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TAMPA - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a Pilot Project for its new Resilience STARTM Home program, which will utilize construction standards developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to ensure homes meet DHS’ resiliency requirements.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Markets in 54 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide market is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Markets in 54 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide market is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today approved a total of more than $7.5 million in grants to 26 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local affordable housing initiatives, which will assist more than 2,000 Iowa families. The funding is provided from the State Housing Trust Fund’s Local Housing Trust Fund program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Representatives Jared Polis (CO-02), Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2013, which would establish the first national renewable energy standard, requiring utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass by 2025. Over the next twelve years the bill gradually increases renewable energy production from 6 percent by 2014 to 25 percent by 2025. Municipal and publicly-owned power facilities and rural electric co-ops are exempt from the bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- National affordable housing nonprofit Mercy Housing is pleased to announce that it is one of the inaugural multifamily housing partners joining President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the expansion of the President’s Better Buildings Challenge to include multifamily housing. DOE and HUD recognize the energy efficiency commitment that Mercy Housing is making as a Better Buildings Challenge Partner

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new set of reports from Joseph A. Smith, Jr., the Monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement, shows that the nation's largest mortgage servicers failed to meet 7 metrics in the most recent reporting period, 5 of which were mentioned in his previous reports.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 25.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 444,000 units in October, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Departments of Energy and Housing and Urban Development on December 3 expanded the Better Buildings Challenge to multifamily housing such as apartments and condominiums. The departments also launched the Better Buildings Accelerators to support efforts led by state and local governments to cut energy waste and eliminate market and technical barriers to greater building efficiency. The Obama Administration also announced that it will challenge federal agencies to further expand their use of performance-based contracts through 2016 to upgrade the energy efficiency of federal buildings

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following today’s announcement by the Rockefeller Foundation of the first 33 cities named to the 100 Resilient Cities Challenge, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department filed a lawsuit late yesterday against the owners, builders and designers of a 54-unit condominium complex in Hartville, Ohio, for violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the law when they designed and constructed the complex with barriers that make it inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of 22 years of service and leadership, Edward J. Indvik was the first recipient of the William J. Lee Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lee & Associates Broker’s summit which was held recently in Las Vegas. The award, which made its debut at the broker summit and will become an annual event, was named after William J. Lee who founded Lee & Associates in 1979. This, along with the Leaders of Lee awards, was created to give recognition to those who have made exceptional contributions to the firm and the industry, as a whole.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- With dreams of ditching her rodent-infested Murray Hill apartment of 11 years and living without a roommate, artist Jen Maler has been playing the city's lottery — the #housing #lottery, that is

WASHINGTON - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building on $2 billion in financing commitments from the private sector for energy efficiency updates to commercial buildings under the President’s Better Buildings Challenge, the U.S. Departments of Energy and Housing and Urban Development today expanded the Challenge to multifamily housing such as apartments and condominiums and launched the Better Buildings Accelerators to support state- and local government-led efforts to cut energy waste and eliminate market and technical barriers to greater building efficiency.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- An unusual surge in public construction in October pushed total construction spending to its highest level since May 2009 despite a dip in both private residential and nonresidential activity, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged lawmakers in Washington to make water and surface transportation investment a top federal priority

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Nov. 29, 2013, 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 California, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The average home buyer looks to friends and family first when gathering information on the home-buying process, ahead of realtors by more than two to one and mortgage lenders by more than four to one in the latest homeownership survey from NeighborWorks America, one of the country’s leading housing and community development nonprofit corporations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction employment expanded in 215 metro areas, declined in 74 and was stagnant in 50 between October 2012 and October 2013, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials added that despite the widespread jobs gains, construction employment remains below peak levels in 315 metro areas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Please join the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) for a free webinar discussion on how providers serving veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness can build strong local connections between VA and Continuum of Care (CoC) resources and rapidly connect homeless veterans to permanent housing. Participants will learn how to promote seamless service delivery and rapid access to housing solutions by sharing information, collaborating in local resource planning, and coordinating the delivery of housing and services with VA and CoC resources.

Princess Anne, MD - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Renovations have begun on the Washington Hotel, the 18th century inn that officials hope will become the centerpiece of the Eastern Shore town’s renaissance as a historical and cultural tourist destination