Yearly Archives: 2017
HUD ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION IN “SWEAT EQUITY” GRANTS
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today awarded $10 million in “sweat equity” grants to four non-profit self-help housing organizations through HUD’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). This funding will create at least 539 affordable homes and significantly lower their purchase price for low-income buyers, who will contribute their own labor toward the construction or rehabilitation of these units.
Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Duke Energy Corporation for Violating Premerger Notification and Waiting...
The Department of Justice announced today a settlement with Duke Energy Corporation (Duke) for violating the reporting and waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act). The settlement requires Duke to pay $600,000 in civil penalties to resolve the department’s charges that, after agreeing to purchase the Osprey Energy Center (Osprey) from Calpine Corporation, Duke took control of Osprey’s business before filing required HSR Act notifications and waiting for the expiration of the mandatory waiting period for antitrust review.
GROUPS TO DEFEND WILDLIFE AND CLEAN WATER AGAINST COAL INDUSTRY ATTACK
Today, a coalition of local and national community and conservation groups filed a motion to participate in two lawsuits that seek to undermine the Stream Protection Rule. The rule, an update to the standards intended to protect clean water and other natural resources threatened by surface coal mining operations across the nation, was issued December 19, 2016, by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, after almost a decade of work
New Owners Unveil Revitalization Plan for East Hills Mall in Bakersfield, Calif.
Local developers C & C Properties, Inc. and MarkChris Investments announced their plans for the revitalization of East Hills Mall in Bakersfield, Calif. The vision is to transform the enclosed mall into an exciting, destination open-air lifestyle center offering a collection of restaurants, shopping and entertainment in 350,000 square feet. A new, state-of-the-art, movie theater complex will serve as the centerpiece of the new development. The redevelopment project is expected to break ground late in the second quarter or early third quarter of this year, and be completed in the third quarter of 2018. More...
FTC Halts Scheme That Advertised Phony Rental Properties and ‘Free’ Credit Reports to Enroll...
The Federal Trade Commission has charged Credit Bureau Center LLC and three individuals with luring consumers with fake rental property ads and deceptive promises of “free” credit reports into signing up for a costly credit monitoring service.
Builder Confidence Holds Firm in January
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes remained on firm ground in January, down two points to a level of 67 from a downwardly revised December reading of 69 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)
Opes Advisors relocates Santa Barbara office
Opes Advisors, a financial services firm with headquarters in Cupertino, California is relocating its Santa Barbara office to a more convenient location in the Presidio Avenue area of downtown at the end of this month. The innovative mortgage lending firm has been helping Santa Barbara-area residents achieve their dream of homeownership since 2014
Deutsche Bank Agrees to Pay $7.2 Billion for Misleading Investors in its Sale of...
The Justice Department, along with federal partners, announced today a $7.2 billion settlement with Deutsche Bank resolving federal civil claims that Deutsche Bank misled investors in the packaging, securitization, marketing, sale and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) between 2006 and 2007. This $7.2 billion agreement represents the single largest RMBS resolution for the conduct of a single entity. The settlement requires Deutsche Bank to pay a $3.1 billion civil penalty under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).
MEMA Relocates Corporate Headquarters in Research Triangle Park
Motor and Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, the trade association for motor vehicle and mobility suppliers and parts manufacturers and remanufacturers, announced today plans to relocate its corporate headquarters within Research Triangle Park.
Interior Department to Auction 122,000 Acres Offshore North Carolina for Wind Energy Development
Furthering President Obama’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and cut carbon pollution, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Acting Director Walter Cruickshank today announced that 122,405 acres offshore Kitty Hawk, North Carolina will be offered in a commercial wind lease sale on March 16, 2017.
Statement from NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Hear WOTUS...
NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald, a builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to take up the dispute over which lower courts can hear challenges to EPA's rule defining "waters of the U.S." in the Clean Water Act
SummerHill Housing Group Announces Executive Management Reorganization and Promotions to Support Strategic Growth
SummerHill Housing Group, the umbrella organization for SummerHill Homes, an award-winning residential builder, and SummerHill Apartment Communities, an apartment, mixed-use infill rental housing developer, today announced executive management reorganization and promotions to support the group’s strategic growth. Chris Neighbor, who has been serving as SummerHill Housing Group’s Executive Vice President / Managing Director, has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer of SummerHill Homes.
SAVING TIME WITH MODULAR BATHROOM PODS
The Modular Building Institute (MBI) published "Saving Time with Modular Bathroom Pods," a whitepaper that provides an overview of bathroom pods answering the pertinent questions of when they should be used on a project, costs, installation, and showcases the advantages of using bathroom pods on a construction project. The whitepaper also includes case studies across various markets that successfully integrated bathroom pods
4 Critical Inspections to Schedule Before Closing on a Home
There are many steps in the home buying process, even after the contract has been signed. Many real estate agents would agree getting a signed contract is only half the battle. Then you have a month or two to get everything lined up and approved before the deed can be transferred
Texan Ben Caballero Named to Two Top Real Estate Influencers Lists
The real estate industry’s leading source of news and analysis named Ben Caballero, the top agent in the nation based on sales and transaction volume, as one of the real estate industry’s most influential leaders for 2017. Addison, Texas-based Caballero also was named a SP2017 Trendsetter, generated by Swanepoel T3 Group, which recognizes “innovators, dealmakers, and movers-and-shakers.”
CONIFER WELCOMES NEW VICE PRESIDENT of HUMAN RESOURCES
It is with great honor that we announce the addition of Barbara Ross, Vice President of Human Resources and Employee Development to Conifer. “I have known Barb for many years and have worked alongside of her at another organization,” stated Mark Benotti, Vice President of Shared Services. “She is a true professional and owns a strong record in shaping human resource business strategy, providing Conifer the leadership needed to elevate us to another level.”
Solaira at Pavilion Park Honored with National Design Award
International award-winning firm KTGY Architecture + Planning is pleased to announce that Solaira at Pavilion Park in Irvine has won the Silver Award for the “Best Senior Housing, Multifamily” in the Best In American Living™ Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB). In its 33rd year, BALA recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in all sectors of the residential industry, including single-family production, custom, rental, affordable, interiors, remodeling, community and international
Imprev CEO Joins Seattle Leaders on Top Real Estate List
Renwick Congdon, CEO of Bellevue-based Imprev (www.imprev.com), was named to the Swanepoel Power 200 (SP200), a definitive ranking of residential real estate's 200 most powerful leaders. Renwick joins more than a dozen other Seattle-based leaders, who combined make up 15% of the SP200 list.
Real Estate Leaders Identify Pivotal Business Challenges for 2017
As they grow less confident in the economy, top real estate executives at firms of all sizes find themselves united by a key concern for 2017: Agent recruitment and retention.
Coalition for the Homeless Responds to End of State Legislative Session
Despite his self-professed expertise on the topic and grandiose pronouncements as the homelessness crisis in New York reached record levels, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has racked up a series of staggering homeless policy failures in recent years.
