WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earl Gross, 74, of Las Vegas, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Mortgage, a loan servicing company, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for his role in an $8 million scheme to defraud Wells Fargo Bank.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- GSA’s Green Proving Ground program is exploring new ways to mitigate the impact of our built environment on the natural environment. The Green Proving Ground tests promising sustainable building technologies in the real-world setting of federal facilities to evaluate their potential to reduce resource consumption and improve building performance. Additionally, the Green Proving Ground seeks to provide data and insights that will accelerate the broader commercialization and deployment of sustainable building technologies

SAN FRANCISCO - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the ConsensusDocs Coalition is announcing a new tool to effectively address alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the design and construction industry. Guided Choice is a new approach to mediation for a more active and holistic approach role for a mediator to actively guide parties towards resolution. ConsensusDocs is now including information on how to implement Guided Choice in the ConsensusDocs Guidebook, and is educating users on the process at its 2nd annual Construction SuperConference Workshop being conducted today in San Francisco, Calif. The American Arbitration Association (AAA) will honor requests from the parties to use the Guided Choice process in AAA administer mediation through arbitration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Melvin Watt was confirmed as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) by the United States Senate in a 57-41 vote yesterday. The FHFA is a powerful federal government agency responsible for regulating government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which invest in more than three-fourths of the nation’s new mortgages

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Statement by National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Sheila Crowley on the Confirmation of Mel Watt as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, marking a great day for the millions of low income Americans in need of decent, affordable homes.

WASHINGTON - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today’s confirmation of Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is a hopeful sign for the progress of housing finance reform in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Co. has partnered with Touchstone to develop the Troy Block property on Fairview Avenue in South Lake Union, Seattle. USAA Real Estate Company will be the equity partner in the 820,000 square foot, 2-building office project, located at 307 Fairview Ave North. The project, which was entitled under the 2013 South Lake Union rezone, was acquired by Touchstone from The Seattle Times in June 2011. The office space is being marketed by David Abbott and Tom Abbott of Colliers International

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) made the following statement after Rep. Mel Watt was confirmed today by the United States Senate as the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Fundamentals of Transferring Credit Risk in a Future Housing Finance System.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, marking a great day for the millions of low income Americans in need of decent, affordable homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rick Judson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Charlotte, N.C., issued the following statement on a new report on rental housing released today from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Washington, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released the third and final installment of its LEED in Motion report series: "Impacts and Innovation The report details key impact areas and results of the thousands of projects that are utilizing the LEED® green building rating system, as well as innovation highlights related to LEED and green building technologies

Washington, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. ET, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will join leaders from the BlueGreen Alliance, the Institute for America’s Future, and the Center for American Progress on a press call to release a new report that offers a bold strategy to lead a 21st-century green industrial transformation.

WASHINGTON, - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of sweeping changes to a popular loan program for rural homebuyers. The changes are part of an extensive overhaul that will strengthen rural housing markets, increase the availability of rural home loans and spur the construction of new homes in rural areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today took additional steps toward fulfilling the Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorships that FHFA published in February 2012. That Plan established a conservator goal of gradually contracting Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s dominant presence in the marketplace while simplifying and shrinking their operations. The basic premise behind the “contract” goal is that with an uncertain future and a general desire for private capital to re-enter the market, the companies’ market presence should be reduced gradually over time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rick Judson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Charlotte, N.C., issued the following statement on a new report on rental housing released today from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies:

WASHINGTON - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the November edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard – a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market. The latest data show progress among many key indicators. The purchase of new homes and home prices remain strong and foreclosures are down. Although there is much good news, officials caution that the overall recovery remains fragile. The full Housing Scorecard is available online at www.hud.gov/scorecard.

WASHINGTON - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thank you for that kind introduction. It’s great to be here with you all today because I feel a very special connection for the sponsor of America’s Rental Housing Report.

TAMPA - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a report entitled including Building Codes in the National Flood Insurance Program, which discusses the feasibility of including model building codes in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The study will be used by Congress to consider whether to make adoption and enforcement of model building codes mandatory for communities participating in the NFIP program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, ConsensusDocs released a new Design-Build Joint Venture Agreement and a new Teaming Agreement. As the first industry standard joint venture for design-build, the document fills an important need. Constructors, architects and engineers are increasingly using joint venture relationships on projects utilizing the design-build project delivery method. Many potential joint venture relationships, which can be filled by constructors, design professionals or multiple permutations of those parties can use this new contract document. The new document helps parties address issues such as licensing and insurance requirements, as well as risk allocation issues. The new Teaming Agreement helps parties memorialize roles and responsibilities in submitting a project bid or proposal.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) strongly condemned the withholding of federal funds for Chicago infrastructure projects, which includes $1.9 billion she secured for the Red Line Extension project to build the first CTA stop in the Second District.

Construction and industrial sites are high-pressure environments. Deadlines are tight, budgets are stretched, and there is the ever-present risk of theft and vandalism disrupting progress. Security on sites cannot be treated as an afterthought. It needs to be built into the way projects are managed from the outset.

Following a 2 p.m. ceremony on Monday, October 6, the new Main Library at 230 Grace Street, Suite A, in downtown Wilmington will officially open to the public. Community members are welcome to join the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, county staff, and the Grace District development team for the ribbon-cutting to celebrate the moment.

The latest Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 2024–25 reveal that, while progress is being made on some fronts, the fundamental challenges in housing are deepening. While increases in new homes and a decrease in homelessness are welcome, the continued rise in waiting lists and housing stress shows a system under pressure.

U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released a new report that shows nearly $500 million in promised federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts remains unpaid. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery.

The following civil and human rights organizations registered their dismay at facts revealed in a whistleblower complaint filed by five employees working at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The groups also pledged their support for the brave employees who have filed this alarming complaint.

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