WASHINGTON - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced today that it issued a Request for Information online to gather input on innovative, transformational green building technologies in support of its Green Proving Ground program. The program is seeking information from industry, commercial organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations on technologies that have the potential to improve economic and environmental performance in federal buildings.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Shanna L. Smith, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, issued the following statement urging the Senate to hold an up or down vote for U.S. Representative Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that Bank of America will pay $45,000 as part of Conciliation Agreements resolving allegations the lender discriminated against pregnant women seeking mortgage loans. HUD had alleged that the Bank of America refused to refinance the mortgages of two couples in California and Texas, because the women were on maternity leave

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although the housing market has shown a healthy recovery over the past two years, unnecessarily restrictive mortgage lending standards are preventing some financially qualified buyers from reaching their dreams, especially singles and first-time buyers, according to an annual study released today.

WASHINGTON - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Choosing a community is one of the most important factors for consumers as they consider buying home, and research by the National Association of Realtors® has consistently revealed that Americans prefer walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and shorter commutes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following the Senate's October 31st cloture votes regarding Patricia Millett's appointment to the D.C. Circuit and U.S. Representative Mel Watt's appointment to the Federal Housing Finance Agency the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law released the statement below

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On November 1st, the Patrick Administration announced the first funding awards under its new High Leverage Asset Preservation Program (HILAPP), aimed at supporting the comprehensive modernization and preservation of the state’s public housing stock. The Program provides grants to local housing authorities that are able to secure matching funds from local and/or other non-DHCD sources

WASHINGTON - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Riverside Plaza, a historic housing development in Minneapolis, earned the prestigious 2013 National Trust/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. This award recognizes efforts that advance the Nation’s historic preservation goals while providing affordable housing and economic development opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

Washington D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges and an emergency asset freeze against a group of Pasadena, Calif.-based companies at the center of an ongoing real estate investment scheme.

Torrance, CA - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- BH Properties LLC, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment firm, has acquired three industrial buildings totaling 32,602-square-feet in an industrial park located in the Bankside Business Center at 36405, 36555 Bankside and 36605 Sunair in Cathedral City, Calif

CHICAGO, IL - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Henry Hanna, CCIM, SIOR, Senior Advisor with Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury, MD recently attended the SIOR Fall World Conference in Chicago, IL at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association and is a professional affiliate of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). More than 3,000 members have the prestigious SIOR designation, which is the symbol of the highest level of knowledge, production, and ethics in the real estate industry.

CHICAGO - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Prudential Jack White/Vista Real Estate, the market leading real estate firm in Alaska, has announced that it is becoming an independent firm, effective November 1. The company will operate as Jack White Real Estate and is affiliating with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE), the world's largest network of leading independent real estate brokerages producing over one million transactions annually

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, a minority of U.S. Senators prevented the full Senate from voting on the nomination of Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) to be the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Once again, the threat of a filibuster by Republicans has prevented an up or down vote in the Senate on a matter of great national importance. Because Mr. Watt’s nomination was not allowed to go forward, an acting director will remain in charge of this vital federal agency.

Reston, Virginia - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today reported that a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit last month ruled in favor of MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. and its co-defendants, affirming a lower court’s decision dismissing the plaintiff’s claims of wrongful foreclosure. The Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas

DENVER, CO - November 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - For the sixth year in a row, RE/MAX, LLC has been named one of the Top 50 Franchises for Minorities by the National Minority Franchising Initiative through the World Franchising Network.

NEW YORK - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Dozens of workers, community members and tenants in costume joined a rally and march in support of building workers at luxury buildings along the High Line in Manhattan Thursday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Revised rules proposed by federal regulators will help ensure rigorous and effective underwriting while also providing creditworthy homebuyers with access to safe mortgage financing, according to the National Association of Realtors®

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Essential Elements of a Government Guarantee for Mortgage-Backed Securities.”

BARRE - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joel Rhodes has joined Home Share Now for the next eleven months as an AmeriCorps member via the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. Rhodes is a recent graduate of Juniata College in Pennsylvania and has studied in Ireland, done sustainable forestry in Oregon, renovated houses at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and served at a daycare in Mexico. “I am excited to be serving with an organization that actively and creatively finds housing solutions for a range of wants and needs,” said Rhodes

WASHINGTON, - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 1.6 million homeowners have received foreclosure prevention counseling by local nonprofits, national intermediaries and state housing finance agencies participating in the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program. The NFMC program is administered by NeighborWorks® America, one of the nation's largest community development corporations.

Real estate wholesalers compete for speed. The best deals disappear fast. Wholesalers race to connect with motivated sellers before anyone else. But sellers who ignore mail or avoid attention require more than a drive-by or a stack of postcards. Wholesalers need better tools. They need better data. That’s where skip tracing makes the difference.

The establishment of a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which will succeed the current Affordable Homes Programme and prioritises the building of 60 per cent of homes for social rent. This programme will be the main way that the £39 billion announced for building of new social housing at the Spending Review will be delivered.

The "Roots to Reef" initiative spearheaded by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in the Hampton River reached a critical new milestone this week in its mission to bolster the city's climate resilience.

Secretary Scott Turner announced the return of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Innovative Housing Showcase from September 6 – 10 to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Previously, the Innovative Housing Showcase was scheduled to take place May 30 – June 1

Buying a home is a big step, and today’s market offers a wide mix of options. Each one brings its own quirks—some exciting, others potentially costly. Knowing what to watch for upfront can spare you from stressful surprises and help you move forward with confidence.

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