Property, Rentals, Transactions

Washington, DC- November 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Identity theft is becoming one of the fastest growing crimes in America, and the National Association of Realtors® is committed to helping members keep their identities safe. Toward that end, the IdentitySecure Program for Realtors® is now available through NAR’s REALTOR Benefits® Program in partnership with Affinion Benefits Group, LLC.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senior U.S. District Judge Jack T. Camp Jr., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to possession of controlled substances and conversion of government property, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin of the FBI’s Atlanta office and Director Vernon Keenan of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- At a Middle Class Task Force event today, co-hosted by the Department of Justice’s Access to Justice Initiative, Vice President Biden announced a series of steps designed to help middle class and low-income families secure their legal rights. These actions include strengthening foreclosure mediation programs, helping veterans secure the legal help they need, and making it easier for workers to find a qualified attorney when they believe their rights have been violated.

Washington, D.C. - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following the first positive reading since January 2008, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dropped nearly two points in October. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the October ABI score was 48.7, down from a reading of 50.4 the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.7, down slightly from a nearly three-year high mark of 62.3 in September

NORFOLK, VA - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Erica Campbell, former senior manager of new media marketing for For Rent Media Solutions, a leading resource for searching apartments nationwide and a division of Dominion Enterprises, has been promoted to director of marketing. As director of marketing, Campbell will oversee business to consumer marketing initiatives for For Rent Media Solutions and its sister site

HELENA, AR - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Helena National Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) are pleased to announce that they have awarded a $4,000 Partnership Grant Program (PGP) award to Main Street Helena. Representatives from the banks joined Main Street Helena officials for a check presentation Tuesday in historic downtown Helena

ST. THOMAS, USVI - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As many Virgin Islanders were affected by recent floods caused by heavy rainfall, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge citizens to take steps to lessen damages in future flooding events

RE/MAX Commercial Forges Strategic Alliance with GreenPoint Partners to Deliver Sustainability Solutions for Commercial Real Estate. Denver, CO - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- RE/MAX Commercial® has joined the GreenPoint Network, an alliance for real estate firms dedicated to helping clients achieve profitable sustainability.

Washington, DC - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of REALTORS® announced today that Realtor.com, NAR’s official website, will be going global, extending its lead as the world’s largest online source of residential property listings.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- During an event hosted by Vice President Joe Biden to announce initiatives to help middle class and low-income families secure their legal rights, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz will announce a new rule protecting homeowners from deceptive mortgage relief companies, and several law enforcement actions against mortgage loan modification and foreclosure rescue companies.

Chicago, IL - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sustainable buildings are expected to generate stronger investment returns than traditionally managed properties, according to an ongoing study of a national office portfolio managed by CB Richard Ellis. The study found that owners of sustainably managed buildings anticipate a 4% higher return on investment than do owners of traditionally managed buildings, as well as 5% [more] increase in building value. Roughly 79% of owners surveyed believe that sustainable properties perform well in attracting and retaining tenants, yielding a 5% increase in building occupancy and 1% increase in rental income.

San Jose del Cabo, MX - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Associa Mexico Realty Services recently expanded its already diverse company profile by adding the Las Mananitas condominiums, one of the area’s finest beachfront properties.

San Antonio, TX - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company announces the purchase of Patterson Court, a Class-A multifamily community located at 8112 Patterson Wood Drive in Little Lake Bryan, a master development in Orlando. The property was purchased from Atlanta-based Woods Partners. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Washington, DC - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Housing Opportunity Fund, a National Association of REALTORS® grant program, has presented $50,000 to 15 local and state REALTOR® associations. Those associations will use the funds to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chairwoman Waters, Ranking Member Capito, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today regarding loss mitigation and issues surrounding mortgage servicing. The testimony will cover two key areas: first, the steps we are taking to ensure that servicers participating in the Making Home Affordable (MHA) program are adhering to program guidelines in light of the recent foreclosure issues, and second, the accomplishments of MHA to date and its impact on mortgage servicing.

Los Angeles, CA - November 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc (NYSE:CBG) today announced that NYSE Euronext (NYX), a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies, has selected CB Richard Ellis as its exclusive outsourcing provider of global real estate transaction management services and its preferred provider of global facilities management services.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial real estate visionaries from both academia and industry painted a fairly optimistic picture of what the industry will look like in the next ten years during 2020: A Vision for Commercial Real Estate, a thought leader symposium presented by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Foundation and the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and its Masters of Professional Studies in Real Estate Program held last Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Their predictions point to a future in which property management is increasingly important, buildings are carbon neutral and shifting demographics create a greater demand for real estate.“Our inaugural Thought Leader Symposium was an inspiring glimpse of what our industry will look like a decade from now,” commented BOMA Foundation Chair Marilyn Wilbarger, director of property management, City of Key West, Fla. “Attendees heard from the best and brightest minds in real estate, finance and sustainability and walked away with a better idea of how to prepare for future success.”

Washington, DC - November 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although the recent trend of rising long-term borrowing rates may mean higher mortgages for consumers in the coming months, the greater obstacles to housing market recovery are job creation and availability of credit, according to a National Association of REALTORS® analysis.

NEW YORK, NY - November 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services today announced that it has been appointed by True North Management Group LLC to provide real estate fund administration services for its True North High Yield Investment Fund II which closed in April 2010 with $330 million of equity commitments and is expected to finish with $500-$600 million of equity commitments.

New York, NY - November 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) announced today that leases covering 141,887 square feet with new or expanding tenants have been signed within the past 30 days