NEW YORK, May 26, 2011 — For the first time in nearly two years, corporate occupiers are moving away from short-term tactical real estate plays exclusively centered on delivering sizeable cost savings in favor of a strategic, long-term approach to growth, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s First Quarter 2011 National Office Occupier Outlook. Though it is not yet widespread, an increase in office space demand was recorded in the first quarter in select market segments with particular concentrations of growth industries such as technology, energy and professional services.

AUSTIN, TX - May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vacation homes aren’t just for rest and relaxation; they are also a satisfying, moneymaking venture for many owners. HomeAway, Inc. – the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace – finds in its latest “HomeAway Vacation Rental Marketplace Report” that 81 percent of vacation home owners who rent their homes to travelers are satisfied with the overall experience.

Washington, DC - May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Financial Services Committee and a leading champion for homeowners, delivered the following remarks today during a Subcommittee on Housing, Insurance, and Community Opportunity Hearing on “Legislative Proposals to Determine the Future Role of FHA, RHS and GNMA in the Single-and Multi-Family Mortgage Markets.”

Copperopolis, CA - May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- M & C Association Management Services Inc., an Associa company, recently expanded its diverse client base and will now provide management services to Sonora Vista Toulumne County Homeowners Association.

SACRAMENTO, CA - May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Overall housing affordability in California continued to increase in the first quarter of 2011, but half of the state’s 28 metropolitan areas included in the report showed decreases, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 25, 2011) — Mortgage applications increased 1.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 20, 2011.

May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Paul LePage on Monday helped kick off a campaign to raise funds for a new $2.7 million Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a jury convicted a 44-year-old Burnsville man of conspiring with others to bilk mortgage lenders out of more than $43 million. Following a six-day trial, the jury found Troy David Chaika guilty on seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Chaika was indicted on April 12, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity at a hearing entitled "Legislative Proposals to Determine the Future Role of FHA, RHS and GNMA in the Single-and Multi-Family Mortgage Markets."

EUGENE, OR - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. announces today that Jeff Klein, of Jeff Klein Realty in Oakhurst, New Jersey, has adopted IDX Broker software for his professional website. Klein now hosts five unique search functions and thousands of area listings conveniently on his website, offering potential buyers a thorough and comprehensive database of property listings. Monmouth Ocean MLS (MOMLS) homes can now be effortlessly displayed online, making the New Jersey property search all the more simple. By utilizing the IDX enabled website Klein hosts, home seekers can experience a dynamic and innovative search function and a fruitful property search, without ever leaving the website of Klein.

EUGENE, OR - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX Broker software has been enabled on yet another real estate website. This time IDX, Inc. and Texas real estate agent Peerly Butbul have joined forces to create an innovative property search page. As a member of the North Texas Real Estate Information Systems (NTREIS), Butbul has long had access to thousands of detailed home listings. Now, her clients can experience the same levels of accessibility and freedom to search the database, a privilege once reserved only for Dallas-Fort Worth agents and brokers. The convenience and time-saving capabilities of the website of Butbul have forever revolutionized the real estate website she hosts.

Washington, DC - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration plays a critical role in the nation’s housing financing system, providing safe, affordable mortgage financing to consumers in all markets during all economic conditions, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony today

WASHINGTON, DC - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded 10 public housing authorities nearly $34 million in grants today that will be used as seed money to create early childhood education and adult training facilities for public housing residents.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home builders who have embraced social media strategies for marketing their business, have seen extraordinary results. According to the second edition of Social Media for Home Builders 2.0: It's Easier Than You Think, builders have seen results ranging from a 25-300 percent increase in website traffic, to increased customer referrals through using social media. This popular resource recently released by BuilderBooks, the publishing arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) teaches builders and residential construction professionals how to use social media tools such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, to increase their visibility and improve their sales results.

Washington, D.C. - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vermont received national recognition for award-winning affordable housing programs on May 3 when the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development announced the Doorknocker Awards at the 20th anniversary of the HOME Program. The HOME Program is a block grant to states and cities used to fund housing affordable to lower-income Americans. The Green Mountain State took home two awards and an honorable mention in the competition, with only 14 awards presented nationally.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- At a time when qualified home buyers are experiencing difficulty in obtaining mortgages because of overly restrictive underwriting requirements, the federal government needs to ensure that a reliable and adequate flow of housing credit is available through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)."If we look to the dramatic increase of FHA's market share over the past few years, we can see how essential the program is for our nation's economic recovery," NAHB First Vice Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla., told the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.

CALABASAS, CA - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Porky Products, Inc. one of the largest independent meat and seafood distributors in the country, has signed a seven year lease for approximately 6,000 square feet of office space at 5230 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas, CA, according to Robert D. Erickson, a Principal with Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, Inc., who represented the tenant in the transaction.“

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --A 15-unit multifamily asset here was sold for $2,450,000, among the highest prices paid on a per square foot and on a gross rent multiplier basis in the North Hollywood submarket since 2007, according to Jeff McGuire, Senior Vice President, Special Assets and a Principal of Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, Inc, who represented the buyer and the seller in the transaction.

HOBOKEN, N.J. - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- One of Hoboken’s newest luxury rental communities, 800 Madison Street, traded this week. Commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.’s Metropolitan Area Capital Markets Group orchestrated the property’s sale from Tarragon Corp. to CB Richard Ellis Investors.

New York, NY - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Flatbush Gardens Tenants Association filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court today against David Bistricer, a principal of Renaissance Equity Holdings LLC, which owns and operates Flatbush Gardens, the sprawling 59-building housing complex in Brooklyn. Renaissance and an affiliated LLC are also named as defendants.

Senator Reverend Warnock slammed President Trump for refusing to sign the ROAD to Housing Act, which would have banned large corporations from mass purchasing single-family homes. Hours before the President was set to sign the legislation, he cancelled the signing ceremony, insisting that Congress pass his voter suppression legislation, the SAVE America Act  

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing consumers with important water safety tips to support a fun, safe summer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies drowning as the number one cause of death for children under four years old and the second leading cause of death among children ages five to fourteen, with over 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings every year.

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a markup of eight bills. “Throughout this Congress, witnesses before our subcommittee have made things crystal clear: Our nation is in the midst of a concerning reliability crisis; Affordability challenges are straining household budgets; and our electric sector must meet the moment to ensure our country can compete and win in the next generation economy,

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced the completion of Fresh Start Apartments, which created 11 units of permanent supportive housing in the City of Newburgh for women who have experienced homelessness and substance use disorder.

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s provision to ban large corporations from mass purchasing single-family homes passed the U.S. Congress and is one step closer to becoming federal law. The provision is part of the historic 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which now moves to the White House for President Trump’s signature

Owning a home in California comes with its own set of challenges. The sun, earthquakes, dry summers, and rainy winters all take a toll on houses. Staying on top of regular maintenance helps you avoid expensive repairs and keeps your home comfortable year-round. Here are five services every California homeowner should prioritize.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) celebrated over $3 million in federal investments that she secured for school and climate resilience projects across MA-5. In Melrose, Whip Clark she joined Mayor Jen Grigoraitis to celebrate $250,000 in funding she brought home to rebuild, rewire, and improve the public address systems in Melrose Public Schools, as well as an $852,500 investment

The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust (the Trust) today announced that Fifth Avenue Builders, LLC, has been selected as the design-build team to perform renovation work in apartments and shared spaces at Unity Towers in Coney Island. With the Trust Board's approval on June 10, 2026, the selection of the design-build team marks a major milestone for the project, which encompasses one building with 193 apartments.

Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today announced a $500,000 federal investment to rebuild an 11.5-mile stretch of White Pole Road in Guthrie County, a farm-to-market and freight corridor that the region’s farmers, families, and emergency responders rely on every day.

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced that $6 million has been awarded to establish a community wellness center on the campus of the Bronx Psychiatric Center. The funding was awarded to StartCare to operate the two-story, 17,000-square-foot facility to serve as a wellness and community resource center providing connection to holistic services for the greater Bronx community

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the Senate vote to advance the bipartisan ROAD to Housing bill and noted the urgent need to expand on legislation to make housing more accessible for all.

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