Yearly Archives: 2013
Greenbuild Goes Global
Washington, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, from the floor of the annual Greenbuild Conference’s International Summit, it was announced that Greenbuild for Europe and the Mediterranean region will launch in Verona, Italy in 2014.
IBTS to provide Green Certification Verification Services in rehabilitation efforts of the St. Francis...
Ashburn, VA - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - IBTS has been selected by Standard Enterprises Inc. (SEI) as their exclusive provider of Green Certification Verification Services for the rehabilitation of the St. Francis Apartment complex located in Meridian, Mississippi. The complex contains 90 apartment units throughout 14 buildings. IBTS will provide Green Design Consulting Services as well as necessary energy audits & testing as identified in the National Green Building Standard™ for Energy Consumption Reduction and Water Consumption Reduction
October Pending Home Sales Down Again, but Expected to Level Out
WASHINGTON - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although conditions were mixed across the country, pending home sales continued to move lower in October, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline, according to the National Association of Realtors
HUD Releases 2013 NOFA for CoC Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for its Fiscal Year 2013 and Fiscal Year 2014 Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA Program Competition. The NOFA is published on the Funds Available page of HUD's website and on HUD's OneCPD Resource Exchange on the FY 2013 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program NOFA: CoC Program Competition page.
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASED IN 39 STATES FROM A YEAR AGO AND IN 32 STATES...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment increased in 39 states over the past 12 months, the most widespread gains since April 2012, according to an analysis today by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said action on needed infrastructure investments for water and transportation projects would help support continued employment growth for the industry.
EOHED Announces Budget Hearing Dates
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) will hold public hearings on the FY2015 budget in December in Fitchburg and Boston:
HUD MAKES $1.7 BILLION IN GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that HUD will award $1.7 billion to support homeless assistance programs with the Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Due to a record number of existing programs requesting funds to continue operating, flat funding from Congress and sequestration, this amount represents a 5% cut to existing programs and risks halting or even reversing recent reductions of homelessness in communities across the country.
JOHNSON ON TRANSITIONING TO A STRONGER HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM
WASHINGTON - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Developing a Plan for a Smooth Transition.”
Modest Growth Seen in Commercial Real Estate Markets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial real estate leasing patterns are showing steady but modest growth, according to the National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast.
HUD AWARDS NEARLY $4 MILLION TO SPUR NEXT GENERATION OF HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that nine communities across the U.S. will receive Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants. The $4.37 million awarded today provides these communities the resources they need to craft comprehensive, community-driven plans to revitalize and transform public or other HUD-assisted housing and distressed neighborhoods. Read more about these local planning efforts.
Associated Builders and Contractors Blasts Unprecedented Change to Senate Rules and Procedures
Arlington, Va. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today expressed concern over a controversial change in U.S. Senate rules and procedures that will allow the majority party to skirt a filibuster to confirm certain presidential appointments. Traditionally, 60 votes have been needed to confirm nominees and pass legislation, but by invoking this unprecedented rule change along partisan lines, the majority has lowered that threshold to a simple majority of 51 votes.
Driver SPG Awarded Project for Discovery Science Center Expansion
Torrance, CA - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Driver SPG – C.W. Driver’s Anaheim, Calif.-based construction affiliate that focuses on renovation, modernization and smaller new construction projects – has been awarded the expansion project for the addition of the “Discovery Pavilion” to the Discovery Science Center (DSC) in Santa Ana, Calif
ABC and Synergis Team Up to Deliver BIM Training for Contractors
Arlington, Va. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced a collaboration with Synergis Engineering Design Solutions, a Platinum provider of Autodesk products, to bring Building Information Modeling (BIM) training to ABC contractor members to make them more productive, efficient and profitable. The training is part of a larger effort known as Project Virtual
JOHNSON ON CREATING A STRONG SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET REGULATOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Powers and Structure of a Strong Regulator.”
Landmark Resident Survey Identifies Top Apartment Amenities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The top amenities for apartment residents include high speed internet access, a patio or balcony and in-unit washer/dryers, according to a new landmark survey by the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and Kingsley Associates
VA and HUD Announce Twenty-Four Percent Reduction in Veterans’ Homelessness since 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that a new national report shows a 24 percent reduction in homelessness among Veterans since 2010.
New filibuster rule means new start for housing finance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Senate changed its rules to eliminate filibusters on presidential nominees (apart from Supreme Court Justices). The so-called nuclear option invoked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) paves the way for nominees to be confirmed by simple majority votes, which means that Senate Democrats can prevail without Republican votes if they remain united.
HUD REPORTS CONTINUED DECLINE IN U.S. HOMELESSNESS SINCE 2010
WASHINGTON - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released its latest national estimate of homelessness in the U.S., noting reductions in every major category or subpopulation since 2010, the year the federal government established "Opening Doors," a strategic plan to end homelessness. HUD's 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress finds significant and measureable progress to reduce the scale of long-term or 'chronic' homelessness as well as homelessness experienced by Veterans and families.
Craig T. Chinn of KTGY Presents “Top 10 Mall Renovations that Pay You Back”...
IRVINE, CA - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Award-winning national firm KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Craig T. Chinn, Associate Principal and head of KTGY's Retail and Commercial Studio, has been invited to participate as a roundtable facilitator at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 2013 CenterBuild Conference held from December 4-6, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ. Chinn will present "Top 10 Mall Renovations that Pay You Back," on Thursday, December 5, at 8:00 a.m., as part of the roundtable program. The CenterBuild Conference is the industry's premier retail design and construction conference.
HBI RECEIVES FIFTH GREAT PLACES TO WORK RECOGNITION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HBI has once again been named one of The Washingtonian’s 50 Great Places to Work in the Washington, D.C. area. The recognition marks HBI’s fifth consecutive award since 2005. Upon hearing the news of the recognition, HBI’s President & CEO, John Courson, stated “achieving the honor of being named a Great Place to Work only happens because of HBI’s great team of dedicated and committed employees. The collegial work environment created by the HBI team enhances our mission of Building Careers, Building Individuals and Building Homes.”