WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Energy Department on August 14 announced 12 projects to develop innovative heating, cooling, and insulation technologies as well as open-source energy efficiency software to help homes and commercial buildings save energy and money. These projects will receive approximately $9 million from the Energy Department along with about $1 million in matching private sector funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Before now, building professionals experienced building science education offered by the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in separate venues and events. Beginning next month, industry professionals will have access to top education opportunities from both organizationsin one location during the Excellence in Building Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department announced today that Multi/Tech Engineering Services Inc., an engineering firm based in Salem, Ore., has agreed to pay more than $60,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that it had violated the Fair Housing Act by designing Gateway Village Apartments with steps and other features that made it inaccessible to people with disabilities.

SAN DIEGO, - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- DataQuick®, a provider of advanced real estate information solutions powered by data, analytics and decisioning, has expanded its Neighborhood-Level Home Price Index (HPI) to offer a more localized view of property valuation trends. Neighborhood-level coverage for the HPI has increased from 11,408 to 12,939 zip codes—more than twice the number of any competing HPI.

AUSTIN, TX - August 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), the Austin housing market experienced its highest-performing month to date in terms of home sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Joint Forum released today its final report on Mortgage insurance: market structure, underwriting cycle and policy implications.

COLUMBUS - August 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced Ohio’s 2012 auto and homeowners insurance average rates, information that is annually compiled by the Department

Washington, DC - August 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition applauded remarks from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on GSE reform. In a recent interview that addressed GSE reform, Senator Reid expressed the need to "protect homeownership."

EUGENE, OR - August 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Phone-enabled property searches are now possible on the website of agent Kelly Darling of Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living, thanks to IDX, Inc. and the amazing and innovative IDX Broker software. Darling can now display thousands of Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) listings on her website, which is now synced with an application to make searching for Scottsdale, Arizona homes on-the-go monumentally easier. The IDX solution Darling now employs has forever revolutionized the online property search for home seekers and real estate professionals alike

IRVINE, CA - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released its first-ever Housing Market Recovery Index (Housing MRI), which shows metro area markets in upstate New York, southwest Florida and the Bay Area of Northern California are leading the housing recovery while markets in northern Maryland, southeast Pennsylvania and downstate Illinois are lagging the furthest behind in the recovery.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, chaired by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, today released a rebuilding strategy to serve as a model for communities across the nation facing greater risks from extreme weather and to continue helping the Sandy-affected region rebuild.

Casper - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A newly released report shows the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) helped preserve and develop more than 270,000 affordable rental units in rural communities nationwide. The National Report, “The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: Overcoming Barriers to Affordable Housing in Rural America,” was prepared by Rapoza Associates in partnership with five members of the National Rural Housing Coalition. Since the program’s inception, in 1986, the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) has used the LIHTC program to develop over 4,000 affordable rental housing units in 22 communities.

Denver, CO - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX, one of the world’s leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, today announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The RE/MAX brand name has held the number one market share in the U.S. and Canada since 1999. The timing, number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. RE/MAX intends to apply to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On August 13, 2013, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 2013 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). The QAP is now pending approval by Governor Malloy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As you know, Governor Malloy has been a champion for affordable housing in Connecticut. As a result of his leadership, over $500 million has been committed for the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. As part of that commitment, he has demonstrated national leadership by making a significant and specific commitment to the State-Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP) in the amount of $300 million over a ten-year period.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that a national property management company will pay $15,000 under an agreement resolving allegations it discriminated against a Connecticut family with children. A Middletown, Connecticut husband and wife alleged that employees at Hamilton Point Property Management, LLC refused to renew their lease after concluding the family of five was too large for the two-bedroom apartment they occupied for nearly a decade.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts rose 5.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 896,000 units in July as multifamily construction rebounded from a dip in the previous month, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, single-family construction recorded a modest decline from a rate that was upwardly revised for the previous month

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On August 12, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates passed a resolution calling on the U.S. government at all levels to promote and implement the human right to housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $10.5 million in grants designed to protect children and other vulnerable groups from health hazards in their homes. This funding highlights the link between housing and health and develops cost effective methods for mitigating residential hazards. HUD's grants are being awarded to academic and non-profit research institutions studying new methods to recognize and control residential health and safety hazards such as asthma triggers, bed bugs, mold and radon. Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors voted to hold NAREE's 48th Annual Spring Conference in Houston when it met last June during NAREE Atlanta conference. Ralph Bivins, editor of RealtyNewsReport.com and a NAREE past president, is chairing the Houston meeting which will include NAREE University professional development sessions, panels and tours of cutting edge development.

An electric fireplace insert is a modern alternative to traditional wood-burning or gas fireplaces. It is essentially an electric heater designed to fit into an existing fireplace cavity or to be recessed into a wall. These inserts typically consist of a metal housing containing a heating element, a flame effect mechanism (which often uses LED lights and mirrors to simulate flames), and a fan to distribute heat into the room.

MHP recently received a $1 million unrestricted grant from The Citi Foundation’s Community Progress Makers Initiative, a program that supports visionary organizations that are working to connect low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunity.

We live in an age where digital transactions have become the norm, and the real estate sector is not immune to the rise in cyber threats, crimes, and data breaches. For buyers and sellers alike, the excitement of closing a deal can quickly turn into a nightmare if proper precautions aren't taken.

For this week’s Tuesday’s Tips, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing safety tips to follow when using gas or charcoal grills. This Memorial Day on May 27 will mark the beginning of summer for many New Yorkers, and with it, the start of the grilling season.

As the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, the real estate market heats up along with the weather. Summer marks the peak season for moving, and for home buyers, it presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on various factors that make the process smoother and more rewarding.

In the realm of interior design, the kitchen holds a special place. It's not just a place for preparing meals; it's a space where functionality meets aesthetics. Among the various elements that contribute to the allure of a kitchen, the splashback stands out as both a practical and stylish addition.

Nonprofit affordable housing developer MHP has officially launched a bold new $20M campaign to double its impact by the end of the decade, activating a plan to expand and preserve more affordable housing in Montgomery County, MD and across the DMV. As of today, MHP has raised $15.8M, 79% of its goal.

PORTLAND, Maine: A Glenburn woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to embezzling from an organization receiving federal funds and conspiring to alter money orders. According to court records, Kelly Ballinger, 57, was a former property manager for a Portland apartment complex with residences funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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