Property, Rentals, Transactions

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® is modifying its popular Green Designation program to focus on residential real estate practice. “NAR research has consistently shown that there is a considerable and growing market for green buildings, and many of today’s consumers want homes and communities that are more resource efficient and sensitive to the larger environment,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “NAR’s Green Designation helps Realtors® meet that consumer demand for green building practices. These revisions will help Realtors® continue to bring value to buyers and sellers who value eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes.”

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The pendulum on mortgage credit has swung too far in the other direction after the recent housing downturn and is putting an unnecessary burden on creditworthy consumers, impeding the economic and housing market recoveries. That’s what a panel of industry experts told several thousand Realtors® gathered at a special symposium, Ensuring Mortgage Availability for Creditworthy Homebuyers, during the Realtors® 2011 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., here through May 14.

Torrance, CA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the first Class A multifamily transaction to take place in Las Vegas in at least 36 months, Birmingham, Ala.-based REIT, Colonial Properties Trust (NYSE: CLP), acquired a 341-unit apartment community for $40,900,000, according to Jim Fisher, a Principal with Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, Inc and Stephen Peters, a Principal with Lee & Associates-Investment Services Group, who represented the buyer in the transaction.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Now is the time for Realtors® to come to the aid of their industry, on behalf of the nation’s 75 million home owners, aspiring home owners, real estate investors, and the nation’s economy. That was the message delivered today during “59 and ½ Minutes: A Member-Director Forum” during the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.

Torrance, CA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lee & Associates, one of the largest commercial real estate brokerage firms in the country, has opened its newest office in Greenville, S.C. The firm now has 43 offices nationwide as it remains committed to its expansion campaign scheduled to continue through 2011.

Miami, FL - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federated Companies, a leading national real estate investment and development firm, is pleased to announce that it has completed the sales of its' remaining retail asset located at 115 Washington Street in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Built in 2007, this free-standing retail building is 15,950 square feet and is fully occupied by Goodwill Industries. It was sold to a private seller for $2.625 million.

New York, NY - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) today announced Jeff Sutton and it have formed a joint venture that has entered into an agreement to acquire the Times Square property located at 1552 Broadway from The Riese Organization, which will continue to operate the TGI Friday's restaurant at the property at least until the summer of 2012. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2011.

AUSTIN, TX - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) today announced a $190,2651 award to a Houston-based nonprofit housing finance agency assisting eligible residents in eight southeast Texas counties and 11 cities purchasing a home of their own, providing greater stability to area low income families and a shot in the arm to the local economy.TDHCA made the award through its HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program to the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETHFC), which the organization will use to provide nine households with down payment and closing cost assistance and helping them achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

Seattle, WA - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- One year has passed since the City Council adopted legislation to allow backyard cottages in all single family zones. Join Councilmembers, architects, and backyard cottage owners as they discuss and review how many cottages have been built, what they look like, their scale, and where they're appearing.

Los Angeles, CA - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) today announced that the Company has been recognized as the 6th ranked provider of outsourcing services across all industries, according to the annual Global Outsourcing 100 released by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). This is the highest ranking for any commercial real estate services firm on the 2011 list, which recognizes the world’s most prestigious outsourcing service providers.

Los Angeles, CA - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fourth straight year. CB Richard Ellis is the only commercial real estate services firm ever to be included in the FORTUNE 500.

CHICAGO, IL - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to the REAL Trends Top 500 Report recognizing the top real estate companies in the country, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® once again was named the highest-producing network in terms of total sales for 2010 among this elite top 500 group of companies.

Washington, DC - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales continued to recover in the first quarter with gains recorded in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while 22 percent of the available metropolitan areas saw prices rise from a year ago, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors®.

EUGENE, OR - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The customizable IDX Broker software known for simplifying the online real estate search has been added to the website of Columbia, Missouri real estate professional Lori Holliday. Now, Holliday hosts a dynamic IDX enabled search page for her clients, thanks to IDX, Inc. The revolutionary technology extracts raw listing data directly from the Columbia MLS (CBORMLS) and seamlessly integrates it onto the search page of Holliday. IDX Broker even gives home seekers the ability to experience unprecedented levels of access to listings through the search capabilities Holliday supports on her website. Her IDX enabled search page has forever changed the way potential Columbia buyers find their dream home online

EUGENE, OR - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington DC area buyers can now experience a revolutionary online property search, thanks to the partnership between IDX, Inc. and Realtor Stacey Baugh. The IDX enabled real estate website Baugh now hosts syncs thousands of Metropolitan Regional Info Systems (MRIS) listings with the search capabilities her page employs. Home seekers can find their dream home, by utilizing the dynamic online IDX solution Baugh supports, making their real estate search customizable and efficient. Potential buyers around Washington DC can look for their dream property from the convenience of the search page Baugh hosts and the comfort of their own home.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® from across the country are meeting with legislators, public policy makers and industry leaders this week to address pressing concerns and issues that affect home owners, aspiring home owners and real estate investors everywhere as the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo begins.

San Francisco, CA - May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Zephyr Real Estate, with its award-winning website, continues to excel in the social media arena as well as in customer service and accessibility. One of the website’s powerful features is its collection of narrated videos highlighting many of San Francisco’s neighborhoods. To further augment those videos, Zephyr now has channels on YouTube, Metacafe and DailyMotion, showcasing several of those neighborhoods.

Phoenix, Ariz. (May 9, 2011) – On June 16, Valley Partnership, an advocacy for responsible real estate development, brings together Valley real estate professionals for a case study look at the Arizona market. Jim Belfiore, Belfiore Real Estate Consulting will provide an informative data overview to kick off the event.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Metro Commercial Real Estate, the Philadelphia region’s leading full-service retail real estate company, has opened its third office in the area in the historic 123 South Broad Street building in the heart of Center City. According to Metro president Steven H. Gartner, “It will bring our experience in property leasing, retailer representation, investment sales, and property management to the heart of Philadelphia. We have been a significant player here for the past 25 years, and now we will have the team on the ground to more capably serve our growing client base. We even selected our location at the crossroads of Center City, strategically, to provide the best services that Metro has become recognized for, both regionally and nationally.”

New York, NY - May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz of the Beastie Boys will serve as host and DJ for the Children's Museum of the Arts’ Family Benefit and Concert on Sunday, May 22, at Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, in Manhattan.