Washington, D.C. - November 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The average incremental cost of constructing a new home to meet the current energy efficiency building code – the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – comes to a mere $818.72, according to a recent study by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports code adoption and implementation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Richard M. Daley today appointed Andrew J. Mooney as interim head of the City’s new Department of Housing and Economic Development, which will be formed through the consolidation of the City’s Department of Community Development and the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning as of January 1, 2011.

November 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mills announced progress in her negotiations with GMAC Mortgage LLC and Bank of America regarding their foreclosure practices in Maine. GMAC has agreed that it will temporarily halt sales on homes that have been foreclosed on, pending further talks to resolve the Attorney General’s concerns about the company’s foreclosure procedures

Washington, DC - November 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the holiday season approaches, the National Association of REALTORS® is giving thanks to American troops. NAR will provide care packages and housing assistance to support soldiers and their families here in the U.S. and abroad. Two national charities will receive support from NAR – Operation American Soldier and USA Cares.

Pittsburgh, PA - November 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rent Jungle (www.rentjungle.com) unveiled an industry-first web site, allowing apartment and rental-house hunters to search the contents of listings from thousands of other web sites – using spidering and indexing technologies similar to that of a search engine, but dedicated exclusively to the rental housing industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With Thanksgiving approaching, and millions of homeless and poor Americans struggling with hunger and the cold, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty today announced it has received a $75,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. This support comes at a critical time, as the Law Center works to help implement the first-ever Federal Plan to End Homelessness.

Washington, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today commended the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their efforts to assist Hurricane Rita survivors’ transition into long-term housing. FEMA announced today they are initiating a plan to help relocate the remaining residents still in temporary housing from the 2005 storms through federal, state, local and voluntary agency efforts

PHILADELPHIA, PA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the approval of a request from the state of West Virginia to extend FEMA’s temporary disaster housing program from November 1...

McLean, VA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) and the 15-year (FRM) edged up slightly this week. The 5-year ARM also rose, while the 1-year ARM fell a bit from the previous week.

Boston, MA - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --The U.S. retail real estate sector’s availability1 rate is expected to drop to 12.7% by the end of 2011, according to new analysis from CBRE Econometric Advisors (CBRE-EA). CBRE-EA forecasts that the ongoing pick-up in retail sales combined with limited supply will slowly decrease the national availability rate for neighborhood and community centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) most recent nationwide housing survey finds that Americans are less certain that the housing market has bottomed, and continue to be wary of buying a home. The Third Quarter 2010 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey polled homeowners and renters between July 2010 and September 2010. Findings were compared to similar surveys conducted in June 2010, January 2010, and December 2003.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 19, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1.1 percent compared with the previous week.

MINNEAPOLIS, MI - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United Properties announces that the Ford Center* has signed a lease with HGA Architects and Engineers for 80,000 sq. ft. in its historic office building in the Minneapolis Warehouse District. To ready the Ford Center for 2011 renovations, United Properties also recently received historic renovation design approval from the National Park Service and the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, and approval for a building addition from the City of Minneapolis Planning Commission.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 29 states between September and October, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 39 states, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released today by the Labor Department. The new figures continue a nearly year-long trend of ups and downs in construction employment as the industry performs stimulus-funded work yet grapples with broad market uncertaint

PITTSBURGH, PA November 23, 2010 – The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Pittsburgh today declared the results of the recent election to fill seats vacated by Directors whose terms expire on December 31, 2010. The election includes two member director positions for Delaware, one member director position each for Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and two non-member independent director positions

Detroit, MI - November 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online lender and a top-five retail mortgage lender, announced it ranked highest in “customer satisfaction” among all home loan lenders in the United States in a benchmark study of the mortgage industry by J.D. Power and Associates, the global marketing information services company.

Washington, D.C. (November 18, 2010) – Patrick “P.J.” Harrigan of Franklin American Mortgage Co. has been named the chairman of the Mortgage Action Alliance Steering Committee, the grassroots advocacy affiliate of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

McLean, VA - November 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today issued the company's Monthly Volume Summary for October 2010. The summary, available on the company's Web site at www.FreddieMac.com/investors/volsum, provides information on Freddie Mac's mortgage-related portfolios, securities issuance, risk management and delinquencies, including data on seriously delinquent mortgage loans in related mortgage Participation Certificate (PC) pools.

Washington, D.C. - November 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the days grow colder and consumers gear up for another winter, many are looking for ways to beat the season’s high monthly energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. household spends about $1,900 per year on home utility bills. With so much of a consumer’s monthly income spent on energy this winter, NeighborWorks America urges consumers to reduce their utility costs by weatherizing their homes this winter.

Washington, DC - November 23, 2010 - (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 4.49 percent based on loans closed in October. This is a decrease of 0.06 percent from the previous month.

U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) secured critical funding for defense projects benefiting Georgia’s servicemembers, military families, and base communities. The funding was secured in the military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill, which is one of several legislative vehicles used to annually fund the federal government.

If you’re dealing with pests in North York—whether it’s cockroaches in your condo or mice in your basement—Just Bugs Pest Control offers fast, affordable, and professional service. With pest issues on the rise across the city, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted team on your side.

The National Fair Housing Alliance ® (NFHA ™) issued the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan granted a temporary restraining order requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to distribute critical federal fair housing dollars nationwide to local,

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) led Senate Democrats in introducing legislation to reverse the tax hikes on clean energy Republicans passed in their “Big, Ugly Betrayal,” which would raise energy costs for Americans by hundreds of dollars, kill almost a million jobs, and shrink GPD by $1.1 trillion

Following the Trust Board approval on July 8, the Trust can now move forward with executing a contract with Community Modernization Group to renovate over 1,000 apartments at the Brooklyn development

Moving into a new home is an exciting milestone—but it can quickly turn stressful if pests show up uninvited. Whether it’s ants in the kitchen, spiders in the basement, or mice in the walls, pest problems can make your dream home feel less than perfect. Luckily, with a little planning and maintenance, you can keep your new home pest-free from day one.

A Bay Area lawmaker is pushing for new federal legislation to study the threat rising groundwater poses — a hidden but growing environmental danger that experts say could worsen flooding, damage infrastructure, and contaminate drinking water.

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) proudly graduates 227 emerging developers from the NAREB Developers Academy on Tuesday, as the organization of Black real estate developers, known as Realtists, seeks to increase production of much-needed housing in communities nationwide.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman – and welcome to my hometown, Las Vegas, Nevada. And before, I get into my remarks – Mr. Chairman, as you know, Senate Republicans unilaterally thrusted the gaming economy and its patrons into uncertainty with the unjust inclusion of the wagering loss

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