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California’s housing market softened in October as both statewide sales and median price contracted from the previous month and is still on target to meet forecast projections, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.

Builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes slipped three points to 62 in November from an upwardly revised October reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).

To help prepare your home for holiday visitors, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers offers home maintenance tips that are designed to increase safety and accessibility for older family and friends who visit this holiday season.

Consumers Energy has donated nearly $7,300 of furniture and other office items from its former Clare Service Center to four Clare County nonprofit organizations and the City of Clare.

Working alongside people around the world in need of decent, affordable shelter, Habitat for Humanity improved housing in partnership with 1.8 million people in fiscal year 2015 as stated in its new annual report, “Together We Build.” Since 1976, Habitat has helped 6.8 million people through housing opportunities and solutions, enabling them to achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build brighter futures.

The Regis Houze, the first project of the Capital Impact Partners-managed Woodward Corridor Investment Fund (WCIF), held its ribbon-cutting ceremony today in a prime location just off Woodward Avenue in the New Center area of Detroit.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) released an analysis of home purchase and small business lending in Baltimore, Maryland, and the surrounding areas. The analysis reveals deep racial disparities in mortgage lending.

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today installed its 2016 Leadership Team. Leading the team is C.A.R. President Pat “Ziggy” Zicarelli, a second-generation REALTOR® and broker in Southern California. Serving with Zicarelli are President-elect Geoff McIntosh, Treasurer Jared Martin, and Chief Executive Officer Joel Singer.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the U.S. solar energy industry, announced today that Mortenson Construction, one of the largest construction firms in the United States, has joined SEIA’s board. Senior Vice President, Jim Yowan, will serve as a director

The reports reveal the number of homes, condos and villas sold compared to last year has declined by more than five percent, while the average days on market is also down by 12 percent compared to last year.New listings also decreased by almost seven percent to 7,693 along with Pending Sales which decreased ten percent to 4,798

David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, issued the following statement today after the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released its annual report to Congress

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for October 2015 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased by 8 percent relative to the previous month. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.

Cynthia Shelton, a Realtor® from Orlando has received the National Association of Realtors® 2015 Distinguished Service Award. The honor is presented yearly to no more than two of NAR’s more than one million members. Winners were recognized at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego.

The more than one million members of the National Association of Realtors® will soon have free access to electronic forms and transaction management software from REALTOR Benefits® Program partner zipLogix

A Rare Occurrence: The Geography and Race of Mortgages Over $500,000, released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), reveals that only 5% of the mortgages obtained in the past three years in the U.S. were larger than $500,000 and that lowering the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) cap to $500,000 would have no impact on the majority of homeowners nationwide given the rarity of mortgages over that amount

Tom Woods, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo., issued the following statement after the Federal Housing Administration released its annual actuarial report to Congress

Patricia R. “Trish” Healy, founding principal of Hyde Street Holdings, LLC in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named Chairman of the Americas for the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a non-profit research and education institute with more than 36,000 members dedicated to leadership in real estate and land use and creating thriving communities worldwide. Healy, a longtime ULI member, ULI Foundation Governor, and former ULI Trustee, will serve in this position through June 30, 2018.

The Federal Housing Administration today released its 2015 Actuarial Review, a financial assessment of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, and the review shows that the fund has strongly rebounded, achieved greater overall health, and seen increased access to safe mortgage financing as cuts to FHA's annual mortgage insurance premium have taken hold.

The New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR) is pleased to announce that Liz Celeone, Esq. of Schaghticoke, NY has joined the association as associate counsel. Celeone will assist NYSAR’s general counsel in providing services to members, conduct legal research and author articles for association publications

With the Governor’s recent call for California to use more renewable energy, the City of Sacramento is making it easier to install small residential solar energy systems by offering an expedited building permit process. ThroughSacramento Streamline, homeowners and contractors are able to apply for a residential solar installation permit and receive approval in three days or less, with most being approved within one day.