Archives
Tech Helpline Now Available to Orange County Association of REALTORS®
California’s Orange County real estate agents are more dependent on technology to help them buy and sell homes than ever before, and now when a computer crashes or a smartphone glitches out, they can get immediate assistance.
Iowa Clean Energy Business and Public Health Leaders, Parents and Students Call on Presidential...
Iowa clean energy business leaders, parents, public health leaders and students called on presidential candidates to learn from Iowa’s bipartisan example and embrace clean, renewable energy policies such as the Clean Power Plan and renewable energy tax credits
Stress Test Results Inject Confidence into Florida’s Homeowners’ Insurance Market
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater knows that Florida’s homeowners carry insurance to protect their property in the event of an emergency, natural or otherwise. Floridians have seen the costly destruction hurricanes can cause as well the financial volatility that storms can create in the property insurance market. Each year, the Office of Insurance Regulation tests the financial soundness of property insurance companies that conduct business in the state of Florida to ensure they can withstand the catastrophic losses generally associated with major storms.
New-Home Sales Drop 11.5 Percent in September
Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 11.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000 units in September, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau
NeighborWorks America sees branding as key element in community revitalization
Ten communities from around the country have been selected for an initiative that will help them attract and retain residents, businesses and investment, announced NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities
ULI Receives $800,000 Grant from the Kresge Foundation to Support Institute’s Efforts to Create...
The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and sustainable community building, has been awarded an $800,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation to support efforts by the ULI Center for Sustainability to make communities more resilient and adaptable to the impacts of climate change and reduce the environmental imprint of the real estate industry.
Rural Development Hearing Highlights Rental Assistance Contract Challenges
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a hearing titled “Review of Rural Development in 21st Century America” on October 21. Witnesses in the two-panel hearing included US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) officials and industry stakeholders. The hearing focused on RD programs including Rural Utilities Service and Rural Housing Services (RHS)
HUD/VA Effort to Provide Permanent Homes for Native American Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are launching a demonstration program to offer a permanent home and supportive services to Native American veterans who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) Program will combine $4 million in rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA to serve approximately 600 Native American veterans.
Community Options Purchases First Home in Santa Fe
Four individuals recently moved into their new home in Santa Fe. The four-bedroom house, located at 7205 Rio del Luna, is the first house owned by Community Options in Santa Fe
Home Building Looks Strong as Winter Months Approach
Permits for new single family homes reached their highest monthly count since October 2014, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. Four hundred, sixty-two permits for single family homes were issued in September, an increase of 37 permits over August.
Statement On Publication of the Clean Power Plan in the Federal Register and the...
Statement by Climate Parents Director and Co-Founder Lisa Hoyos. "Today, with the publication of the Clean Power in the Federal Register, parents and families are celebrating this groundbreaking policy that will protect our kids’ health and our damaged climate by growing clean energy. The fact that twenty-four states have already filed suit against the Clean Power Plan highlights the undue influence of the fossil fuel industry on public policy?, and underscores exactly why the federal government needed to act.
Clean Power Plan Published In Federal Register
The Alliance to Save Energy welcomes the publication in today’s Federal Register of the final rule of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). This is one more significant and positive step toward reducing pollution from electric power plants, all while creating billions of dollars in economic benefits and maintaining a reliable and resilient grid. When the plan is fully implemented in 2030, EPA expects carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the power sector to decline 32 percent relative to 2005 levels.
OHFA BOARD APPROVES OVER $4.8 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING $1.2 MILLION TO...
On Wednesday, October 21, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved $1.2 million to help COMPASS Family and Community Services develop a new 36-bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. Sojourner House will serve men, women and children from Youngstown and the greater Mahoning area and will house a minimum of 100 individuals per year. The award is provided by the Capital Funding to End Homelessness Initiative (CFEHI), a one-time funding boost to assist communities with their strategies to end homelessness in Ohio. The CFEHI is funded from OHFA resources and the Ohio Housing Trust Fund
SEIA Statement on Clean Power Plan Publication
Upon publication today of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan in the Federal Register, Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) issued the following statement
MBA Applauds Introduction of H.R. 3808
David H. Stevens, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), issued the following statement applauding the introduction of H.R. 3808, legislation to require the withdrawal and study of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's proposed rule on Federal Home Loan Bank membership, introduced by Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Denny Heck (D-WA), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), and John Carney (D-DE)
Apartment Demand Strengthens in the Q3 NMHC Quarterly Survey
Apartment market conditions improved across all four indexes of the Q3 National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions. The market tightness (53), sales volume (53), equity financing (52) and debt financing (54) indexes all landed above the breakeven level of 50, indicating growth over the past three months.
CAP’s Carol M. Browner on the Publication of the Clean Power Plan in the...
Center for American Progress Distinguished Senior Fellow Carol M. Browner issued the following statement after the Clean Power Plan—the most aggressive action the United States has ever taken to combat climate change—was published in theFederal Register, making it implementable and enforceable.
California pending home sales a mixed bag in September
Pending home sales results varied across California in September, decreasing statewide and in Southern California, but increasing in the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today. All regions recorded year-over-year improvements, though.
Palm Beach County: Home Sales Back to Double-Digit Gain
September year-over-year statistics for single family homes revealed increases in closed sales, median sale price, and average percent of original list price received. Closed sales rose 12.8% from 1,355 to 1,529 transactions, median sale price climbed 5.9% from $269,200 to $285,000, and average percent of list price received bumped up 1.1% from 93.0% to 94.0%. Meanwhile, median days on market and inventory levels continued to decrease. Median days on market declined 35.2% from 54 to 35 days, active listings decreased 6.9% from 7,316 to 6,811 listings, and months’ supply of inventory diminished 20.2% from 5.6 to 4.5 months
Martin County: Number of Luxury Home Sales Surge 366%
“Florida Realtors® reports a remarkable jump in Martin County’s average home price for the month of September to $437,996, up 40% from the previous year. This surge in pricing can be attributed to the incredible increase in the number of properties that sold for over a million dollars; there were 14 to be exact, which is a 366% increase year-over-year. While our overall pace of sales remained typical for this time of year, our median days on market decreased 43%, leaving us with only a 4.5 months’ supply of inventory.













