Archives

McLean, VA - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the fourth quarter of 2010, fixed-rate loans accounted for more than 95 percent of refinance loans, based on the Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) quarterly Product Transition Report released today. Refinancing borrowers overwhelmingly chose fixed-rate loans, regardless of whether their original loan was an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or a fixed-rate.

Los Angeles, CA - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire the majority of the real estate investment management business of Netherlands-based ING Group N.V. (ING) for approximately $940 million in cash. The acquisitions include substantially all of the ING Real Estate Investment Management (ING REIM) operations in Europe and Asia, as well as Clarion Real Estate Securities (CRES), its U.S.-based global real estate listed securities business. CB Richard Ellis will not acquire ING’s U.S.-based private market real estate investment management company.

EUGENE, OR - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. has revolutionized the online real estate solution of Portland, Oregon Broker Phuong Ha of Capital Investment Realty. Ha has enabled IDX Broker software onto his professional website, syncing thousands of Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) property listings into his advanced search functions. The capabilities he now hosts create a dynamic search page for his website, making his listings more visible and accessible via his IDX-enabled online real estate solution.

DENVER, CO - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX Commercial® Practitioner Dave Smith, CCIM, completed one of the largest deals of his career, a contract that involved parties in two different countries and four U.S. states. The deal was recently named by the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute’s Nebraska Chapter as a “Big Deal of 2010.” The buyer of the commercial property in Pueblo, CO, is from Tel Aviv, Israel who was using an agent in Los Angeles, CA, and the seller lives in Texas. Smith resides in Omaha, NE.

DENVER, CO - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Stacy Neir, a leading Broker Associate with Kentwood City Properties, and award-winning artist Michael Gadlin, will host a special “Art of Living” event on Sunday, February 27, 2011 from noon t...

EMERYVILLE, CA - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home sellers continue to discount their asking price in an attempt to entice buyers to move towards a purchase according to a report issued by national real estatebrokerage ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com; NASDAQ: ZIPR). ZipRealty’smonthly Price Reduction report, which is generated from a review of MLS-listed properties in 26 markets, shows that inventory is up a modest 2.81 percent from January 2010, but the total number of homes where sellers have cut the asking price at least once was up 17.6 percent. This double-digit growth in discounted homes may be another indicator of a sluggish market.

McLean, VA - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today announced its first ever offering of Structured Pass-Through Certificates (“K Certificates”) backed only by multifamily mortgages with a 7-year term. The company expects to offer approximately $861 million in K Certificates (“K-701 Certificates”), which are expected to price the week of February 21, 2011, and settle on or about March 9, 2011

Destin, FL - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The best housing markets forecast in 2011 have been named by Housing Predictor, which forecasts local markets in all 50 U.S. states. Markets are annually selected by the real estate research firm, and updated as regional market conditions demand over the entire year.

Los Angeles, CA - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) today announced the promotions of Michael J. Riccio and Mitchell W. Kiffe to Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets, reflecting their expanded responsibilities as Co-Heads of Production for CBRE’s Debt & Equity Finance practice. In his new role, Mr. Riccio will focus on expanding life company correspondent and lender relationships while remaining the northeast Debt & Equity Finance regional leader and continuing to serve long-standing institutional accounts. Mr. Kiffe will continue his multi-family market focus while also seeking to enhance CBRE’s collaboration with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the FHA as well as other capital sources

McLean, VA – The Administration should be commended for the considerable thought and effort it put into its plan to reform America's housing finance system. Clearly they understand the key issues and the need for private sector capital to return to the housing market. We at Freddie Mac will continue enhancing our infrastructure, business processes and technology to become the kind of stronger, more efficient company that can play a productive role no matter what policymakers decide about our future

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The advance fee ban under the FTC’s Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule is designed to protect financially distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams that have sprung up during the mortgage crisis.

L?HU‘E, HI - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Because the normal deadline for real property taxes fall on Sunday, Feb. 20 and Monday, Feb. 21 is President’s Day, Kaua'i property owners have until Tuesday, Feb. 22 to pay the second installment of real property taxes for the 2010-2011 tax year without penalty

(LPAC) - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressional candidate and LaRouche PAC organizer Kesha Rogers, who is running in Houston, TX as part of a six person national slate of LaRouche Democrats, issued the following statement today

Columbia, MD - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise ), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, today announced that Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) has given the company approval to originate affordable multifamily loans nationally on its behalf.

McLean, VA - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week.

COLUMBIA, MD - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, today announced that Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) has given the company approval to originate affordable multifamily loans nationally on its behalf. The new license granted to Enterprise rounds out the company’s agency platform, which already includes capacity to sell and service loans for Fannie Mae and FHA. Enterprise is among a handful of lenders approved to sell and service targeted affordable housing loans nationwide. These are loans on apartment properties with rents that are affordable to low- and very-low income individuals whose incomes are at or below 80 percent or 60 percent of the area median income, respectively.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s Board of Governors recently passed two new policy positions in response to important, emerging issues. Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Policy Position: BOMA International supports amending, if not the outright repeal of, FIRPTA to increase the amount of foreign capital invested in the U.S. commercial real estate market

February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During an awards ceremony held at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida, the NAHB Research Center recognized twelve of the nation’s leading energy-efficient builders and remodelers with the Energy Value Housing Awards (EVHA). Now in its 16th year, the EVHA challenges builders to elevate standards for energy-efficient construction. Winners are selected from projects in three climate regions (Cold, Moderate, Hot) and five categories (Affordable, Custom/Demonstration, Multifamily, Production, and Existing Homes)

February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company is pleased to welcome Len O’Donnell as President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations of the company. O’Donnell comes to USAA Real Estate Company with more than 25 years of extensive real estate experience as President and CEO of Crimson Capital Ltd and Principal of Crimson Real Estate Fund, based in Houston. Prior to Crimson, Len spent 10 years as a leading investment sales broker in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware.

SACRAMENTO - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the City of Sacramento announced today that the Sacramento City Unified School District will be one of the first to obtain a Center for Green Schools Fellow.