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Michael Gables is not a big coffee drinker, but one of the first things he bought when he moved into his new apartment was a coffeepot from a church rummage sale.

Consumers Energy is reminding Michigan residents that heating bill assistance may be as close as the pen you hold in your hand, and encourages those eligible to complete the Michigan Home Heating Credit and federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Presidential candidate Secretary Hillary Clinton on February 12 released her “Economic Revitalization Initiative,” which includes a number of housing-related policy proposals she would support should she be elected president. The plan envisions an investment of $25 billion in various initiatives supporting community revitalization, connecting high-poverty neighborhoods to opportunity, removing barriers to homeownership, and increasing the supply of rental housing.

Consumers Energy and its employees continued their strong record of contributing to Michigan’s nonprofit organizations in 2015, giving their time and money to support early childhood education, United Ways, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other groups that are strengthening communities across the state

Modest home price and interest rate decreases resulted in a slight increase in nationwide housing affordability in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) sent a letter to Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, and Martin J. Gruenberg, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, asking that they declare Flint, Michigan a designated disaster area in response to its water crisis and encourage banks to make loans to the city and its residents to help repair or replace tainted pipes

Nationwide housing starts dropped 3.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.099 million units in January, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Overall permit issuance edged down 0.2 percent

Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes fell three points to 58 in February from an upwardly revised January reading of 61 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).

May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes (link is external) to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the “maximum extent practicable” (MEP).

Presidential candidate Secretary Hillary Clinton on February 12 released her “Economic Revitalization Initiative,” which includes a number of housing-related policy proposals she would support should she be elected president. The plan envisions an investment of $25 billion in various initiatives supporting community revitalization, connecting high-poverty neighborhoods to opportunity, removing barriers to homeownership, and increasing the supply of rental housing.

Orlando, FL (February 17, 2016)- J. David Motley, CMB, President of Colonial Savings, F.A. and its divisions -- Colonial National Mortgage and CU Members Mortgage, and 2016 Vice-Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), offered the following remarks this morning during MBA's National Mortgage Servicing Conference and Expo 2016 in Orlando, FL.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is hosting a "Desserts and Discussion" talk on February 25, featuring a conversation about the importance of wetlands to clean water.

Mortgage applications increased 8.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 12, 2016.

Community Legal Services (CLS) is pleased to announce that Francis & Mailman (link is external), a leading consumer rights and protection law firm in Philadelphia, has established a fellowship in consumer law at CLS and has named Supervising Attorney Joanna Darcus as the fellowship’s recipient. CLS, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016, has a long history of excellence in consumer litigation.

On February 11, HUD announced that it will hold an “Industry Day” on its Performance-Based Contract Administration (PBCA) program contracting process on Friday, February 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time in Washington, DC, with satellite locations in San Francisco, Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York. Interested parties must register by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 19

USGBC has announced the results of the Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report, to which USGBC is a contributing partner. The new report, conducted in nearly 70 countries, demonstrates that global green building continues to double every three years. The report also finds emerging economies like Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa will be engines of green growth, with development varying from twofold to sixfold over current green building levels

Remodelers who are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work on homes that may contain lead paint under the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule now have the option to complete refresher training online, according to an EPA announcement. However, EPA recertifications obtained via an online refresher course will be valid for only three years, versus five years for hands-on training courses, and can only be exercised every other recertification cycle.

The public is invited to learn how native plants can enhance the beauty of yards and gardens, attract beneficial birds and insects, and improve the health of local creeks and the Chesapeake Bay. The free morning workshop will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Barrier Islands Center, 7295 Young Street in Machipongo.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has named Salefish, a software company from Concord, Ontario, Canada, as the Global Innovation Award winner for 2015. The annual award recognizes cutting-edge, advanced and original product offerings and/or marketing strategies by global or domestic member companies that offer products or services from developers, builders, subcontractors, remodelers and lenders to consumers.

The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), and 33 members of Congress sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging a thorough investigation now that a criminal inquiry has been announced for the Flint water crisis.