California RealEstateRama

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - April 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE:ADC) today announced it has sold its 38,000 square foot Borders Books superstore located in Santa Barbara, California. The $9,800,000 transaction closed on March 31, 2010.

Sacramento, CA - April 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last November, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 was signed by President Obama, extending the first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010 and expanding the eligibility requirements for purchasers. (Note that a binding contract must be signed by April 30; a buyer then has until June 30, 2010 to settle the purchase.

As April 22 Deadline Approaches, Only 6,000 of 300,000 Remodelers Have Received New Certification. San Diego, CA - April 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jackson Design & Remodeling (winner of the 2007 and 2009 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics) in response to the new LEAD certifications set forth by the EPA, sponsored a certification seminar for San Diego contractors, maintenance workers, painters, electricians and others affected by the new Renovation, Repair and Painting rules (RRP) on lead-safe practices. According to the EPA, to date, only 6,000 of 300,000 remodelers nationwide have received their LEAD certifications, the deadline for which is April 22.

Irvine, CA - March 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jamboree Housing Corporation president Laura Archuleta was honored by Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County at the organization’s annual dinner. Archuleta was presented Neighborhood Housing Services’ “Good Neighbor Award” for her company’s commitment to building and managing quality affordable housing for Orange County working families

March 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the City of Long Beach's effort to create and implement strategies to reduce total energy use, improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce fossil fuel emissions, the City is launching a Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. This program will be administered by the Department of Development Services and will be available beginning Monday, April 19, 2010 to applicants who install qualifying energy efficient products such as Energy Star rated solar hot water-heaters, tank-less water-heaters, windows, doors, skylights and roofs.

Santa Ana, CA - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today shut down two fraudulent foreclosure-assistance companies and secured a court judgment that prohibits three individuals from working in the real estate industry and provides more than $1 million in restitution for victims left with "false hope" after paying upfront fees for nonexistent loan-modification services.

Recovery Act Funding Will Create Local Construction Jobs, Improve Learning Facilities for Sacramento Students. SACRAMENTO, CA - March 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D – Sacramento) announced the award of a $19,342,000 qualified school construction bond, administered by the Department of Treasury and authorized by the Recovery Act, which Rep. Matsui supported last year. Qualified school construction bonds can be used to finance the construction, rehabilitation or repair of a public school facility or for the acquisition of land where a school will be built.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 4805, the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act, in partnership with Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI). The bipartisan bill will adopt national standards under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for formaldehyde in composite wood products. The legislation would also protect the health of American families from the high use of this toxin in common, household items, including hundreds of everyday applications, ranging from paneling and flooring, to cabinets, doors, shelving, molding, and countertops.

March 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Long Beach is offering each residence affected by the gas line in North Long Beach that was shut off for safety reasons a housing reimbursement of up to $75 per night, per household, for each night they are affected. In addition, the City is offering each household a meal reimbursement of up to $6 per person, per meal each day to the point gas service is restored

WASHINGTON DC - February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Linda Sánchez, Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced a bill today that would bolster the development of low-income housing. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Exchange Expansion and Job Creation Act of 2010 would promote the development of low-income housing by allowing investors to exchange otherwise unusable low-income housing tax credits for cash to be put toward the development of this housing.

February 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A 33-year-old Long Beach man who operated a number of ventures that he used to solicit money with false claims of profitable investments in real estate has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge.

February 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the help of a few key partners, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles (YWCA GLA) and its LA Job Corps program have successfully embarked upon building a new Urban Campus which will be the prototype for Job Corps programs around the country.

San Francisco, CA - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco has appointed three new members to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC)—Jasmine Borrego of TELACU; Joel Jacinto of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA); and Dean Matsubayashi of Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation (LTSC). The Bank’s AHAC is a 15-member group that provides guidance on affordable housing and economic development issues and helps shape the Bank’s community investment grant programs and credit products

February 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- After saturating neighborhoods of predominantly black and Latino residents with high-cost, often predatory lending throughout the subprime boom, banks have failed at preventing foreclosures while returning to high and disparate rates of loan denial for applicants of color, according to a new report by the California Reinvestment Coalition.

DALLAS, TX - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- First American Valuation and Property Solutions, a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies and a leader in residential property valuations, inspections and preservation services, today announced its new valuation service, the Appraiser-Validated Price Opinion.

Washington, DC - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Saturday, February 6, 2010, Rep. Calvert, in conjunction with the Housing Opportunities Collaborative of the Inland Empire, the Federal Housing Administration, Housing and Urban Development, the City of Corona and Crossroads Christian Church, will host a homeownership preservation workshop

Washington, DC - February 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation to give certain preferences to individuals and families committed to rebuilding communities when purchasing government owned residential property. The First Look at Primary Residence Act requires the federal government, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to consider purchase offers from only those who plan to use the property as their primary residence for the first 15 days that the properties are listed. After that time period, the seller is allowed to consider any offer.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Dennis Cardoza said today he had lost confidence in the top housing official in the Obama Administration, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Laura Richardson is pleased to announce that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has awarded $22 million to the City of Long Beach and additional millions to the 37th District counseling partner Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. The funds are a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and are distributed as part of HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which requires the funds be used to improve the quality of and access to housing for low- and moderate-income families.

January 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced that $318 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding has been awarded to entities in California by the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). These awards are funded through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) to help renovate and rehabilitate foreclosed homes, eliminate blight and reinvigorate and stabilize the affected neighborhoods hit hardest by foreclosures.