Finance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 21, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 12.0 percent compared with the previous week. The results do not include an adjustment for the Martin Luther King holiday.

WASHINGTON, DC – Capitol Hill veteran Cindy Chetti has been named Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). She will be responsible for developing and implementing strategy for all legislative and regulatory issues of interest to NMHC and its joint legislative partner, the National Apartment Association.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices were unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in October was revised downward to a 0.2 percent increase. For the 12 months ending in November, U.S. prices fell 4.3 percent. The U.S. index is 14.9 percent below its April 2007 peak and roughly the same as the August 2004 index level.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a January 21 letter to White House policy chiefs, the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign called on the Obama Administration to recommend funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) in its upcoming report on the future of federal housing finance policy.

Chicago, IL - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® who work with buyers now have a new resource available through the ABR® App for the iPhone. Available now through the iTunes store, this new benefit will help Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designees grow their business while also connecting with home buyers

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.95 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.4 discount and origination points.

MISSION VIEJO, CA - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial service industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, today released Drew Waterhouse, Managing Director of Hammerhouse outlook on key hiring trends in the mortgage industry in 2011

DENVER, CO - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX, LLC today announced the promotion of two key executives as the Denver-based franchise continues to dominate the real estate industry both domestically and internationally

Washington, DC - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the newly elected officers and new directors to its 2011 Board of Directors. At elections that closed in December, USGBC’s membership elected the following individuals to serve as directors:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 14, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week

McLean, VA - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its 27th Annual Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Survey of prime loan offerings, which was conducted January 3 to January 5 of this year

Washington, DC - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to work on a joint initiative, in coordination with FHFA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to consider alternatives for future mortgage servicing structures and servicing compensation for their single-family mortgage loans.

Dallas, TX - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) has appointed Michael Caffey as Senior Managing Director and Dallas/Fort Worth market leader. In that role Mr. Caffey will be responsible for overseeing all business lines for CB Richard Ellis in the North Texas market area as well as the Company’s Oklahoma affiliate operations. Mr. Caffey is currently a Managing Director in CBRE’s Dallas office. He succeeds Mark Fewin, who was named last November as Global Leader for Project Management Services

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates were mostly lower this week, except for the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate, which held at 4.94 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.38 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New job creation amid a slowly recovering economy is creating increased demand by new renters seeking to move into apartments. However, the lack of credit needed to finance the development of apartments is already causing rents to increase and is likely to lead to a shortage of available apartments in the next few years.“Although we are forecasting construction of 133,000 new multifamily residences in 2011,” said the National Association of Home Builders’ chief economist, David Crowe, “that is far short of the 250,000 to 300,000 units that would be required to keep supply and demand in balance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A joint study by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows the recession has made 55+ buyers more practical when selecting a new home. Design considerations have become less important, and financial concerns have become more prominent.Previous studies from these two organizations found that most 55+ buyers depended on home sale proceeds to finance a new purchase. The most recent data shows that option diminished during the economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $127 million in grants to 48 local projects to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards (see chart below)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 7, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 47.5 percent compared with the previous week, which included the New Year’s holiday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today filed suit against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Torrance, CA - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gumbiner Savett Managing Director Michael Savoy, CPA, has been appointed to the California Board of Accountancy (CBA), the entity that regulates the state’s accounting profession for the public interest. Savoy’s appointment was one of Governor Schwarzenegger’s final acts before his term ended Jan. 2.