WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, testified today before the Senate Banking Committee at hearing titled, “Public Proposals for the Housing Finance System.”

DES PLAINES, IL - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Whether you are planning to take advantage of the buyer's market this Spring, are looking to sell or rent or expecting to stay in your current home for years to come, now is a great time to schedule a home inspection. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), April is National Home Inspection Month and the association is reminding consumers about the importance of hiring a certified home inspector.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing professionals from across the country will convene at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 1-3, for the 2011 National Green Building Conference and Expo. Exhibitors showcasing the latest and most innovative green and energy efficient products and services will be on display.Here are just some of the many exciting green innovations that building professionals will see at the upcoming show

WASHINGTON, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jaquan Bragg and Tavon Barber, both 16 and both from Washington, D.C., have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a recent burglary in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The staffs of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (together, the agencies) announced that the agencies this week are considering for approval a notice of proposed rulemaking that addresses section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Chicago, IL - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle, the global financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate, has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2011.

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.79 percent based on loans closed in February. This is an increase of 0.08 percent from the previous month

Destin, FL - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The bottom of the housing market is close to developing in some regions of the U.S., while others will experience a delayed reaction in 2011 to the bottom of their markets, according to the new Housing Predictor forecast.

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Realtors®’ businesses grow, so do their needs for quality office supply products. Now OfficeMax and the National Association of Realtors® are proud to offer discounts to NAR members on office supplies and services through the REALTOR Benefits® Program.

A new rule unveiled today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission would ratchet up mortgage lending restrictions to such an extent that they would disrupt the housing market and undermine an already-fragile recovery.

BEDFORD, N.H. - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority will host its ninth annual Home Buyer Fair on Saturday, April 2, at the Radisson Hotel Manchester - Center of New Hampshire, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH, fr...

VIENNA, VA - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in its new report, Mortgage Loan Fraud SAR Filings In Fourth Quarter and Calendar Year 2010, today released full year data showing the number of suspicious activity reports involving mortgage loan fraud (MLF SARs) increased 4 percent in 2010 to 70,472 compared with 67,507 MLF SARs filed in 2009. The report also shows that the growth rate of MLF SARs began to slow over the last two to three years. Looking at just the 2010 fourth quarter, filers submitted 18,759 MLF SARs, a 1 percent decrease from the 18,884 filings over the same period in 2009.

IRVINE, CA - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Manny Gonzalez, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CAASH and principal of KTGY Group will be the keynote speaker on the Multifamily Conference CEO Series on MultifamilyBiz.com, "Designed For Success: Today's 50+ Apartment Communities," on April 5, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. EST. This lively, fast-paced 60-minute FREE On-Demand Digital Media Webcast will bring to focus what you need to know about the growing 50+ market. In this in-depth informative discussion, Gonzalez shares his insight about how the aging Baby Boomers are driving urban infill, redevelopment opportunities and are changing the face of 50+ apartment community design.

FRANKFORT, KY - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Steve Beshear, joined by Rep. Mike Denham, of Maysville, and Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Chief Executive Officer Richard L. McQuady, today signed into law a bill that will help families purchase and live in homes they can afford.

ANCHORAGE, AK - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- What: Kickoff of AHFC's partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library; parents will sign up children to receive a free book monthly until their sixth birthday. Children will receive their fir...

New York, N.Y. - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company announced that the First Quarter 2011 Turner Building Cost Index has slightly increased over the Fourth Quarter of 2011. The Turner Building Cost Index measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States. The Turner Building Cost Index of 806 reflects a 0.62% increase from the Fourth Quarter 2010 and 0.88% increase from the First Quarter 2010.

Los Angeles, CA - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) announced today that 414 million square feet of properties it manages for clients participated in WWWF’s Earth Hour 2011. In addition, CBRE influenced an estimated 1.6 million of those properties’ occupants to participate in the event. CBRE joined a diverse roster of leading businesses in supporting this global initiative.

DALLAS, TX - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MRG Document Technologies (MRG), a provider of mortgage document preparation software and compliance technology to banks, credit unions and other lenders nationwide, has successfully completed full lifecycle eNote certification through Xerox Mortgage Services' BlitzDocs® eVault.

Washington, DC - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --Pending home sales increased in February but with notable regional variations, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman reported today that seven New Mexico housing agencies have been awarded a total of $524,949 in grant funding though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...

With authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expiring later that same day, members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) met with members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council at the White House. During the meeting, NAIC members reiterated several longstanding priorities for state insurance regulators.

Electrical issues are among the most common and costly problems homeowners face, yet they’re often overlooked until they become serious. Investing in routine maintenance isn’t just about convenience or comfort—it’s a proactive measure that safeguards both your property and your family.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped introduce bipartisan legislation to improve the safety and security of pipeline infrastructure in Michigan and throughout the United States. The legislation would reauthorize and significantly increase funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) safety programs for five years.

South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) has awarded Tabatha Amodio, Association Executive of the Aiken Association of REALTORS®, with its James R. Peters Association Executive Award of Excellence. The award was presented at the association's legal conference, REALTOR® MANIA, at Wild Dunes in Isle of Palms in September.

South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) has awarded its Distinguished Service Award to Realtor® John Rinehart, Broker/Owner of Rinehart Realty. The award was given during the association's legal conference, REALTOR® MANIA, at Wild Dunes in Isle of Palms in September.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) strongly condemned the withholding of federal funds for Chicago infrastructure projects, which includes $1.9 billion she secured for the Red Line Extension project to build the first CTA stop in the Second District.

Construction and industrial sites are high-pressure environments. Deadlines are tight, budgets are stretched, and there is the ever-present risk of theft and vandalism disrupting progress. Security on sites cannot be treated as an afterthought. It needs to be built into the way projects are managed from the outset.

Following a 2 p.m. ceremony on Monday, October 6, the new Main Library at 230 Grace Street, Suite A, in downtown Wilmington will officially open to the public. Community members are welcome to join the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, county staff, and the Grace District development team for the ribbon-cutting to celebrate the moment.

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