Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Archives

Christmas Eve Windstorm Restoration Enters Home Stretch

Nearly all of the more than 183,000 Consumers Energy customers affected by a powerful Christmas Eve storm are expected to have their electricity restored today.

Industry Cautions Against Expansion of Fair Housing Liability

HUD proposed a new fair housing rule this past fall that provides guidance on “quid pro quo” and hostile environment harassment. This occurs when an individual in a protected class –relating to race, sex and disability – is subjected to unwelcome demands as a condition of their housing or when they are exposed to conduct that interferes with their ability to enjoy housing

Existing-Home Sales Suffer Setback in November, Fall to Slowest Pace Since April 2014

Existing-home sales dropped off considerably in November to the slowest pace in 19 months, but some of the decrease was likely because of an apparent rise in closing timeframes that may have pushed some transactions into December, according to the 

Four things we love about Glisan Commons and Gilman Court

More than four years ago Housing Development Center partnered with three nonprofits to develop an innovative project, which meets critical human needs in East Portland and makes great use of an exceptional transit-oriented site. This year we completed work on this two-phase project, Glisan Commons and Gilman Court. Here’s a look back at what makes it stand out.

New-Home Sales Rise 4.3 Percent in November

Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 490,000 units in November, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau

Refinance, Purchase Applications Both Up in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications increased 7.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 18, 2015.

HUD AWARDS $2.7 MILLION JOBS PLUS PILOT GRANT TO CITY OF SACRAMENTO HOUSING AUTHORITY...

HUD Secretary Julian Castro and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will award the Housing Authority of the City of Sacramento $2,700,000 in grant funding for the Jobs Plus Pilot program as part of a $100 million investment in locally-based programs aimed to increase earnings and advance employment outcomes for residents of public housing through work readiness programs, employer linkages, job placement, and financial literacy.

HACP COMMISSIONERS AUTHORIZE $10 MILLION TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) Board of Commissioners approved the commitment of $10 million to be used to expand the city’s affordable housing portfolio by an additional 200 units.

Philadelphia Latest Major U.S. City to Functionally End Veteran Homelessness

ast week, First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden wrote an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer to recognize the city's accomplishment in functionally ending veteran homelessness. Philadelphia has identified each individual veteran experiencing homelessness in the city and worked with them to place them in appropriate and permanent housing options

Mark the Calendar Now: Second Annual BSSC Colloquium Takes Place March 8

Plan to join the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) to find out about the latest on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) NEHRP Recommended Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures and Project 17, Development of Next-Generation Seismic Maps, when the BSSC presents its Second Annual BSSC Colloquium, “Seismic Design Update 2016: An Interactive Exploration of the 2020 NEHRP Provisions and Project 17 Issues.”

Architects Issue Statement on Two-Year Extension of Energy Efficiency Tax Deduction

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today issued the following statement on Congress’s two-year extension of the 179D tax deduction, which provides up to $1.80 per square foot for the design of energy efficient buildings. Please attribute the statement to AIA President Russell Davidson, FAIA

Architects Create Commission to Advance Diversity in the Profession

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has created the Equity in Architecture Commission, a blue-ribbon panel of leading architects, educators, and diversity experts to investigate diversity and inclusion in the profession. The 20-member group is charged with assessing recent data, setting a plan of action, and reporting on results to the AIA Board of Directors by the end of 2016.

Architecture Billings Index Hits another Bump

As has been the case a few times already this year, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dipped in November. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the November ABI score was 49.3, down from the mark of 53.1 in the previous month.

BOMA SCORES SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

BOMA International’s lobbying efforts have resulted in a series of historic advocacy victories for the commercial real estate industry today with the passage of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 by the U.S. Congress. Included in the PATH Act are a permanent extension of the 15-year depreciation on qualified leasehold improvements, BOMA’s top tax priority; fixes to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA); and a straight two-year extension of the energy efficiency deduction for commercial buildings

In Manchester, CAP’s Neera Tanden and New Hampshire CEOs Discuss Building a Family-Friendly Economy

Today, in Manchester, Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden joined local business leaders—Bill Whyte, CEO and founder of W.S. Badger Company Inc. in Gilsum; Howard Brodsky, chairman and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners in Manchester;Joseph Keefe, president and CEO of Pax World Management in Portsmouth; and Gary Hirshberg, chairman and former president and CEO of Stonyfield Farm in Londonderry—for a lunchtime conversation focused on making the economic and business case for quality child care, paid leave, and other policies that support families and strengthen the economy.

MBA Statement Regarding Passage of Year-End Spending Bill Which Includes the Jumpstart GSE Reform...

Bill Emerson, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and CEO of Quicken Loans, issued the following statement regarding the inclusion of the Jumpstart GSE reform provision within the year-end spending bill, which would prevent the administration from selling off its stake in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) without congressional approval.

Historic Energy Efficiency Standards Announced By DOE Will Deliver Massive Energy And Dollar Savings

“DOE continues its aggressive and focused campaign to save businesses and consumers money on their energy bills with the announcement of new energy efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners and furnaces. The energy and dollar savings from these latest standards are more than double that of any standard that has been issued to date.

National Association of Realtors® Applauds Passage of Tax Extenders Package

A significant piece of tax legislation is now on its way to the President’s desk, and the bill includes the extension of a number of expired tax provisions important to supporting homeowners and real estate investment.

Congress Wraps up the Year with Energy Efficiency Gifts to America

Congress delivered an early gift of energy efficiency tax incentives to help American consumers and businesses invest in products and technologies that will return energy and dollar savings.  The omnibus appropriations and tax extenders bill approved by Congress reinstates and extends until 2016 a tax incentive of up to $500 for families that purchase qualifying energy efficiency products; provides home builders and/or manufacturers up to $2,000 for building energy efficient homes

Homeowners encouraged to apply for funds to brace and bolt their homes

National
Next year, 1,000 homeowners across the state will receive up to $3,000 to seismically retrofit and protect their homes from earthquake damage. The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program is expanding to include more than 150 ZIP codes in vulnerable areas in Northern and Southern California

Business Real Estate Press Releases

Recent Gov & Nonprofit Real Estate Press Releases

NAHB

New Home Sales Edge Higher as Affordability Challenges Persist

Affordability challenges continued to weigh on the new-home market in June, as elevated mortgage rates, rising inflation and broader economic uncertainty kept many prospective buyers on