California RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, DC - September 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) joined her colleagues in the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) on the floor of the House of Representatives urging the Speaker to immediately renew tax incentives for wind energy. The renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) provides an income tax credit for each kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by a renewable energy source, including wind, and has been a key factor in the expansion of clean energy over the last decade.

Washington, D.C. - September 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today passed the companion legislation to Congresswoman Janice Hahn’s bipartisan H.R. 4287 that updates the definition of “homeless veteran” to include those fleeing domestic violence.

Washington, DC - September 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday, Congresswoman Maxine Waters held a bipartisan panel discussion on the nation’s ongoing housing crisis and whether the use of eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages is a feasible alternative to provide struggling homeowners with relief. The event was the third in a series of panels Rep. Waters launched this summer to discuss current topics in financial regulation. To open the panel discussion, Rep. Waters delivered the following remarks:

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal agents this morning arrested 10 defendants who worked at a Rancho Cucamonga-based business that allegedly offered bogus loan modification programs to financially distressed homeowners. As a result of the scheme allegedly run out of 21st Century Real Estate Investment Corp. and several related companies, more than 4,000 financially distressed homeowners lost at least $7 million in fees they paid to the company, and many homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) joined nearly 100 of her bipartisan colleagues in urging the Congressional leadership to ensure continued eligibility for critical U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program funding for over 500 rural communities nationwide, including Atascadero, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Nipomo, and Carpinteria on the Central Coast. Specifically, the lawmakers are urging House leadership to include language to protect eligibility for Rural Development funding in the Continuing Resolution appropriations bill to be considered by Congress this month. The USDA Rural Development program supports a wide range of affordable housing, economic development, and critical infrastructure projects in rural areas through grants, loans, and technical assistance. Click here to read about an example of the projects supported by USDA Rural Development.

Washington, DC - September 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation that directs the Government Sponsored Housing Entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to offer 50 year mortgage refinance terms to qualified homeowners. The Flexible Refinancing for American Families Act establishes a mortgage plan that would allow homeowners to receive immediate, short-term relief in the form of low monthly mortgage payments.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Citing new momentum and support among a broad array of stakeholders, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today reintroduced the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act and called on Republicans to join them in passing the measure which would help millions of responsible homeowners refinance at lower mortgage rates.

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- With thousands of California homeowners facing foreclosure, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass held a community town hall and consumer rights workshop to provide residents with one-on-one foreclosure counseling, financial guidance, as well as brief attendees on current legislation in Congress to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure stay in their homes.

August 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Councilman Dee Andrews, 6th District, The Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) and Jamboree Housing Corporation (Jamboree) celebrated the grand opening of Collage Apartments at 1893, 1905, 1907 and 1911 Pine Avenue. Once blighted and crime-infested buildings, they have been transformed into quality affordable housing for workforce families.

SACRAMENTO, CA - August 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced the arraignment of two Sacramento men who stole more than $3.2 million from investors who were told their money was being invested in a real estate venture to buy and re-sell foreclosed homes

August 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Homeownership Protection Program Joint Powers Authority now has its own website, allowing those interested in the JPA’s activities to view live meetings, archived meeting videos, meeting agendas, minutes, and other information

WASHINGTON, DC - August 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for her role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

Los Angeles, CA - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS) was awarded a $1.45 million grant made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund program. As part of the U.S. Treasury’s commitment to revitalizing economic and community development, NHS was one of 177 CDFI Program awardee organizations receiving an aggregate total of more than $176 million. NHS was awarded the highest amount given to an organization

SACRAMENTO, CA - August 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two Chico business partners were sentenced today to prison for a mortgage fraud scheme they operated in 2006-2007, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

San Jose, CA - August 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) - Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Seminar Saturday, August 25, 2012, 10:00am-12:00pm Case Design/Remodeling Office: 6155 Almaden Expressway Ste. 400 San Jose, CA 95120

Washington, DC - August 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to increase the supply of affordable rental housing available for middle-income seniors, who are ineligible to receive subsidized housing benefits that go to the lowest-income individuals. The Affordable Housing for Moderate-Income Seniors Act requires states receiving low-income housing tax credits from the federal government to provide additional credit points on their Qualified Action Plan criteria for developers who are able to build moderate-income housing for seniors

Washington, D.C. - August 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Ed DeMarco, refused to allow Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to offer mortgage principal write-down relief for underwater homeowners, despite an analysis from his own agency demonstrating that such action would save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac $3.6 billion, save taxpayers a net of $1 billion, and help 500,000 homeowners stay in their homes:

Washington, DC - August 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today 32 Members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), released the following statement in response to Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Ed DeMarco's decision to prevent Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac from offering mortgage principal write-down relief for underwater homeowners:

WASHINGTON, DC - July 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) announced nearly $5 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) and Urban Development to Alameda County. The money will help improve housing and economic opportunities for moderate-, low-, and very low-income individuals in Alameda County.

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced defendants who ran a national loan modification scam were ordered to pay more than $4 million in penalties and restitution, including $2 million to consumers who were falsely promised modifications of their mortgage loans