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.

ANCHORAGE, AK - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Effective today, the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) will assume administration of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's weatherization program in Anchorage. The Municipality...

Washington, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Americans favor walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, with 56 percent of respondents preferring smart growth neighborhoods over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation. That’s according to a recent study, the Community Preference Survey, by the National Association of REALTORS®.

BLUE BELL, PA - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With minimum bids starting at just $75,000, 36 two- and three-bedroom condominiums in Blue Bell, Pa., that had previously been on the market for as much as $301,400 are set to go on the auction block in April.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Alfred Evans, 28, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a jury today of charges stemming from the April 2003 murder of Reginald Brighthart, a 35-year-old homeless man, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Positioning a city as progressive and innovative in the post-recession economy is, perhaps more than ever before, requiring public officials to “think and act like entrepreneurs” to maximize the economic development potential of anchor institutions such as higher education and medical facilities, alternative energy-related industries, and biotechnology firms, according to a new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the March edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard. Officials caution that the latest housing figures underscore fragility in the housing market and the need to continue efforts to help American families stay in their homes. The housing scorecard is a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market

Washington, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® will join Americans across the country as they honor Fair Housing Month this April. As the leading advocate for home ownership, NAR strongly supports the Fair Housing Act and believes that anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream.

Washington, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of REALTORS® today urged Congress to move cautiously when reforming government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

EUGENE, OR - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce the network of real estate agents and brokers who have chose to upgrade their professional websites is growing yet again, with the addition of an IDX solution to the website of Jeremy Miller. Indianapolis, Indiana properties are now displayed with ease on the IDX-enabled website Miller hosts. His membership with the Metropolitan Indianapolis MLS (MIRBOR) further simplifies the online real estate search for home seekers by extracting raw listing data and integrating it onto the page Miller hosts. Now, potential buyers can search for their dream Indianapolis home on one concise and convenient real estate website, thanks to Miller and IDX Broker software.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary Sandra B. Henriquez announced today that two public housing agencies– Boulder Housing Partners in Colorado and Lexington-Fayette Urban County in Kentucky – have been selected to participate in HUD’s Moving To Work Program (MTW).

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) officially opened the newly renovated South Beach Addiction Treatment Center (ATC) on Staten Island today.

Imagine sitting in your cosy lounge, sipping tea while the rain patters softly outside. All seems right with the world—until you spot a faint watermark snaking across your ceiling. That seemingly innocent stain might be the first whisper of a hidden issue that could cost thousands in repairs.

Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) made the following statement regarding the data from the Point-in-Time Count released by the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness: “I’m encouraged by the decrease in the number of families and veterans who are unsheltered.

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