Washington, D.C. - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced it was sponsoring a Haiti reconstruction conference in early January that will bring together a host of organizations to identify and coordinate opportunities in Haiti for design assistance teams, building assessments, resources and other programs.The AIA Summit on Haiti will be held on January 13 – one day after the first anniversary of the Haitian earthquake of 2010 – at the Loew’s Hotel in New Orleans. Organizations participating in the AIA’s Haiti conference include The American Red Cross, National Urban League - Greater New Orleans, Adecco Group North America, United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Architecture for Humanity (AFH), National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Public Architecture and Black Design Network News. More organizations are expected to attend.

DENVER, CO - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Denver B-cycle today announced its partnership with Kentwood City Properties. In addition to branded B-cycles and annual memberships for employees, Kentwood City Properties will also have the capabilities to utilize B-cycles when showing property, a convenient option to get to downtown properties. Kentwood City Properties’ sponsorship support of Denver B-cycle arrives as the bike sharing system closes down for the winter in its inaugural season. Denver B-cycle reopens March 2011.

Washington, DC - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The level of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding decreased in the third quarter, to $3.2 trillion, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) analysis of the Federal Reserve Board Flow of Funds data.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Independent mortgage banks and subsidiaries made an average profit of $1,423 on each loan they originated in the third quarter of 2010, up from $917 per loan in the second quarter of 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s 3rd Quarter 2010 Mortgage Bankers Performance Report released today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Year will ring in better times in the U.S. real estate market, according to one out of three people surveyed. The opinion poll found that the majority of respondents, however, aren’t so enthused about real estate when it comes to the calendar advancing to 2011

WASHINGTON, DC - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration’s Mortgagee Review Board (MRB) today announced that it is permanently withdrawing FHA approval of Cambridge Home Capital, LLC (CHC), a Great Neck, New York-based lender. In addition, the MRB will seek a monetary penalty of $182,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Congressional Oversight Panel today released its December oversight report, "A Review of Treasury's Foreclosure Prevention Programs." In the eight months since the Panel's last report on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), Treasury has made minor tweaks to the program, but the changes have not resolved the Panel's core concerns. The Panel now estimates that, if current trends hold, HAMP will prevent only 700,000 foreclosures -- far fewer than the three to four million foreclosures that Treasury initially aimed to stop, and vastly fewer than the eight to 13 million foreclosures expected by 2012

PITTSBURG, KS - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Officials from the City of Pittsburg, the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Housing Resources Corporation and Garrison Development Company celebrated the completion of Besse Apartments at 121 E. 4th Street in Pittsburg. A $9.2 million dollar historic rehab, the 83-year-old former hotel now offers 46 affordable apartments in the heart of downtown

WASHINGTON, DC - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jose Portillo, 22, was convicted by a jury today of first degree felony murder and other charges in the November 2008 slayings of Virginia and Michael Spevak, who were attacked while in their Northwest Washington home, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department announced.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peterson Companies and The Bozzuto Group, two D.C. area-based and family-owned development companies, announced today a joint venture that will bring the first apartment community to National Harbor

TRUCKEE, CA - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Clear Capital www.clearcapital.comreleased its monthly Home Data Index™ (HDI) Market Report, providing the most current (through November 2010) and granular analysis of how local markets performed compared to the national downward trend in home prices

New York, NY - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York Housing Conference (NYHC) and the National Housing Conference (NHC) hosted the 37th Annual Awards Luncheon, one of the largest gatherings of housing professionals in the nation, today, Thursday, December 9, 2010, at the Hilton New York in Manhattan.

EUGENE, OR - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A custom IDX solution is now available on the Denver, Colorado real estate website of Carl Borrmann. Thanks in part to the revolutionary IDX, Inc. technology, thousands of Metrolist Denver MLS (MTOMLS) listings are seamlessly integrated onto the search page Borrmann represents. With IDX Broker software, Borrmann can utilize a dynamic set of search functions online, in an effort to supply his clients with a comprehensive and complete property search conveniently on his website.

PELLA, IA - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As builders, remodelers, contractors, architects and students prepare for a new year – predicted to be challenging for the housing industry – Pella Corporation wants to help them "Go for it!"

SEATTLE, WA - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Luxury Real Estate announced today its expansion with Richard Provost of Luxury Financial Solutions. Having begun his career in the mortgage industry, Provost continued onward to provide financing for Resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton and Trump Tower.

Washington, D.C. - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ken L. Ross, FAIA, FACHA, joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in the newly created position of Vice President, Design and Practice. Mr. Ross, who recently retired as Senior Principal and former President of WHR Architects, Inc., a 170-person Houston-based full service architecture, interior design and technology planning firm, will serve in this position on an interim basis

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Justice $2 million settlement with PrimeLending spotlights serious problems on loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The case found inconsistent and abusive pricing on loans to African-American borrowers, revealing that it’s far too easy for lenders making government-backed loans to overcharge home buyers.

McLean, VA - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which found that once again, both fixed- and short-term mortgage rates rose this week. This was the fourth week in a row where fixed-rate mortgage rates were up.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Serving as leading indicators for the sector, two composite multifamily indices produced from NAHB's survey of multifamily builders and property managers showed improvement in the third quarter of 2010. The NAHB Multifamily Production Index (MPI) increased to a value of 35.6, up from the 26.6 level reported for the second quarter. This is the highest the MPI has been since 2007

Boston, MA - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. industrial real estate sector’s national availability1 rate is expected to fall to 13.1% in 2011, down from 14.0% in the third quarter of 2010, according to new analysis from CBRE Econometric Advisors (CBRE-EA). CBRE-EA forecasts that the industrial availability rate is expected to continue declining during 2012, ending the year at 11.8%. The national industrial availability rate peaked at 14.1% in 2Q 2010.

The House Judiciary Committee released an interim report titled, "How Governor Tim Walz’s State Public Pension Fund Colludes with the Climate Cartel to Raise Energy Costs for American Consumers."

Congresswomen Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to examine the impact of institutional investment on the housing sector, and whether investors are taking advantage of federal affordable housing programs at the expense of homeowners and renters.

Homeowners 62 and older saw their housing wealth increase by $600 billion in the second quarter to $14 trillion, according to the latest quarterly release of the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index.

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced the successful launch of a new Safe Options Support or ‘SOS’ team to help bring stability to individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness in two rural counties in the Southern Tier.

When you’re ready to sell a property, one of the biggest questions facing homeowners is whether to invest time and money in renovations or list the property as-is. With a rising trend of buyers, particularly real estate investors, preferring properties with potential over perfectly polished, move-in-ready homes, the idea of selling without extensive repairs has gained traction.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has released “By the Numbers: The Data Underlying Legal Aid Programs.” The report provides an overview of the work of LSC-funded legal services organizations on behalf of low-income Americans seeking civil legal assistance.

Getting started with real estate investment doesn't have to be complicated or stressful, but knowing how to do it right is essential. If you're unsure where to begin or don't know who to talk to, you're definitely not alone. You may also get conflicting information, and not every investor wants to share their secrets with you.

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