Des Moines, IA - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors today approved four grants totaling $200,000 to advance affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in Fayette, Keokuk, Logan and Sioux Center. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program. The program provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its February 2011 loan modification data, which shows that an estimated 87,000 homeowners received permanent, affordable loan modifications from mortgage servicers for the month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) sent the attached letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Edward DeMarco expressing MBA’s strong reservations about the stated timetable to revamp the fee structure for residential mortgage loan servicing.

Washington, DC - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Researchers have long understood that residential stability plays an important role in healthy child development. Less well understood, however is the role of housing affordability in promoting or undermining this stability—an issue of particular relevance given the sharp rise in foreclosures in recent years. Research commissioned and analyzed in a new report by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference, sheds light on this important issue affecting child development.

Boston, MA - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A group of major national and local philanthropies today announced the creation of a nonprofit organization to engage, educate, and support funders committed to ending homelessness in America. Funders Together to End Homelessness, started in 2004 as an affinity group of foundation and corporate funders, is now an independent organization of private philanthropies whose mission is to increase funders’ investments in solutions proven to end homelessness. The national organization’s Board of Directors includes representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Fannie Mae, the Melville Charitable Trust, and seven other foundations active in ending homelessness in communities across the country.

CHICAGO, IL - April 6, 2011 — Jones Lang LaSalle today unveiled the first app for iPhone® to provide easily searchable access to global commercial real estate research, as well as a range of social media channels for users to interact with Jones Lang LaSalle experts locally or around the world. The app, also available for iPad®, is free to download from the App StoreSM .

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) WHAT: The 50+ housing market does not always mirror the overall housing industry. Panelists on the call will provide an overview of the 50+ industry and discuss how it is performing compared to the rest of the industry, as well as provide an analysis of emerging trends and growth opportunities.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of Fair Housing month, the Sioux City Human Rights Commission, Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and the Midtown Community Center will host the symposium “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20th at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sioux City Fire Rescue is pleased to announce a new residential Safe Home Program. This program has three components:

Deerfield, IL - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you have not already heard Fannie Mae is in the process of changing their loan documents. This is the first major rewrite of Fannie docs in about 10 years and this is a substantial change from previous documents, both in form and content. Since Fannie is one of the largest multifamily lenders and anyone financing a property is, or should be, getting a Fannie quote, you need to understand these changes.

Denver, CO - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The RE/MAX network continues to expand its reach around the world, announcing five new offices in four countries in the Caribbean and Central America. RE/MAX is now in more than 80 countries, after increasing franchise sales nearly 30 percent in 2010 and outdistancing all competitors.

IRVINE, CA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Manny Gonzalez, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CAASH and principal of KTGY Group is a keynote speaker on the Multifamily Conference CEO Series on MultifamilyBiz.com, "Designed For Success: Today's 50+ Apartment Communities," which went live on April 5, 2011. This lively, fast-paced 60-minute FREE On-Demand Digital Media Webcast brings to focus what you need to know about the growing 50+ market. Property management expert Ernest F. Oriente of PowerHour® and multifamily technology innovator Kerry W. Kirby, CEO of 365 Connect and MultifamilyBiz.com are the moderators during this free MultifamilyBiz.com + PowerHour Webcast

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