WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that Charles Schwab Bank has agreed to pay $30,000 settling allegations that the bank refused to accept a loan application from the adult son of a Metairie, Louisiana woman with disabilities. The son, who was acting with his mother’s power of attorney, tried to apply for a loan on his mother’s behalf, but was told that the bank did not accept powers of attorney for “incapacitated borrowers.”

BATON ROUGE, LA - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced an effort to reform and streamline the state’s disparate housing agencies, including the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA), into one streamlined Louisiana Housing Corporation that would oversee all housing funds in the state, uniting almost 30 separate programs currently managed by five organizations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to terminate the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), one of the Administration's key foreclosure response programs. This vote came despite the devastating impacts the recession and foreclosure crisis continue to have on neighborhoods across the country -- including increased homelessness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Fannie Mae announced the results of its annual Help the Homeless Program, which raised $6.5 million in 2010 for non-profit beneficiary organizations that work to prevent and end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Dover, DE - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Beau Biden and bipartisan coalition of legislators unveiled five bills today to respond to the home foreclosure crisis in Delaware and help the economy grow . Recent years have seen a re...

Washington, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the 18 recipients of the 2011 Housing Awards. The AIA’s Housing Awards Program, now in its 11th year, was established to recognize the best in housing design and promote the importance of good housing as a necessity of life, a sanctuary for the human spirit and a valuable national resource.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International will bring their message to lawmakers around the country the week of March 20 as part of BOMA’s annual National Issues Conference. As part of an industry that supports one million jobs in the United States and contributes $118 million to GDP in office building operating outlays alone, BOMA members will meet with their Representatives and Senators to explain the critical role commercial real estate plays in a thriving economy and to gain support for key industry issues. Because of the new Congressional work schedule, the conference, which usually takes place in Washington, D.C., will be held locally around the U.S while lawmakers are in their home districts.

McLean, VA - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®> (PMMS®), which shows the 30-year fixed-rate dropping to 4.76 percent while the 15-year fixed-rate hit its lowest rate at 3.97 percent since December 2010.

Washington, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The level of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding decreased by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, to $2.4 trillion, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) analysis of the Federal Reserve Board Flow of Funds data. On a year-over-year basis, the amount of mortgage debt outstanding at the end of 2010 was $67 billion lower than at the end of 2009, a decline of 2.7 percent.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing entitled “The Administration’s Report to Congress: Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market.”

IRVINE, CA - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac™ (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today announced the hiring of real estate veteran Charlie Engel as the new Director of Business Development – Real Estate. Engel will lead the company’s efforts driving additional real estate professional partnerships

DENVER, CO - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In another strategic technology move, RE/MAX, LLC, one of the world’s leading real estate franchises, is now syndicating property listings through a number of high-profile partners to give RE/MAX agents access to more potential homebuyers and sellers and to give their listings greater visibility.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Generation X –young families and adults ages 31 to 45 – are likely to lead the home buying recovery as it gets underway, according to real estate experts who spoke at an educational webinar produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).These potential home buyers are most likely to think it's a good time to get off the fence – and have strong opinions about the design features their new homes will include.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Restoring the flow of acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) lending that has been choking off credit for home builders and impeding job growth took center stage today as 500 builders from across the country converged on Capitol Hill for the annual NAHB Legislative Conference."Our message to Congress is simple and straightforward," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nevada. "Unless we resolve the ongoing credit problems for home builders – the vast majority who are small business owners who employ less than 10 workers – the industry will lose even more jobs, resulting in longer-term economic damage."

LINCOLN, NEB. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --The recently-released 2006-2010 CDBG Investments and Impacts brochure contains eye-opening statistics related to Nebraska’s strategic use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) fought to prevent potential increases in New Mexico homeowner’s insurance payments—and he won. There has been growing concern from local flood cont...

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Teresa Kelly, a former operations supervisor in Colonial Bank’s Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division (MWLD), pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bank, wire and securities fraud for her role in a fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of Colonial Bank and Taylor, Bean & Whitaker (TBW).

L?HU'E, HI - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- County officials announced that a new fee for garbage collection service will take effect on July 1. Notices about the implementation of the residential refuse collection assessment (RRCA) were mailed this week to all Kaua'i property owners along with their real property assessments

WHAT: Deputy Attorney General Lisa Wolf will lead a Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention workshop at the Hamilton County Resource and Information Fair on Thursday, March17th from 4:30-5 p.m. The workshop will provide information on the alternatives to foreclosure, settlement conferences, and important foreclosure prevention contacts in Indiana.

March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial pressures on contractors grew worse in February as prices for key construction materials rose sharply even as prices construction firms charge for completed projects remained stagnant, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said the price squeeze will make it harder for the construction industry to recover and urged federal officials to act on a series of recovery measures the group outlined yesterday

The House Financial Services Committee is holding a Housing and Insurance Subcommittee hearing, led by Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood (NE-01), to examine how rural communities can better leverage private-sector investment and community-led solutions to meet their unique housing needs.

During a House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) hearing, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) asked the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Scott Turner, about housing issues facing veterans and foster youth.

Considering a renovation or new build in Auckland? Discover why choosing local builders can make all the difference to your project’s success. From navigating council consents to understanding local conditions, Auckland-based builders like Build Unlimited bring unique advantages that save time, money, and stress.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded initiative will provide loans and technical assistance to four community land trusts seeking to expand their housing portfolios and organizational capacity?

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