Archives

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a brief filed today, Attorney General George Jepsen has joined with 11 other state attorneys general in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to recognize disparate impact claims under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Energy Department on October 25 announced winners of the first-ever Housing Innovation Awards, recognizing 46 diverse industry leaders bringing the best in energy-efficient building technologies and design to new and older homes and helping households save money. The competition, coordinated by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, offered rigorous application criteria within four building categories: DOE Challenge Home Builders, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Participating Contractors, Excellence in Building Science Educator of the Year, and Building America Top Innovations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) commends the decision of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Board of Directors to remove the employment duration requirement in the Intern Development Program (IDP). This change will allow interns to earn IDP experience regardless of time spent on a project. The eligibility requirement is also being simplified to allow interns to begin earning credit upon graduation from high school. The changes go into effect December 16, 2013.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has entered into an agreement with Bolster, a company recently launched to simplify the process of home remodeling by providing insurance for the successful outcome of projects. The AIA and Bolster aim to combine their strengths and expertise to the benefit of homeowners, contractors and architects operating in the remodeling industry.

White River Jct., Vt. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing and energy efficiency advocates unveiled a new high-performance, energy efficient manufactured home today that is the first of its kind in the nation. It is specifically designed for northern climate conditions and uses one-third of the energy of a typical ENERGY STAR rated manufactured home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) held a hearing titled “Housing Finance Reform: Essentials of a Functioning Housing Finance System for Consumers.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Building upon the success of its first Capacity Building Initiative series for Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs), the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) today launched The Leadership Journey II: Continuing Native CDFI Growth and Excellence. The training series is open to a new cohort of Native CDFIs to participate in a comprehensive program of targeted training and technical assistance. The series is provided by NeighborWorks® America with specialized input from the Seven Sisters Community Development Group.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has issued its recommendation on the federal government’s use of third party green building certification systems. GSA is required by law to issue a recommendation to the Department of Energy (DOE) on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government’s construction and major renovation projects.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As lawmakers debate how best to reform the secondary mortgage finance market, they must ensure that any new system retains access to safe, secure and affordable sources of mortgage capital for creditworthy consumers in all market conditions or risk a major disruption to the economy, warned the National Association of Realtors® today in testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

WASHINGTON - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- One year after Hurricane Sandy devastated coastal communities in the Northeast, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today allocated a combined $5 billion through a second round of recovery funds to five states and New York City. Provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, these recovery funds will assist impacted communities to meet remaining housing, economic development and infrastructure needs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rick Judson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Charlotte, N.C., today issued the following statement on the introduction of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act in the House and the Senate:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is now accepting applications for the 2013 NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE). The awards program recognizes home builders and contractors who have developed and implemented high quality workplace safety programs, and also honors government officials and NAHB-affiliated associations who work to advance safety in the home building industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has issued its recommendation on the federal government’s use of third party green building certification systems. GSA is required by law to issue a recommendation to the Department of Energy (DOE) on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government’s construction and major renovation projects.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new $1 million grant from JPMorgan Chase will help fund LISC's affordable housing work in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area. "Affordable housing is the cornerstone of the work we are doing with JPMorgan Chase to improve the quality of life for low-income residents across the country," said Michael Rubinger, President and CEO of LISC.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today filed a lawsuit in federal district court against a Kentucky law firm, Borders & Borders, PLC, and its principals, for illegally paying kickbacks for real estate settlement referrals through a network of shell companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community and the St. Catherine board of directors today announced they are entrusting the national affordable housing leader, Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL), with the management and governance of St. Catherine Residence in Milwaukee. The merger is part of MHL’s overall affordable housing strategy to strengthen community development in the city and bring additional investment dollars and jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan joined Mayor Thomas Menino Thursday to kick off a major federal investment in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The Pearl Meats meatpacking plant in the Quincy Corridor is benefiting from a significant grant from HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program. Once an economic scar on the area, the meatpacking plant will undergo redevelopment as part of a massive public-private effort to attract new business, build quality affordable housing and create jobs.

New York, NY - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaches, people in the region continue to struggle and NeighborWorks America is supporting member organizations as they provide individuals and families with a variety of services to help them recover and thrive.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sound energy policy prevailed as local and state governmental officials rejected dozens of builder-sponsored home efficiency rollback proposals in a three-day marathon meeting convened by the International Code Council (ICC) to develop the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Lenexa, Kan., - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ritchie Enterprises Inc., a Sullivan, Mo., company doing business as PuroClean Emergency Restoration Services, has agreed to pay a $30,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it failed to use proper lead-safe work practices during the restoration of a home built in 1891 near New Haven, Mo., in violation of the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP).