News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 0.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 11, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced that John A. Courson, the association’s President and CEO, will be leaving the association, effective June 1, 2011. Courson will be replaced by David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May. Stevens had announced earlier that he would be resigning from his position at HUD. He will leave HUD on March 31, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts and issuance of permits for new housing construction both posted disappointing declines in February as concerns about a growing number of factors caused builders to pull back on production of new homes, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. Total housing starts declined 22.5 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 479,000 units, the second-slowest pace on record. Equally disconcerting, total permit issuance for new homes fell 8.2 percent to a record low pace of 517,000 units in February.

BEDFORD, N.H. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- At its recent meeting, New Hampshire Housing’s Board of Directors approved the commitment of nearly $7.5 million in tax-exempt bonds, federal HOME Investment Partnership funds and Greener Home Prog...

FRANKFORT, KY - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Visitors to this year’s Kentucky Crafted: The Market will have the opportunity to shop for art on a grand scale. A special exhibit featuring handcrafted pergolas, garden sculptures, ceramic mural work, doors, light fixtures, chandeliers, hardware, stair rails, sinks, stained-glass windows and architectural signage will be presented in the center of the exhibition hall.

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) “Neighborhoods Go Green! Scaling up Sustainability” exhibit opened in Washington, DC. The exhibit uses LEED for Neighborhood Development, the first comprehensive benchmark for green neighborhood design, as a framework to explore the key elements of a sustainable community. Co-curated by USGBC, the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) and Farr Associates, “Neighborhoods Go Green!” is on display at the Washington, DC headquarters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Owning a home offers myriad benefits throughout the year, but some of the financial advantages of home ownership are most apparent at tax time,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “As many of today’s hard-working American families are feeling a financial squeeze, the tax benefits that can come from owning a home can be a welcome relief.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the April 18 federal income tax filing deadline approaches, many American home owners are realizing the financial benefits of homeownership—savings that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over several years."The mortgage interest deduction is one homeownership tax incentive that has been part of the tax code for nearly 100 years," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Incentives such as this have helped millions of American families be able to afford a home of their own."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Shelby, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning. Last month, we released a report outlining our vision of the next steps for reforming the housing finance market. My testimony today summarizes the content of that report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- After four consecutive months hovering at the same low level, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved by a single point in March, rising to 17 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the highest level the HMI has reached since May 2010, when the survey period corresponded with the final days of the federal home buyer tax credit program.

San Francisco, CA. - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP has expanded its Affordable Housing practice on the West Coast with the arrival of new partner Tuan Pham. Mr. Pham joins Nixon Peabody’s San Francisco office from Goodwin Procter, where he also served as the hiring partner for the San Francisco office and a co-chair of the West Coast Diversity Committee.

Washington, DC - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- NeighborWorks America, one of the largest community development corporations and the sponsor of one hundred full-service Home Ownership Centers around the U.S., today announced that more than 16,700 families became homeowners last year through the efforts of NeighborWorks organizations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The Secret Millionaire" features nonprofit organizations working in poor communities all around the country. It films what the organizations do and the people they impact. In this week’s episode, a "volunteer" comes to help YouthBuild Detroit, which is sponsored by Young Detroit Builders. Tune in for the wonderful surprise ending for YouthBuild Detroit and Young Detroit Builders.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Responding to widespread evidence of improper accounting, unwarranted fees, false documentation, and arbitrary foreclosure decisions, the 50 state Attorneys General are crafting a long-overdue plan to hold the mortgage servicing industry accountable. The plan would address accusations that banks and servicers have engaged in illegal and negligent servicing practices that have been a continued drag on the U.S. housing market and economy.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Millions of U.S. families face health and safety hazards like mold, lead, pest infestation and the physical deterioration of their homes. These problems are particularly common among some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations: children, seniors, the disabled and low-income families.

Washington, DC - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congress needs to strengthen and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for the long term to prevent undermining the fragile real estate market recovery, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony today before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today voiced strong support for congressional efforts to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for an additional five years to provide ongoing flood insurance protection for property owners and ensure the nation's real estate markets operate smoothly and without delay.Testifying before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, NAHB First Vice Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla., said that the home building industry depends upon the NFIP to remain available, affordable and financially sound.

Washington, D.C. - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) issued the following statement today regarding the release of the state attorneys general foreclosure settlement term sheet. "While much of Wall Street has already recovered from the financial fallout, many of America's Main Street communities continue to struggle with its harsh effects. The last thing these communities need is further deterioration of their already fragile housing markets and economies caused by these proposed settlement terms that would delay legitimate foreclosure actions and permit bankruptcy judges to reduce mortgage balances.

ASTORIA, NY - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D?NY), New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Former NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr., Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, HPD Commissioner Rafael E. Cestero, Enterprise Community Partners, Citi, among others, joined HANAC, Inc., a nonprofit, multi?funded, citywide organization that serves local community residents, in opening today the HANAC George T. Douris Tower, a new green, mixed?use building providing affordable housing for seniors and community space for services that support them.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) and Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), both members of the Senate Banking Committee, and Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation to end the Housing Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).