WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing professionals from across the country and abroad will convene at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 12-15, for the 2011 International Builders’ Show (IBS), the housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) event, held in one of the largest convention centers in the country, will feature the most cutting-edge designs, technologies, and products for all segments of the industry

WASHINGTON, DC - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, wrapped up its fourth year of outreach efforts and assistance to the nation’s atrisk homeowners. The industry-led organization is poised for a busy 2011 in the areas of, homeowner education/outreach, data reporting on aid to homeowners, technology innovation and mortgage issues management

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the weeks ending December 24, 2010 and December 31, 2010. For the week ending December 24, 2010, the Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 3.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week. For the week ending December 31, 2010, this index increased 2.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis.

McLean, VA - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) announced today that it priced its new 1.375% $6 billion three-year USD Reference Notes® security due on February 25, 2014. The issue, CUSIP number 3137EACR8, was priced at 100 to yield 1.375%, or 27 basis points more than three-year U.S. Treasury Notes. The issue will settle on Thursday, January 6, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has announced it will participate as an event sponsor at the launch event for Hollywood Hi-Tech, an upcoming show on the DIY Network that will show sophisticated technology installations in celebrity homes. CEDIA will support the show and will work closely with its host to help illustrate the benefits of working with a professional electronic systems contractor

Charlotte, N.C. - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The largest privately-held packaging company in the U.S. has relocated and expanded its regional headquarters with the lease of 40,000 square feet in Lakemont Industrial Park. The office had previously been located at Brookwood in smaller space. The new regional headquarters joins Stephen Gould’s existing 122,000-square-feet fulfillment center in Lakemont, which is leased and managed by Crescent Resources.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Marin County, California today announced an agreement to promote access and overcome barriers to affordable housing for minorities and persons with disabilities throughout the County. A recent HUD review disclosed that Marin County had failed to meet its Fair Housing obligations in its use and expenditure of HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds.

McLean, VA - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- I'm pleased to reach this agreement with Bank of America and believe it is in all parties' best interests. Since entering federal conservatorship, Freddie Mac has focused sharply on being a responsible steward of taxpayer funds, and we have worked closely with our lender partners to ensure that standards for loan underwriting are vigorously maintained. Bank of America has long been one of Freddie Mac's largest and most important business partners and we look forward to continuing our work together to provide mortgage funding for America's families.

McLean, VA - January 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) announced today that it plans to issue a new three-year USD Reference Notes® security, CUSIP number 3137EACR8, due on February 25, 2014. The issue will be priced on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, and will settle on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at benchmark size.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Emerging Trends in Real Estate: The Americas® 2011, the oldest, most highly regarded annual industry outlook for the real estate and land use industry, will be released in Israel next month by the report’s co-publishers the Urban Land Institute and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The findings, which suggest tempered improvement within the U.S. commercial real estate market in the months ahead, will be discussed during a special program January 12 at the Leonardo City Tower Hotel in Ramat Gan. “Emerging Trends Conference: U.S. Real Estate Investment in 2011” is being sponsored by ULI and PWC in partnership with Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy and Greenberg and Company and Goulston and Storrs

NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates climbed higher this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rising to 5.02 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

McLean, VA - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which saw all but the 1-year ARM rise. This brings 30-year mortgage rates back to levels seen in May of this year, while the 15-year ties levels not seen since June. Even so, mortgage rates remain incredibly low

Washington, DC - December 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Pending home sales rose again in November, with the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors®

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A fanciful castle, two major hotel renovations and a medical office that features a nod to local historic architectural styles are among the winners in this year’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Awards of Excellence.“Even as we recover from the economic slump in the commercial building sector, the best projects in the industry continue to impress the judges for their innovation, efficient use of materials and overall construction excellence,” said Carl Harris, chair of the NAHB’s National Commercial Builder Council, which sponsors the awards each year

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ - December 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- During Diane Turton, Realtors’ sixth annual Turton Giving Tree project, the company collected unwrapped toys and gifts for local children who are in need as well as monetary donations that will go towards feeding needy families in the area.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today announced a $1.25 million agreement with Warren Properties Inc., Warren Village (Mobile) Limited Partnership and Frank R. Warren to settle allegations that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a tenant’s requests for a reasonable accommodation. This settlement is the largest ever obtained by the department in an individual housing discrimination case.

Des Moines, IA - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Communities throughout the state of South Dakota were recently awarded $2.6 million in affordable housing grants through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Affordable Housing Program (AHP)....

Washington, D.C. - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Proposed changes to home lending rules from the Federal Reserve Board not only exceed its authority, but could actually encourage predatory lending targeted at the elderly.

EUGENE, OR - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mobile, Alabama real estate Alexa Kennedy has chosen to upgrade her professional website by adding a custom IDX solution to her search page, thanks to IDX, Inc. and the IDX Broker software they supply to her. Gulf Coast Alabama MLS (GCAMLS) listings are automatically synced to her search capabilities, with the dynamic IDX solution Kennedy now employs. Finding homes online was once a daunting and incomplete task. But now, with IDX Broker, home seekers can experience the most thorough and efficient online search from the convenience of the website of Kennedy.

Washington, DC - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.42 percent based on loans closed in November. This is a decrease of 0.07 percent from the previous month.

Solemn Recognition Coincides with $5 Million Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Statewide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The state Office of Mental Health today announced that bridges and landmarks across New York will be lit in purple and teal tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 18, to mark Suicide Prevention Month.

The cost of rocks to do a landscape project may be high, but obtaining inexpensive rocks can greatly affect one's budget. Rocks have several uses in landscaping; they may act as walks, borders, or specimens in a garden. Nevertheless, it might often be quite difficult to look for cost-friendly rock suppliers.

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced the Keeping Aid for Municipalities and Localities Accountable Act, or the KAMALA Act. The KAMALA Act will ensure that the federal government is not bankrolling states and localities that provide illegal aliens with housing assistance.

“We see the dramatic impact of climate change on our national parks every day. That’s why we need a transition to renewable energy that makes sure solar development is sited quickly and where it makes the most sense, minimizing harm to national parks and the communities they support."–Matt Kirby, NPCA's Senior Energy and Landscape Conservation Director

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) has acquired two senior affordable housing properties in very desirable Massachusetts communities that are vulnerable to increasing housing costs: Northside Village in Dennis and Westport Village in Westport.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about the dangers of television (TV) tip-over hazards. Millions of New Yorkers will watch the Super Bowl this Sunday either on TVs at home or at parties with friends. DCP is taking this TV-focused occasion to remind consumers of critical TV safety tips.

Fast-growing Florida has been a favorite of real estate investors for many years. With so much interest having been focused on the state, though, investors need to take care to seek the best available opportunities.

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced that the Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building located at 65 Court Street in Buffalo will be sold at auction in 2020. A work group formed earlier this year made up of City, County, and State officials working with professional real estate consultants CBRE, determined that in the current competitive and robust Buffalo real estate market

The Bureau of Land Management today announced that Karen Mouritsen has been named the new California State Director—a key leadership position based in Sacramento. As State Director, Mouritsen will direct a team that manages lands encompassing 15% of the Golden State’s total land mass

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the opening of the new JLC Recovery and Wellness Center in New York City. JLC is operated by Exponents Inc. and provides free help and support services for people affected by addiction and for their families.

In spite of a robust U.S. economy, a strong employment rate, and steadily increasing 401(k) plan earnings, Black homeownership rates continue to drop. Drawing from the 2019 release of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked the Department of the Interior about its commitment to the Yakima River Basin during a hearing on the president’s FY 2017 budget request. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor agreed with Sen. Cantwell that the Yakima River Basin plan “is a model for the rest of the nation in water management.”

“Consumers Energy is thankful to be a part of holiday celebrations across the state as warm Thanksgiving memories are being made, and we are committed to providing many more generations of Michigan families with reliable, affordable energy in all seasons,” said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy’s vice president and chief customer officer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a final rule that creates exemptions from certain appraisal requirements for a subset of higher-priced mortgage loans. The exemptions are intended to save borrowers time and money while still ensuring that the loans are financially sound

Atlanta, Georgia - November 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”) entered into a Consent Order with Equity Loans, LLC, License Number 23300, located at 1150 Hammond Dr., Building E, Suite 650, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, to resolve allegations pertaining to violations of the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act