News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) sent the attached letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Edward DeMarco expressing MBA’s strong reservations about the stated timetable to revamp the fee structure for residential mortgage loan servicing.

Washington, DC - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Researchers have long understood that residential stability plays an important role in healthy child development. Less well understood, however is the role of housing affordability in promoting or undermining this stability—an issue of particular relevance given the sharp rise in foreclosures in recent years. Research commissioned and analyzed in a new report by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference, sheds light on this important issue affecting child development.

Boston, MA - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A group of major national and local philanthropies today announced the creation of a nonprofit organization to engage, educate, and support funders committed to ending homelessness in America. Funders Together to End Homelessness, started in 2004 as an affinity group of foundation and corporate funders, is now an independent organization of private philanthropies whose mission is to increase funders’ investments in solutions proven to end homelessness. The national organization’s Board of Directors includes representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Fannie Mae, the Melville Charitable Trust, and seven other foundations active in ending homelessness in communities across the country.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In recognition of Fair Housing month, the Sioux City Human Rights Commission, Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) and the Midtown Community Center will host the symposium “Fair Housing in Siouxland” on Wednesday, April 20th at the Midtown Community Center, 525 14th Street, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Sioux City, IA - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sioux City Fire Rescue is pleased to announce a new residential Safe Home Program. This program has three components:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 2.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 1, 2011.

Harrisburg, PA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $105 million to aid homeowners facing foreclosure through the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is launching a national media campaign to kick off Fair Housing Month, celebrated across the country each April to commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act. The "Live Free" campaign will use newspaper and magazine ads, as well as the latest digital media, including social networking sites, to increase the Department’s efforts to educate the public and housing providers about their fair housing rights and responsibilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced the promotion of Jim Gross to Vice President of Financial Accounting and Public Policy. In this capacity, he will advise Steve O’Connor, MBA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations on emerging industry policy issues and assist in setting strategic priorities.

BOISE, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Help is on the way for hundreds of unemployed Idaho homeowners who are in jeopardy of losing their homes. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the State of Idaho’s bid to administer its Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP), and Idaho Housing and Finance Association is accepting applications for the $13 million program effective immediately.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Senate today approved legislation supported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to repeal a burdensome tax paperwork requirement that could cost small businesses thousands of dollars each year. The bill now goes to President Obama for his approval.“During the past several months, NAHB has led the effort along with other industry groups to strike all new expanded IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements for small businesses and owners of rental real estate,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “In testimony before Congress and in ‘key vote’ letters to House and Senate leaders, we have spelled out how failing to overturn these rules would kill jobs and place a major paperwork and cost burden on home builders. We applaud Congress for acting to rectify this situation and urge the President to quickly sign this measure into law.”

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Wells Fargo Bank was the top commercial/multifamily mortgage originator in 2010, according to a set of listings released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Other originators in the top 10 include HFF, L.P.; Meridian Capital Group, LLC.; CBRE Capital Markets, Inc.; Prudential Mortgage Capital Company; MetLife Real Estate Investments; Deutsche Bank Commercial Real Estate; PNC Real Estate; Northmarq Capital, LLC; and Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC

NAMPA, ID - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homebuyers in Nampa will soon have the opportunity to become more informed about purchasing a home with the help of Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education. The Nampa Association of REALTORS® is a new regional training partner for the program, and regular classes will be offered in Nampa starting April 16th

Washington, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Wells Fargo Securities LLC agreed to settle charges that Wachovia Capital Markets LLC engaged in misconduct in the sale of two collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) tied to the performance of residential mortgage-backed securities as the U.S. housing market was beginning to show signs of distress in late 2006 and early 2007.

Washington, DC - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 10,000 homes across the U.S. have earned LEED certification through the LEED for Homes program, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED-certified home projects span the residential market, from multi- and single-family, to market rate and affordable housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- While the housing industry celebrates New Homes Month in April, home builders want Americans to know just how much of a positive, direct impact residential construction has on the U.S. economy throughout the entire year."Home building is a key driver of the American economy," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "By generating economic activity including new income and jobs, purchases of goods and services, and revenue for local governments, housing—which has historically accounted for around 17 percent of the GDP—can put America back to work."

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today released Help for Unemployed Borrowers: Lessons from the Pennsylvania Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, the latest article in its Current Issues in Economics and Finance series from the Research and Statistics Group.

RUTLAND, VT - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An affordable housing revolving loan program in West Rutland that provides Vermonters with services, technical assistance and loans to rehabilitate their homes will receive a $1 million grant from the state, Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today.

Lincoln, Neb. - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy announced the line-up for the 2011 Nebraska Infrastructure Protection Conference (NIPC). Nebraska businesses and private industry representatives are encouraged to participate ...

TOPEKA, KS - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Marking the 43rd anniversary of the signing of the National Fair Housing Law, Governor Sam Brownback joined Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), municipalities and non-profits statewide in proclaiming April Fair Housing Month.