Housing & Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reached 54 in the third quarter, seven points lower than a spike in the second quarter but the seventh consecutive reading above 50.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was unchanged in November from a downwardly revised level of 54 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This means that for the sixth consecutive month, more builders have viewed market conditions as good than poor

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- CHFA and DOH announced a Notice of Funding Availability ("NOFA") that was directed to owners of properties in the State-Sponsored Housing Portfolio seeking funds from the Department of Housing (DOH) for projects that involve a moderate level of rehabilitation of the existing premises

Washington, D.C. - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, nine USGBC Students and Emerging Professionals from across the U.S. joined the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on an eight day bike tour to USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Philadelphia.

WASHINGTON - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved $8.8 million in grants to fund 164 projects in 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to rehabilitate currently operational transitional housing projects and acquire vans to facilitate the transportation needs of homeless veterans

Washington, DC - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) launched a national media campaign to raise awareness of housing discrimination and the public’s rights under the Fair Housing Act. The campaign, entitled “The More You Know,” features print advertisements and a video public service announcement in English and Spanish, as well as a social media campaign utilizing the hashtag #FairHousing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Department of Defense (DOD) employee has pleaded guilty to filing a false claim with the DOD while stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to fraudulently obtain $64,000 in housing allowance, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada.

Washington, D.C. - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by “In a series of reports, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has noted for some time that federal funding for investment in infrastructure has stagnated, if not declined, over the last several years. This decline has occurred despite a growing recognition that America is under-investing in its infrastructure. In the face of these trends, BPC has called for an expansion of federal financing programs to more effectively leverage other private and public capital for investment in infrastructure.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the project opportunities that will be pursued by each of the ten teams advancing to Stage 3 of the Rebuild by Design competition. Each team will now spend the next five months working with local and regional stakeholders in developing projects and design approaches to increase resilience in the region affected by Hurricane Sandy. The goal is to arrive at projects that are implementable and fundable, leveraging the variety of federal recovery investments being made in the region

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Equal Rights Center (ERC), a national non-profit civil rights organization, announced that American Standard is paving the way for accessibility product and service vendors by becoming the Founding Associate Member of the Multifamily Housing Resource Program (MHRP).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved $8.8 million in grants to fund 164 projects in 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to rehabilitate currently operational transitional housing projects and acquire vans to facilitate the transportation needs of homeless veterans.

CAMBRIDGE - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Deval Patrick today announced over $73 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits for projects in 17 communities across the state, building on the Patrick Administration’s commitment to improving housing infrastructure to support growth and opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. During the announcement, Governor Patrick signed H.3492, “An Act Financing the Production and Preservation of Housing for the Low and Moderate Income Residents.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Strengthening house prices and increased interest rates in metros across the country contributed to lower housing affordability in the third quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - HUD has issued a notice/request for comment on a proposed new “Small Multifamily Building Risk Share Initiative” intended to give owners of small rental properties access to longer term, fixed rate financing for rehabilitation and refinancing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Joliet, Ill., have settled housing discrimination litigation that will preserve affordable housing for low-income residents in the southwest Chicago suburb for at least the next 20 years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Civil Rights Division announced today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On November 12, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the release of the Location Affordability Portal (LAP), a cost calculation tool that allows users to estimate housing and transportation costs for neighborhoods across the country. The LAP will help consumers and communities better understand the combined costs of housing and transportation associated with living in a specific region, street, or neighborhood and make better-informed decisions about where to live, work, and invest

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the first time ever, a Yemeni delegation of drone strike victims’ family members, human rights experts and Yemeni political leaders will be visiting the US as part of the Global Drone Summit. Faisal Gaber, whose family members were killed by U.S. drones, will ask President Obama for an apology. The delegation will speak at the Friday press conference and at the Drone Summit on Saturday

WASHINGTON - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, today unveiled the Location Affordability Portal (LAP), a cost calculation tool that allows users to estimate housing and transportation costs for neighborhoods across the country. The LAP will help consumers and communities better understand the combined costs of housing and transportation associated with living in a specific region, street, or neighborhood and make better-informed decisions about where to live, work, and invest.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that recipients in 45 states, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will receive grants to make housing repairs and improve housing conditions for limited income rural residents. Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O'Brien announced the selections on Secretary Vilsack's behalf.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Crapo, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify today about the fourth Semi-Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Since we opened our doors just over two years ago, the Bureau has been focused on making consumer financial markets work better for the American people, and helping them improve their financial lives