WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s release of a white paper outlining potential approaches to reforming the government’s role in the secondary mortgage market.

McLean, VA – The Administration should be commended for the considerable thought and effort it put into its plan to reform America's housing finance system. Clearly they understand the key issues and the need for private sector capital to return to the housing market. We at Freddie Mac will continue enhancing our infrastructure, business processes and technology to become the kind of stronger, more efficient company that can play a productive role no matter what policymakers decide about our future

WASHINGTON, DC - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the first time, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among Veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 Veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 Veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

Washington, DC - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The three co-creators of Foreclosure-Response.org – the Urban Institute, the Center for Housing Policy, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – have compiled and released the newest data on seriously delinquent mortgages for all 366 U.S. metro areas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home builder sentiment for the mature-market sector retreated in the last quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period a year earlier. The National Association of Home Builders' 55+ Housing Market Index for single-family homes dropped three points to 14 from a year ago following annual declines in the second and third quarters of 2010."The normal course of purchasing a new home in anticipation of or upon entering retirement has been interrupted by the fall in Baby Boomers' house values and reduction in their home equity," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among American veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The advance fee ban under the FTC’s Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule is designed to protect financially distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams that have sprung up during the mortgage crisis.

L?HU‘E, HI - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Because the normal deadline for real property taxes fall on Sunday, Feb. 20 and Monday, Feb. 21 is President’s Day, Kaua'i property owners have until Tuesday, Feb. 22 to pay the second installment of real property taxes for the 2010-2011 tax year without penalty

(LPAC) - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressional candidate and LaRouche PAC organizer Kesha Rogers, who is running in Houston, TX as part of a six person national slate of LaRouche Democrats, issued the following statement today

Columbia, MD - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise ), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, today announced that Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) has given the company approval to originate affordable multifamily loans nationally on its behalf.

McLean, VA - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continued government participation in the secondary mortgage market is essential to ensuring affordable and available home mortgages to qualified consumers when private lenders withdraw from the market, according to the National Association of Realtors®’ recommendations for restructuring the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)

Washington, DC - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home sales rebounded in 49 states during the fourth quarter with 78 markets – just over half of the available metropolitan areas – experiencing price gains from a year ago, while most of the rest saw price weakness, according to the latest survey by the National Association of REALTORS®.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) called on Congress today to repeal all new expanded 1099 reporting requirements imposed in recent laws that will harm job creation and place a major paperwork and cost burden on the nation's small businesses.Testifying on behalf of NAHB before the House Small Business Committee, Mike Kegley, a builder from Union, Ky., and president of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, told lawmakers that the collection of W-9 forms, monitoring payments over the course of a year, and additional staff time will cost individual small businesses thousands of dollars per year

COLUMBIA, MD - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, today announced that Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) has given the company approval to originate affordable multifamily loans nationally on its behalf. The new license granted to Enterprise rounds out the company’s agency platform, which already includes capacity to sell and service loans for Fannie Mae and FHA. Enterprise is among a handful of lenders approved to sell and service targeted affordable housing loans nationwide. These are loans on apartment properties with rents that are affordable to low- and very-low income individuals whose incomes are at or below 80 percent or 60 percent of the area median income, respectively.

Orlando, FL - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joseph A. Smith, Jr., North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, will address the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) User Conference & Training today on the future of state mortgage regulation

WASHINGTON, DC - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United States has filed six lawsuits in five states to stop tax return preparers from fraudulently claiming the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the earned-income tax credit, the Justice Department announced today. The filings of those civil injunction complaints coincided with the indictment of a Philadelphia man on criminal charges of fraudulently claiming the first-time homebuyer credit. All of these actions are part of the Justice Department’s continuing efforts to halt tax scams involving false claims for tax credits and to prosecute those who fraudulently file tax returns containing those claims.

Providence, RI - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today announced his plans to reactivate the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), which establishes a mechanism for Cabinet- and Director-level staff to come together to discuss better coordination of state activities for housing and homelessness. The ICH also develops strategies to address the problems associated with homelessness, makes recommendations aimed at reducing the number of homeless people in Rhode Island, and promotes and supports development of permanent supportive housing

WASHINGTON, DC - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s Board of Governors recently passed two new policy positions in response to important, emerging issues. Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Policy Position: BOMA International supports amending, if not the outright repeal of, FIRPTA to increase the amount of foreign capital invested in the U.S. commercial real estate market

February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During an awards ceremony held at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida, the NAHB Research Center recognized twelve of the nation’s leading energy-efficient builders and remodelers with the Energy Value Housing Awards (EVHA). Now in its 16th year, the EVHA challenges builders to elevate standards for energy-efficient construction. Winners are selected from projects in three climate regions (Cold, Moderate, Hot) and five categories (Affordable, Custom/Demonstration, Multifamily, Production, and Existing Homes)

Black families who sought homeownership were held back by red tape, limited to redlined neighborhoods and faced blatant racism from banks.” “And for those who managed to secure a mortgage and buy a home, the value of their homes was grossly diminished by an appraisal system rife with racial bias, and that same appraisal system is around today.”

The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA™) strongly condemns the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA’s) decision to repeal its Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans Regulation (Fair Lending Rule) for two of the nation’s largest financial institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs).

This financial closing is a key milestone in the renovation of 224 apartments in two residential buildings. The development will receive comprehensive renovations to improve the quality of life for residents and Clean Heat for All heat pumps, which will provide clean, reliable heating and cooling year-round

The grant funding will enable the Hope Through Housing Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab to purchase new virtual reality equipment, drones, cameras and powerful servers for AI and software development.

We are here today as a government built for the people. Today, you are holding this hearing on the pretense of what happens when tax-exempt dollars funnel from or to groups that you disagree with. But much more pressing, what happens when decisions are no longer being made for the people, but in service to the President’s greed?

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act, a landmark housing reform package to increase housing supply, lower costs for families, and modernize federal housing programs to better serve rural, suburban, and urban communities across America.

Transforming your bathroom into a smart space doesn't mean turning it into a sci-fi movie set. Today's intelligent bathroom features blend seamlessly into your daily routine while adding genuine convenience, comfort, and value to your home.

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in your life, and securing the right mortgage is essential to make that dream a reality.

Residential siding plays a critical role in protecting a home while also defining its overall appearance. Beyond curb appeal, the right siding choice can improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance demands, and help safeguard the structure from weather-related damage.

The Committee on Financial Services is working to tackle the high cost of living. Last week, the Committee held a hearing with Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.

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