May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been tracking wasteful spending at public housing authorities including those in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. He made the following comment on an audit released today, s...

WASHINGTON, DC - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- All across America, there are homes that can actually harm those who live in them. From lead-based paint that can poison children, to cancer-causing radon, to cockroach and bedbug infestations. Next month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is hosting a National Healthy Homes Conference in Denver that will explore the latest research and interventions from dozens of public health, housing, and environmental experts from more than 200 organizations.

SHELTON, CT - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Early sales success at Shelton’s Cranberry Hill Estates has accelerated the start of Phase 2 construction at the Armstrong Road community, announced John Tarducci, Senior Vice President of the New Homes Division at William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance.

CHICAGO, LONDON, SINGAPORE - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s second quarter 2011 Global Market Perspective, which assesses the impact of economic forces on the world’s major real estate markets, predicts this year will be the strongest performance and real estate trade volume since the market height of 2007.

Miami, FL - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fourth straight year. CB Richard Ellis is the only commercial real estate services firm ever to be included in the FORTUNE 500.

Edison, NJ - May 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. (REMN), a national mortgage lender based in River Edge, N.J., is pleased to announce the launch of Menlo Park Funding, a new branch opportunity for select independent brokers and bankers. Menlo Park Funding will be the fourth business channel in REMN’s existing wholesale, retail and consumer direct divisions.

May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Loudoun County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn Jr. reminds taxpayers that the deadline for payment of the first half real property tax is Monday, June 6, 2011. Payments postmarked after June 6, 2011, will incur a 10% late payment penalty. The penalty date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed

DURHAM, N.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Business owners interested in making signage or building improvements in targeted areas inside the city limits should take note of three grant opportunities now available through the City of Durham.

BOISE, ID - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --There is still hope for hundreds of homeowners who are struggling to avoid foreclosure. Idaho Housing and Finance Association is still accepting applications for the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the $13 million home saving program on April 1st. Since the announcement, IHFA has sent out more than 700 applications, and only 287 have been returned for review

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- America’s infrastructure investments – levels of which have long trailed behind those of Asia and Europe – will be further stifled this year by pressures to cut federal spending and reduce the deficit, compelling cities to be evermore creative and resourceful in securing partnerships to start or continue infrastructure projects, according to Infrastructure 2011: A Strategic Priority.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- WHAT: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) 1st Quarter 2011 National Delinquency Survey (NDS) Media Conference Call.Conducted quarterly since 1972, MBA's National Delinquency Survey covers more than 40 million loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties, representing more than 80 percent of all first-lien residential mortgage loans outstanding in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, issued the following statement in reaction to the introduction of bipartisan legislation by Representatives John Campbell (R-CA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) that would reform the secondary mortgage market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Wednesday the House Committee on Appropriations released its draft 302b allocations, the amounts each of the 12 appropriations subcommittees will have available to spend on their respective FY12 funding bills. The allocation for the subcommittee that funds HUD, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) subcommittee, is budgeted $7.7 billion below the FY11 final appropriation, a 14% cut.

Kansas City, KS - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Officials from Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas and the Kansas Preservation Alliance celebrated the grand opening of Lowell School Apartments, a new affordable housing development serving the elderly and adults with disabilities. The historic rehab converted a vacant elementary school into 26 energy-efficient, loft-style apartments. Rents for the one, two and three bedroom units range from $450 to $650

NORWALK, CT - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Seller’s Extravaganza of the eight remaining condominium units at Lockwood Terrace in Norwalk will be held Saturday, May 21st from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site at 130 Main Street, William Raveis Real Estates’ New Homes Division announced.

MILFORD, CT - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total Mortgage Services, LLC, a leading mortgage lender, announced today the hiring of Victoria Bextel as the Company’s head of national operations for both its retail and wholesale channels. Ms. Bextel brings to this newly-created senior management position over 22 years of operations, underwriting and management experience within the mortgage industry. In her role as Executive Vice President of Operations, Ms. Bextel will be responsible for managing all operations for Total Mortgage’s retail and wholesale channels, from the time the loan application is received until the time the loan is sold to investors. Ms. Bextel will be based in Milford, Connecticut and report directly to John Walsh, President of Total Mortgage.

Greenbelt, MD - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bozzuto Group today announced that it has earned LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for two residential developments in its portfolio. The Fitzgerald, a mixed-use community in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon district, has received LEED Silver Certification and Riverwalk at Millennium, an apartment community in suburban Philadelphia, has received LEED Certification.

BIRMINGHAM, AL - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For many Alabamians recovering from the recent tornadoes, completing a disaster loan application may be overwhelming, but it is an essential step in recovery.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Community Bank Mortgage LLC, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, has renewed its agreement with SunTrust Mortgage Inc. as one of four preferred secondary market investors. With this partnership, Community Bank Mortgage LLC owner banks can sell loans on a servicing-released basis to SunTrust Mortgage and access their full line of products, including jumbo loans

COLUMBIA, S.C. - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its April 2011 Market Reports. The final month of year-over-year comparison to last year's tax incentive market is upon us. It bears repeating that April 2010 enjoyed uniquely strong activity due to the approaching credit deadline. New Listings in the state of South Carolina decreased 23.3 percent to 9/154. Pending Sales were down 37.9 percent to 4,008. Inventory levels shrank 7.0 percent to 57,680 units - a positive trend that should preserve market balance.

In a small Iowa town, one home can change everything. It can mean the difference between keeping a young teacher in the community or losing her to a city 90 minutes away. Between a farm kid staying on the family land or leaving for good. Between a Main Street that’s growing and one that’s

Rise Economy, in partnership with The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), today announced a $2.5 billion addendum to Columbia Bank’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), expanding the bank’s commitments in California following its recent acquisition of Irvine, California-based Pacific Premier Bank.

The Housing Network of Rhode Island (HNRI) convened housing advocates, including partner organizations and elected officials, at the State House today to highlight legislation intended to provide more permanent, affordable homes to the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders.

Circulate San Diego and Assemblymember David Alvarez announced new legislation to create more affordable homes. The Affordable Homes Bonus Law (AB 2433) will boost homeownership, create more affordable homes, and streamline housing approvals.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today released a set of housing commitments from local elected officials across metro Atlanta after a seven-month leadership program focused on tackling the region’s growing affordability challenges.

The Niskanen Center welcomed the Senate’s passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, calling the legislation a significant federal response to the nation’s worsening housing shortage. Passed by a vote of 89-10, the package represents Congress’s most meaningful effort in 30 years to increase housing supply

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