiative to influence change in the banking industry, prevent unfair mortgage lending practices, protect the community against predatory mortgage lending practices, improve fair credit access, and promote sustainable homeownership, financial education and wealth building strategies in historically disadvantaged communities. The agreement with Wells Fargo and NAACP was initiated last year, and also includes a process for sharing data, assessing Wells Fargo's lending and servicing practices, and shared accountability for progress.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) today launched "Las Opciones de los Casas," a teleseries for the Spanish-speaking community designed to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure, empower them to make informed decisions and motivate them to take action and seek help. Through a partnership with Univision, the teleseries debuted as a television broadcast in Miami on March 28, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Fannie Mae's South Florida Mortgage Help Center. Las Opciones de Los Casas, part of the Company's "Know Your Options™" initiative to help struggling homeowners, is now available on www.conozcasusopciones.com.

TOPEKA, KS - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Marking the 43rd anniversary of the signing of the National Fair Housing Law, Governor Sam Brownback joined Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), municipalities and non-profits statewide in proclaiming April Fair Housing Month.

ATLANTA, GA - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today the openings of three new Staybridge Suites hotels, all featuring the new innovative design created by Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) interior design students. Home to one of the top five interior-design programs in the country, the school partnered with IHG to completely refresh the Staybridge Suites standardized room-décor packages.