RealEstateRama

March 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- REALTORS®, Homebuilders, consumer groups urge federal regulators to avoid arbitrarily high mortgage down payments, which would hurt the economy by unfairly and unnecessarily closing the door to home ownership for many middle-class families

March 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. This signifies that the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency. USAA Real Estate Company’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. USAA Real Estate Company is the only real estate company in America that has won nine ENERGY STAR awards.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The operator of a defunct money-making scam has agreed to settle a federal court judgment the Federal Trade Commission obtained against him in 2007 for falsely claiming his “wealth building” program would teach consumers how to make substantial income in a short time by buying and selling privately held mortgages. Under the settlement, John Stefanchik will pay the FTC $900,000 plus the proceeds from the sale of his house and substantially all of his personal property.

March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) voiced strong objections to a bill brought forward by House Republicans today that threatens to eliminate resources that would create jobs and affordable housing in Rhode Island. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Termination Act (H.R. 861) would end a proven successful effort to revitalize neighborhoods, as well as save and rehabilitate buildings and foreclosed property. NSP has already resulted in 100 new homebuyers purchasing and restoring previously foreclosed properties in Rhode Island and 165 foreclosed homes being acquired for non-profit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to terminate the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), one of the Administration's key foreclosure response programs. This vote came despite the devastating impacts the recession and foreclosure crisis continue to have on neighborhoods across the country -- including increased homelessness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Fannie Mae announced the results of its annual Help the Homeless Program, which raised $6.5 million in 2010 for non-profit beneficiary organizations that work to prevent and end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International will bring their message to lawmakers around the country the week of March 20 as part of BOMA’s annual National Issues Conference. As part of an industry that supports one million jobs in the United States and contributes $118 million to GDP in office building operating outlays alone, BOMA members will meet with their Representatives and Senators to explain the critical role commercial real estate plays in a thriving economy and to gain support for key industry issues. Because of the new Congressional work schedule, the conference, which usually takes place in Washington, D.C., will be held locally around the U.S while lawmakers are in their home districts.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing entitled “The Administration’s Report to Congress: Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market.”

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Teresa Kelly, a former operations supervisor in Colonial Bank’s Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division (MWLD), pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bank, wire and securities fraud for her role in a fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of Colonial Bank and Taylor, Bean & Whitaker (TBW).

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two grant competitions for the National Farmworker Jobs Program. One competition will fund organizations that will provide training, the other housing services, to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families

Miami Beach, FL - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federated Companies, a leading vertically integrated national real estate investment and development firm, has recently closed on the acquisition of a mortgage from KeyBank that is secured by Bayside Village in Portland, Maine. The asset is located in downtown Portland between the Old Port and Back Cove on 132 Marginal Way and consists of 100 units and 400 bedrooms and operates as a student housing complex that was completed in 2008.

San Francisco, CA. - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP has expanded its Affordable Housing practice on the West Coast with the arrival of new partner Tuan Pham. Mr. Pham joins Nixon Peabody’s San Francisco office from Goodwin Procter, where he also served as the hiring partner for the San Francisco office and a co-chair of the West Coast Diversity Committee.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The Secret Millionaire" features nonprofit organizations working in poor communities all around the country. It films what the organizations do and the people they impact. In this week’s episode, a "volunteer" comes to help YouthBuild Detroit, which is sponsored by Young Detroit Builders. Tune in for the wonderful surprise ending for YouthBuild Detroit and Young Detroit Builders.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Responding to widespread evidence of improper accounting, unwarranted fees, false documentation, and arbitrary foreclosure decisions, the 50 state Attorneys General are crafting a long-overdue plan to hold the mortgage servicing industry accountable. The plan would address accusations that banks and servicers have engaged in illegal and negligent servicing practices that have been a continued drag on the U.S. housing market and economy.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While the buzz over 3D, tablets, and other hot technologies has been a global phenomenon, upon a closer look, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has found that homeowners have different expectations for their technology depending on where in the world they call home.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its January 2011 loan modification data, which shows that an estimated 101,000 homeowners received permanent, affordable loan modifications from mortgage servicers in the first month of the year.

ASTORIA, NY - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D?NY), New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Former NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr., Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, HPD Commissioner Rafael E. Cestero, Enterprise Community Partners, Citi, among others, joined HANAC, Inc., a nonprofit, multi?funded, citywide organization that serves local community residents, in opening today the HANAC George T. Douris Tower, a new green, mixed?use building providing affordable housing for seniors and community space for services that support them.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little change this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 5.04 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing on the state of the nation’s housing market. The Committee heard from industry leaders and experts, and discussed the current condition and challenges facing the housing market.

CHICAGO, IL - March 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- At a time when the world is searching for facts about the stability of property markets, The Counselors of Real Estate professional association will offer an unbiased and realistic view of the U.S. property markets this week at MIPIM. MIPIM, held in Cannes, France, is the world's largest global real estate conference