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Washington, D.C. - June 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation by voice vote that prohibits state and local governments that receive federal economic development funds from using eminent domain to transfer private property from one private owner to another for the purpose of economic development, the Private Property Rights Protection Act (H.R. 1944). This legislation is in response to the 2005 Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo v. City of New London, which gives local governments broad authority to seize private property under the guise of economic development just to generate tax revenue. The Private Property Rights Protection Act passed the House of Representatives in the 109th and 112th Congresses

ERIE COUNTY, NY - June 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Erie County Director of Real Property Tax Services Joseph L. Maciejewski, CCD, Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Anthony Caruana, and concerned citizens at 39 Fowler St. in Tonawanda as he outlined the foreclosure process in Erie County (“the County”), focusing on ways that homeowners can avoid being foreclosed on while underscoring Erie County’s commitment to ensuring the equitable spread of real property taxes across the County

Washington, DC - May 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) expressed his strong opposition to President Obama’s decision to extend the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a failed and costly program that has been shown to actually hurt struggling homeowners

SAN DIEGO - May 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home sales increased last month compared to March, according to DataQuick’s April Property Intelligence Report (PIR), yet domestic issues and uncertainty factors continue to stop sales from reaching their full market potential

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As volunteers and charities like the Red Cross continue the daunting task of cleanup in Oklahoma after a chart topping tornado ripped through the state on May 21, Governor Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency and executed a 1999 law designed to protect consumers from price gouging.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers' Committee)has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County, California against a network of for-profit loan modification companies on behalf of eight California homeowners. The suit alleges that defendants defrauded vulnerable homeowners out of tens of thousands of dollars by falsely promising to obtain—for substantial upfront fees—much-needed mortgage modifications on the homeowners’ behalf, but consistently failing to deliver results. Attorneys in the Los Angeles office of Arnold & Porter LLP are providing pro bono counsel on the case

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Growth in home sales and prices is contributing to a broader improvement in the overall economy, aided in part by current homeownership tax treatment, according to presentations at a residential real estate forum during the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento today returned a superseding indictment charging Andrew B. Katakis, of Danville, Calif., with obstruction of justice related to a federal investigation into conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions held in San Joaquin County, Calif., the Department of Justice announced

Reston, Virginia - May 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that Judge Robert Holmes Bell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ingham and Branch County, Michigan Registers of Deeds, ruling in favor of MERSCORP Holdings, Inc., Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) and other member defendants.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- What are the most pressing legal issues faced by people experiencing homelessness and poverty after Hurricane Sandy, and what can lawyers do to support efforts to address these issues

WASHINGTON, DC - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Congress pursues comprehensive tax reform it should focus on doing no harm to housing and America’s 75 million homeowners by maintaining current tax laws for homeownership and real estate investment, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Legal experts, including representatives from the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, will discuss tax, real property and estate planning issues related to high wealth industry groups, same-sex spouse beneficiaries and confiscated property at the 24

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two months after the legal deadline, President Obama finally submitted his budget recently —one that never, ever balances and includes new spending. And yesterday the non-partisan Tax Policy Center provided the “cherry on top.”

New York City, NY - April 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Build Up New York City’s Middle Class Maria will visit Starwood Capital Group (STWD) properties in New York City to highlight the generous support the company receives from taxpayers for its highly profitable developments. She will demand that Starwood use the billions in tax dollars it receives to create public good, not just profits for the owner. Maria will then deliver a taxpayer lien to STWD at its corporate headquarters in Greenwich, Connecticut for “feasting at the public trough and not creating good middle class jobs!”

Reston, Virginia - April 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that a five-justice panel of the Rhode Island Supreme Court held that Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), being named as the mortgagee as the agent of the promissory note-owner of the mortgage, is consistent with Rhode Island law.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- President’s Request Identifies Savings and Efficiencies, Sustains National Security Programs, Strengthens Efforts to Promote Gun Safety, Increases Enforcement of Cyber Security, Financial and Mortgage Fraud, and Immigration Laws, Invests in Protecting Civil Rights, Increases the Capacity for Prisons and Detention, and Enhances State, Local and Tribal Support

Reston, Virginia - April 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that Judge John C. Brown of the Montana 18th Judicial District Court ruled in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) and other defendants, rejecting a multi-count wrongful foreclosure complaint

CHICAGO, IL - March 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Markets Support Company (NMSC) invested $91 million during 2012 and helped create more than 1,900 jobs by utilizing the federal New Markets Tax Credit program to spur redevelopment of blighted areas.

BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) announced today the release of “An Economic Perspective on Building Labeling Policies,” a report co-authored by Harvard University Environmental Economist Robert N. Stavins that examines the extent to which mandatory building energy labeling results in reduced energy use. The research and the resulting report were sponsored by BOMA International and GBREB.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an ongoing effort to investigate the extent to which individuals attempting to use Housing Choice Vouchers face discrimination in the District of Columbia, today the Equal Rights Center released a report highlighting a 28% rate of discrimination against voucher holders. The report, Will You Take my Voucher?, follows up on 2005 and 2010 reports that documented overwhelming, but improving, rates of discrimination against voucher holders in the District.