Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) General Counsel Maurice Baskin Feb. 4 testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Workforce Protections during a hearing titled, “OSHA’s Regulatory Agenda: Changing Long-Standing Policies Outside the Public Rulemaking Process.” On behalf of ABC and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Baskin addressed a Feb. 21, 2013 letter of interpretation (LOI) from OSHA allowing union agents and community organizers for the first time to accompany safety inspectors into nonunion facilities, as long as an unspecified (non-majority) number of employees in the nonunion work place designate one.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) hired Lisa Costello as Vice President of Political Affairs and promoted Jim Lapides and Sarah Yaussi to Vice President of Strategic Communications and Vice President of Industry Communications, respectively.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the 55+ housing market for the fourth quarter of 2013 is up sharply, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. All segments of the market—single-family homes, condominiums and multifamily rental—registered strong increases compared to the same quarter a year ago. The single-family index increased 20 points to a level of 48, which is the highest fourth-quarter reading since the inception of the index in 2008 and the ninth consecutive quarter of year over year improvements

La Jolla, CA. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of California homes that sold for a million dollars or more rose last year to the highest level in six years, the result of rising home prices and an improving economy, among other factors. The strongest sales gains were at the luxury market's high end, with record sales above the $2 million mark, a real estate information service reported

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown: “NAR commends President Obama for highlighting two key policy reforms during his State of the Union address tonight that support the future of homeownership and the business of real estate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that the city of Hammond, Indiana, and the Hammond Housing Authority (HHA) agreed to pay Maria Becerra, the former executive director of HHA $200,000 to settle allegations the city and HHA terminated her employment because she administered a HUD-funded rental assistance program that helped minority familiesmove into predominantly white neighborhoods In addition, HHA agreed to reopen its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waiting list and inform the public about the reopening of the list

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that it is granting expanded authority to lenders to accept electronic signatures (e-Signatures) on documents associated with mortgage loans. The new policy allows e-Signatures on origination, servicing, and loss mitigation documents, as well as FHA insurance claims, REO sales contracts and related addenda. Current FHA policy allows for electronic signatures only on third party documents such as sales contracts and other documents not controlled by the lender.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Jan. 31, 2014, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in Ohio and Wyoming

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to House Republicans' announcement today that they will pursue immigration reform legislation this year:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a report highlighting problems like unfair and deceptive practices in the mortgage servicing market uncovered through the Bureau’s supervision program in 2013. The report also notes that, between July and October 2013, consumers received $2.6 million as result of overall non-public supervisory activities at the banks and nonbanks the CFPB oversees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Through its Community Development Banking business, Bank of America Merrill Lynch provided more than $3.3 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments and other real estate development solutions in 2013. Those commitments were up more than 25 percent from 2012 lending and investing and will help create more than 13,600 affordable housing units.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Healthy fundamentals in the commercial property market combined with the international economy returning to more traditional growth levels are factoring into a projected increase in growth for the design and construction industry. Led by the hotel and retail project categories, the commercial sector looks to see the biggest gains in construction spending, with demand for institutional projects increasing at a more moderate level.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales measurably dropped in December, with abnormal weather partly inhibiting home shopping in much of the U.S., according to the

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Martin Edwards, Jr., CCIM, president of Edwards Management, Inc., Realtors, Memphis, Tenn., has been named to the Real Estate Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the annual State of the Union address, the President rightly called for housing finance reform that keeps the American Dream of homeownership alive for this and future generations. This Dream accounts for $10 trillion of our nation’s economy and is a proven path towards upward mobility for millions of Americans. It is also why it is important to preserve the 30-year, fixed rate mortgage loan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will host a forum on the 2014 outlook for the U.S. economy and housing market on Thursday, January 30, at 10:00AM.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the State of the Union address, President Obama offered a domestic agenda focused on expanding opportunity for all. The National Housing Conference (NHC) believes that safe, decent and affordable housing for all in America is an essential part of expanding opportunity.

New York - January 29, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Warburg Realty®, one of Manhattan’s leading residential real estate companies, today announced the acquisition of Rubicon Property including its storefront at 451 Columbus Avenue. This is Warburg’s first acquisition of another real estate firm

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) initiated an administrative proceeding against PHH Corporation and its affiliates (PHH), alleging PHH harmed consumers through a mortgage insurance kickback scheme that started as early as 1995. The CFPB is seeking a civil fine, a permanent injunction to prevent future violations, and victim restitution.