WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Justice today announced that JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) will pay $614 million for violating the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting non-compliant mortgage loans submitted for insurance coverage and guarantees by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). JPMC is a bank and financial services company headquartered in New York

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Residential remodeling will continue a gradual climb back up in 2014 from a dramatic fall during the economic downturn, according to experts at a press conference hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas. Remodelers from around the country agreed with the forecast, citing increased demand from home owners for upgrades to existing bathrooms and kitchens

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Led by a resurgence in single-family production, housing will continue its climb toward higher ground in 2014, but builders are still confronting several challenges that could hinder the pace of the ongoing recovery, according to economists speaking at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) General Counsel Maurice Baskin Feb. 4 testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Workforce Protections during a hearing titled, “OSHA’s Regulatory Agenda: Changing Long-Standing Policies Outside the Public Rulemaking Process.” On behalf of ABC and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Baskin addressed a Feb. 21, 2013 letter of interpretation (LOI) from OSHA allowing union agents and community organizers for the first time to accompany safety inspectors into nonunion facilities, as long as an unspecified (non-majority) number of employees in the nonunion work place designate one.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) hired Lisa Costello as Vice President of Political Affairs and promoted Jim Lapides and Sarah Yaussi to Vice President of Strategic Communications and Vice President of Industry Communications, respectively.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the 55+ housing market for the fourth quarter of 2013 is up sharply, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. All segments of the market—single-family homes, condominiums and multifamily rental—registered strong increases compared to the same quarter a year ago. The single-family index increased 20 points to a level of 48, which is the highest fourth-quarter reading since the inception of the index in 2008 and the ninth consecutive quarter of year over year improvements

La Jolla, CA. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of California homes that sold for a million dollars or more rose last year to the highest level in six years, the result of rising home prices and an improving economy, among other factors. The strongest sales gains were at the luxury market's high end, with record sales above the $2 million mark, a real estate information service reported

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown: “NAR commends President Obama for highlighting two key policy reforms during his State of the Union address tonight that support the future of homeownership and the business of real estate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that the city of Hammond, Indiana, and the Hammond Housing Authority (HHA) agreed to pay Maria Becerra, the former executive director of HHA $200,000 to settle allegations the city and HHA terminated her employment because she administered a HUD-funded rental assistance program that helped minority familiesmove into predominantly white neighborhoods In addition, HHA agreed to reopen its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waiting list and inform the public about the reopening of the list

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that it is granting expanded authority to lenders to accept electronic signatures (e-Signatures) on documents associated with mortgage loans. The new policy allows e-Signatures on origination, servicing, and loss mitigation documents, as well as FHA insurance claims, REO sales contracts and related addenda. Current FHA policy allows for electronic signatures only on third party documents such as sales contracts and other documents not controlled by the lender.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Jan. 31, 2014, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in Ohio and Wyoming

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to House Republicans' announcement today that they will pursue immigration reform legislation this year:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a report highlighting problems like unfair and deceptive practices in the mortgage servicing market uncovered through the Bureau’s supervision program in 2013. The report also notes that, between July and October 2013, consumers received $2.6 million as result of overall non-public supervisory activities at the banks and nonbanks the CFPB oversees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Through its Community Development Banking business, Bank of America Merrill Lynch provided more than $3.3 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments and other real estate development solutions in 2013. Those commitments were up more than 25 percent from 2012 lending and investing and will help create more than 13,600 affordable housing units.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Healthy fundamentals in the commercial property market combined with the international economy returning to more traditional growth levels are factoring into a projected increase in growth for the design and construction industry. Led by the hotel and retail project categories, the commercial sector looks to see the biggest gains in construction spending, with demand for institutional projects increasing at a more moderate level.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales measurably dropped in December, with abnormal weather partly inhibiting home shopping in much of the U.S., according to the

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Martin Edwards, Jr., CCIM, president of Edwards Management, Inc., Realtors, Memphis, Tenn., has been named to the Real Estate Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the annual State of the Union address, the President rightly called for housing finance reform that keeps the American Dream of homeownership alive for this and future generations. This Dream accounts for $10 trillion of our nation’s economy and is a proven path towards upward mobility for millions of Americans. It is also why it is important to preserve the 30-year, fixed rate mortgage loan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will host a forum on the 2014 outlook for the U.S. economy and housing market on Thursday, January 30, at 10:00AM.

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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants will provide San Bernardino International Airport with $4,285,081 for the Reconstruct Portion of Taxiway “A” Project and $3,111,923 for the Airfield Slurry & Paint Project

Findings combined with laboratory testing show home hardening and noncombustible Zone Zero are critical to reducing damage in suburban conflagrations. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) released findings today from its post-event investigation of the 2025 Los Angeles County Fires, illustrating the necessity of a systems-based approach to wildfire resilience.

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