FCIC Commission Report: A Test Of Our Moral Fitness to Survive
(LPAC) - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressional candidate and LaRouche PAC organizer Kesha Rogers, who is running in Houston, TX as part of a six person national slate of LaRouche Democrats, issued the following statement today
Justice Department Announces Indictment and Six Lawsuits Targeting False Claims for First-time Homebuyer and...
WASHINGTON, DC - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The United States has filed six lawsuits in five states to stop tax return preparers from fraudulently claiming the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the earned-income tax credit, the Justice Department announced today. The filings of those civil injunction complaints coincided with the indictment of a Philadelphia man on criminal charges of fraudulently claiming the first-time homebuyer credit. All of these actions are part of the Justice Department’s continuing efforts to halt tax scams involving false claims for tax credits and to prosecute those who fraudulently file tax returns containing those claims.
BOMA International Adopts Policy Positions on FIRPTA and Data Access
WASHINGTON, DC - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s Board of Governors recently passed two new policy positions in response to important, emerging issues. Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA)
Policy Position: BOMA International supports amending, if not the outright repeal of, FIRPTA to increase the amount of foreign capital invested in the U.S. commercial real estate market
Len O’Donnell Joins USAA Real Estate Company As President And Chief Operating Officer
February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company is pleased to welcome Len O’Donnell as President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations of the company. O’Donnell comes to USAA Real Estate Company with more than 25 years of extensive real estate experience as President and CEO of Crimson Capital Ltd and Principal of Crimson Real Estate Fund, based in Houston. Prior to Crimson, Len spent 10 years as a leading investment sales broker in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware.
Quicken Loans’ Thanks a Million Contest Pays Off Client’s Mortgage during a Cleveland Cavaliers...
Cleveland, OH - February 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online lender and a top-five retail mortgage lender, paid off a client’s mortgage today as part of its “Thanks a Million” contest. Daniel Carbo of Colchester, Connecticut, received the great news during a center court presentation at this evening’s Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game at Quicken Loans Arena. Two other contenders for the grand prize, Ryan and Tonya Rasnake from Cedar Bluff, Virginia, and Richard and Valerie Purvis from East Haven, Connecticut, each received $5,000 as runners-up in the sweepstakes at tonight’s game.
MBA Comments to FinCEN on Proposal to Expand Suspicious Activity Reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Friday, February 4, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association, (MBA) submitted the attached comment letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in response to FinCEN’s proposal to expand its anti-money laundering programs to help reduce mortgage fraud against lenders through a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting requirement (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 1506-AB02).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness Releases State of Homelessness in America
Washington, DC - February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The recession contributed to an increase in overall homelessness from 2008 to 2009, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and family households experienced the largest percentage increase.
Mortgage Servicers Completed 1.76 Million Loan Modifications for Homeowners in 2010
WASHINGTON, DC - February 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its final 2010 loan modification data, which shows that an estimated 1.76 million homeowners received permanent, affordable loan modifications from mortgage servicers in 2010.
Chase Expands Efforts to Keep People in Their Homes, Increases Number of Chase Homeownership...
NEW YORK, NY - February 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chase announced today plans to add 25 new Chase Homeownership Centers in 19 states this year, expanding its program to provide borrowers in the hardest-hit communities with the knowledge and resources they need to explore all the ways they can stay their homes. This investment will bring the total number of Chase Homeownership Centers to 76 nationwide
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVE COMMUNITY POSTS STRONG 2010 REAL ESTATE SALES
Bluffton, S.C. - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A strong finish to the year boosted closed and pending real estate sales at Palmetto Bluff to $44.5 million, a 42 percent increase over 2009 sales of $26.3 million. The 20,000-acre environmental preserve and residential community in South Carolina’s Lowcountry had a particularly strong fourth quarter with $14.3 million in sales, more than half of its total sales in 2009.
NARI Announces Regional Winners of the 2011 CotY Awards
Des Plaines, IL - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- One hundred and forty Regional “Contractor of the Year” (CotY) Winners were named by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) during this year’s regional competition. Judging for the regional projects took place at NARI’s national headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois, in the first week of January.
Congressional Oversight Panel to Hold Hearing on Commercial Real Estate’s Impact on Bank Stability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Friday, February 4, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., the Congressional Oversight Panel will hold a hearing in room 538 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to examine the current state of the commercial real estate market and its implications for bank stability and returns to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Lennar Homes to Build in Springfield
Fort Mill, S.C. - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lennar Homes has committed to purchasing 40 homesites in Springfield from Crescent Resources, LLC, prompting Crescent to start development of a new section within the community. Lennar Homes has developed a new collection of home plans specifically designed to complement Springfield and will open a model home/design center in late-summer.
46 Percent of Refinancing Homeowners Pay Down Debt in Fourth Quarter
McLean, VA - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) released the results of its fourth quarter 2010 cash-out refinance analysis.
Agencies Announce Start of Initial Registration Period Under S.A.F.E. Act’s Mortgage Loan Originator Provisions
Washington, DC - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The federal bank, thrift and credit union regulatory agencies, along with the Farm Credit Administration, announce that the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry will begin accepting federal registrations today. Under the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (S.A.F.E. Act) and the agencies' final rules, residential mortgage loan originators employed by banks, savings associations, credit unions, or Farm Credit System institutions must register with the registry, obtain a unique identifier from the registry, and maintain their registrations.
US Department of Labor announces grant increment to continue assisting Florida workers affected by...
WASHINGTON, DC - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $707,096 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to provide services to about 600 workers affected by the closure of the Taylor, Bean and Whitaker Mortgage Corp. and its subsidiary companies
Preliminary Report on 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hundreds of thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds joined in volunteer service projects across the country on the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama joined cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, nonprofit and business leaders, students, families, and others in honoring Dr. King's legacy through service projects addressing a multitude of pressing social issues from poverty and illiteracy to hunger to homelessness.Americans made it a “a day on, not a day off” by weatherizing homes, delivering meals, refurbishing schools, collecting food and clothing, reading to children, providing employment counseling, and more. Many will use the day as the beginning of ongoing commitment to serve throughout the year.
Quicken Loans Group Buys Madison Theatre Building
DETROIT, MI - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Madison Theatre Building LLC, a new partnership formed by Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., announced it has completed the purchase of the historic Madison Building, located at 1555 Broadway Street in downtown Detroit. The building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex.
Bankrate: Mortgage Rates a Mixed Bag
NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.97 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.
What to Do If Your Property Is Damaged in the Winter Storm
WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- After a bruising fast-paced winter thunderstorm yesterday left more than 10 inches of snow in certain parts of the Washington, DC area, many residents saw damaged trees, dangling wires, and power outages across the region. As most people have realized, snow and ice can prove dangerous, and can cause severe damage to properties and vehicles.