Property, Rentals, Transactions

Washington, DC - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Pending home sales rose again in November, with the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors®

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ - December 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- During Diane Turton, Realtors’ sixth annual Turton Giving Tree project, the company collected unwrapped toys and gifts for local children who are in need as well as monetary donations that will go towards feeding needy families in the area.

Washington, D.C. - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Proposed changes to home lending rules from the Federal Reserve Board not only exceed its authority, but could actually encourage predatory lending targeted at the elderly.

EUGENE, OR - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mobile, Alabama real estate Alexa Kennedy has chosen to upgrade her professional website by adding a custom IDX solution to her search page, thanks to IDX, Inc. and the IDX Broker software they supply to her. Gulf Coast Alabama MLS (GCAMLS) listings are automatically synced to her search capabilities, with the dynamic IDX solution Kennedy now employs. Finding homes online was once a daunting and incomplete task. But now, with IDX Broker, home seekers can experience the most thorough and efficient online search from the convenience of the website of Kennedy.

Washington, DC - December 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- 2010 has been a year of real estate contrasts. While many consumers have taken advantage of historic buying opportunities and the market has seen a gradual stabilization of sales and prices, other challenges facing the nation have led some to question the value of home ownership for families, communities, and the country.

BEDFORD, N.H. - December 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Hampshire Housing’s Single Family Mortgage Program will soon be celebrating 35 years of service! To help mark this milestone, the agency is seeking success stories from its current and past clients to show the world how this program has allowed real people to achieve their dreams.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales got back on an upward path in November, resuming a growth trend since bottoming in July, according to the National Association of Realtors®

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thousands who own homes and businesses in locations recently designated as high-risk flood areas will soon have a new way to save on flood insurance protection. Beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is offering a new insurance rating option that will allow many property owners to take advantage of lower-cost flood insurance for two years before they are required to pay standard rates. The program will make Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs), which start at just $129 a year and are typically only available for properties in moderate-to-low risk areas, available for properties that have been newly mapped into high-risk areas due to a flood map revision on or after October 1, 2008.

Atlanta, GA - December 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors,it’s been a tough year. Don’t let your funny bone go into foreclosure. Why notend the year on a positive note? Have a few laughs and save money at the sametime. Work Like A Dog Books has temporarily created short salepricing on its popular real estate book, AllIn A Day’s Work for Real Estate Agents—Humorous & Heartwarming Stories.The Next Generation Indie Book Awards humor/comedy category finalist featuresmore than 100 funny, crazy, bizarre or touching stories of real-life thingsthat happened to agents in the line of duty. Agents from 44 states have their“war” stories included in the book

Washington, DC - December 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the 2010-11Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® recently rated exterior replacement projects among the most cost-effective home improvement projects, demonstrating that curb appeal remains one of the most important aspects of a home at resale time.

Washington, D.C. - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced it was sponsoring a Haiti reconstruction conference in early January that will bring together a host of organizations to identify and coordinate opportunities in Haiti for design assistance teams, building assessments, resources and other programs.The AIA Summit on Haiti will be held on January 13 – one day after the first anniversary of the Haitian earthquake of 2010 – at the Loew’s Hotel in New Orleans. Organizations participating in the AIA’s Haiti conference include The American Red Cross, National Urban League - Greater New Orleans, Adecco Group North America, United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Architecture for Humanity (AFH), National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Public Architecture and Black Design Network News. More organizations are expected to attend.

DENVER, CO - December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Denver B-cycle today announced its partnership with Kentwood City Properties. In addition to branded B-cycles and annual memberships for employees, Kentwood City Properties will also have the capabilities to utilize B-cycles when showing property, a convenient option to get to downtown properties. Kentwood City Properties’ sponsorship support of Denver B-cycle arrives as the bike sharing system closes down for the winter in its inaugural season. Denver B-cycle reopens March 2011.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jose Portillo, 22, was convicted by a jury today of first degree felony murder and other charges in the November 2008 slayings of Virginia and Michael Spevak, who were attacked while in their Northwest Washington home, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department announced.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peterson Companies and The Bozzuto Group, two D.C. area-based and family-owned development companies, announced today a joint venture that will bring the first apartment community to National Harbor

EUGENE, OR - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A custom IDX solution is now available on the Denver, Colorado real estate website of Carl Borrmann. Thanks in part to the revolutionary IDX, Inc. technology, thousands of Metrolist Denver MLS (MTOMLS) listings are seamlessly integrated onto the search page Borrmann represents. With IDX Broker software, Borrmann can utilize a dynamic set of search functions online, in an effort to supply his clients with a comprehensive and complete property search conveniently on his website.

SEATTLE, WA - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Luxury Real Estate announced today its expansion with Richard Provost of Luxury Financial Solutions. Having begun his career in the mortgage industry, Provost continued onward to provide financing for Resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton and Trump Tower.

Washington, D.C. - December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ken L. Ross, FAIA, FACHA, joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in the newly created position of Vice President, Design and Practice. Mr. Ross, who recently retired as Senior Principal and former President of WHR Architects, Inc., a 170-person Houston-based full service architecture, interior design and technology planning firm, will serve in this position on an interim basis

WASHINGTON, DC - December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new study released today by Fannie Mae finds that most Americans — both those who currently own their homes and those who rent — strongly aspire to own a home and to maintain homeownership, despite ongoing turmoil in the housing market. However, demographic trends such as fewer married couples and less families with children resulting in shrinking households — combined with financial caution among consumers — are contributing to an increased willingness to rent.

DENVER, CO - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Karen Brinckerhoff, a top-producing real estate professional and fourth generation Denver native, has joined Kentwood Real Estate as a Broker Associate in the company’s Denver Tech Center office. Known for her exceptional marketing and negotiation skills, Brinckerhoff was among her former company’s top 10 real estate agents in Colorado in 2004 and 2007. Brinckerhoff brings more than 17 years of experience and achievements to Kentwood Real Estate, including numerous awards recognizing superior sales production. She is a member of the Denver Board of Realtors and holds several special designations recognizing the successful completion of stringent continuing education courses in real estate.

DENVER, CO - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kentwood Real Estate, Colorado’s Premier Real Estate Company, has surpassed $1 billion in total sales volume for 2010. The landmark milestone, recorded in mid-November, was the leading real estate firm’s tenth such accomplishment and firmly establishes Kentwood Real Estate as a national leader in marketing expertise and customer service. Kentwood’s total sales volume through mid-November was $1,050,247,563 representing a total of 2,404 real estate transactions. After nine consecutive years of posting more than $1 billion in sales, Kentwood Real Estate recorded more than $900 million in total sales volume in 2009, which still ranked 95th in the United States with only 157 real estate agents