Washington, DC - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- High down payment requirements being proposed by federal regulatory agencies as part of the upcoming rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will unnecessarily burden homebuyers and significantly impede the economic and housing recovery, according to the National Association of Realtors®

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A plan unveiled today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that would require a minimum 20 percent down payment for "qualified residential mortgages" would disrupt the housing market and jeopardize the economic recovery, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

EUGENE, OR - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colorado Springs, Colorado real estate professional Angela Byrne has revolutionized her website with the dynamic IDX Broker software. She now hosts thousands of property listings directly on her website...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., today issued the following statement on legislative proposals by Congressional leaders to effectively eliminate the role of the GSEs in the U.S. mortgage market:“The National Association of Home Builders strongly supports efforts to modernize the nation’s housing finance system, including reforms to the government sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We can’t go back to the system that existed before the Great Recession, but it is critical that any reforms be well-conceived, orderly and phased in over time.

Torrance, CA - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp., one of the largest owner-operators of shopping centers in the U.S., announces the opening of a new management office in Atlanta. The move will help Westwood Financial reach its goal of doubling its Georgia retail portfolio over the next five years as the company continues to expand its portfolio through the Southeastern U.S.

POCATELLO, ID - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seventy-five Pocatello area REALTORS® are preparing to shine at a luncheon being held in their honor on Thursday, March 31st. The Saluting Top Area REALTORS® (“STAR”) Awards will be given out during the IdaMortgage Appreciation Luncheon. Hosted by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA), the event starts at noon at the Juniper Hills Country Club in Pocatello.

March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today made the following statement at a Committee hearing on the consideration of proposals to reform the housing finance system

WASHINGTON, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that, effectively immediately, it is taking control of the Housing Authority of the City of Lafayette (HACL), citing num...

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.

Atlanta property owners are adjusting 2026 budgets to account for higher costs and tighter timelines tied to glass, facades, and entry systems. Longer permit reviews, stricter inspections, and extended manufacturing lead times are already affecting planning decisions.

Scrolling listings is fast. Deciding to click is even faster. In most markets, photos do the heavy lifting because they tell the story before anyone reads a single line of description

If you ask ten homeowners how fast a house should sell, you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some expect offers on the weekend. Others brace themselves for months of showings and silence.

Broker Public Portal (BPP) and RMLS Alliance (RMLS-A) announced today that RMLS-A has become its newest shareholder and is now live on Cribio.com (Cribio), offering its subscribers and consumers a modern, industry-backed home search experience powered directly by MLS data.

Last week, the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers (TAAHP), held its annual Market Outlook for Affordable Housing at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin. The event included several presentations that began with Texas A&M Real Estate Center’s Dr. Jorge Barro, PhD, who discussed the demand for affordable housing in Texas.

Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) today brought together local officials, community leaders, and advocates at the Crane Center to outline a path forward for the Chinatown Stitch project following the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans’ decision to rescind roughly $150 million in previously awarded federal funding

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