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Charlotte, NC - December 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With mortgage rates continuing to be near record lows, LendingTree.com, the nation’s leading online lender exchange and personal finance resource, today released data highlighting the average loan amount on residential real estate purchases for all 50 states and Washington D.C. for the year. Hawaii, by far, leads the nation with an average home loan amount of $677,299, followed by Washington D.C. at $393,453, New Jersey at $344,240 and New York at $340,124. The states with the lowest average home loan amounts are Mississippi at $137,182 and Nebraska at $137,515. The national average for a home loan is $222,261.

Washington, DC - December 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate...

Norwalk, CT - December 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have announced they will host a series of public roundtable meetings—including one in the United States—to discuss their proposals to improve and converge financial reporting by setting forth consistent criteria for determining whether an entity is an investment company. The U.S. roundtable will also include a discussion about the FASB’s proposed Accounting Standards Update, Real Estate—Investment Property Entities (Topic 973), which develops accounting guidance for entities focused on investing in real estate properties. The roundtables are designed to provide interested stakeholders the opportunity to engage in dialogue with FASB and IASB members and staff about the proposals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008 made statutory changes to how income limits are calculated for LIHTC and bond-financed properties. HERA protected owners from rent decreases in 2009, and established a new system for owners to hold their income limits and rents harmless beginning in 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage Cadence, LLC, a leading provider of Enterprise Lending Solutions (ELS), Default Servicing Technology and Document Services for the financial services industry, is excited to present a series of short films under the guise of “The Lender Blender” to the public. This series of shorts irreverently illustrates the dangers that come with mismanaged processes in the midst of an industry overhaul.

Torrance, CA - November 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mountain Real Estate Group (www.mountainregroup.com), a leading buyer of distressed bank assets and a private capital source for real estate developers, builders and operators, has made a key strat...

WASHINGTON, DC - November 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released its annual report to Congress on the financial status of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. This insurance Fund is the backbone of the FHA single-family and reverse mortgage programs. In reporting on findings of the annual independent actuarial study, HUD indicates that, in the midst of continued weakness in housing markets across the county, the MMI Fund capital ratio remains positive this year at 0.24 percent. With new risk controls and premiums put in place by the Obama Administration, the independent actuaries predict the Fund will return to the Congressionally-mandated threshold of two percent capital more quickly than was projected by last year’s review. The economic value of new insurance endorsements in FY 2011 for the Fund was nearly double that of FY 2010 endorsements, being close to $11 billion.

ANAHEIM, CA - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. will not become a nation of renters; there are just too many benefits, both financial and otherwise, to own versus rent. That’s according to the combined findings of several recent studies presented during the “Buyer or Renter Nation?” session today at the 2011 Realtors® Conference & Expo.

Chicago, IL - October 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CampusMBA, the award-winning education division of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), graduated 35 Certified Mortgage Bankers (CMB) at a ceremony held at MBA’s 98th Annual Convention & Expo in Chicago. The CMB designation is the highest professional honor within the real estate finance industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify today on behalf of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (the “Council”).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eliminating or curtailing the mortgage interest deduction would have a disproportionate impact on younger, middle-class families, who would see their ability to become home owners significantly diminished, with sober implications for their longer term financial prospects, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today

West Hartford, CT - October 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, announces the 8th Annual New England Real Estate and Entrepreneur Conference And Trade Show. This event will take place from Octobe...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) 1 today announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 7,923 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data made available today cover 2010 lending activity—applications, originations, purchases of loans, denials, and other actions such as incomplete or withdrawn applications.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing to discuss housing finance focusing on the role of a government guarantee, as well as the benefits and risks to taxpayers. This is the tenth in a series of hearings the Committee has been holding related to housing finance reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial/multifamily mortgage delinquency rates among four out of five major investor groups decreased in the second quarter of 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing to discuss national mortgage servicing standards. It was the eighth in a series of hearings the Committee has been holding related to housing finance reform.

Washington, DC - September 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises), today filed lawsuits against 17 financial institutions, certain of their officers and various unaffiliated lead underwriters. The suits allege violations of federal securities laws and common law in the sale of residential private-label mortgage-backed securities (PLS) to the Enterprises.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MBA's Annual Convention and Expo is the premier conference for professionals in all sectors of the mortgage banking industry. The convention addresses key industry-related strategic issues and provides in-depth analysis concerning leadership, growth strategies and trends. Garner insight from influential industry executives as they share their views on the current market, and their projections for the future of real estate finance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MBA's Annual Convention and Expo is the premier conference for professionals in all sectors of the mortgage banking industry. The convention addresses key industry-related strategic issues and provides in-depth analysis concerning leadership, growth strategies and trends. Garner insight from influential industry executives as they share their views on the current market, and their projections for the future of real estate finance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on The Dow Chemical Company’s application for FTC approval to sell to Hager Pacific Acquisitions, LLC, real estate and other property in Torrance, California, which is related to a latex polymers business that Dow previously divested to Arkema Inc. Hager Pacific Acquisitions, LLC is a subsidiary of Hager Pacific Properties.