Yearly Archives: 2009

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing construction in California continued to decrease in November and is on track to set a record for the least amount of homes produced in a single year, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

Morgan Hill, CA - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- After much speculation by the general populace (and the real estate industry) and much consternation by Congress, the much-anticipated extension of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has been passed.

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home sales increased 4.7 percent in November in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home rose 5.8 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today

30-Year Industry Veteran Brings Extensive Real Estate Assessment Expertise to Top Appraisal Post. Truckee, CA - December 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Clear Capital, a premium provider of data and solutions for real estate asset valuation, investment and risk assessment, today announced the appointment of Mike Ousley as the company's Executive Vice President, Appraisal Group, reporting to Duane Andrews, Clear Capital CEO, and Kevin Marshall, Clear Capital President.

Program has benefited more than 3,100 first-time home buyers in California. LOS ANGELES, CA - December 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today announced it is extending its Mortgage Protection Program (MPP) for first-time home buyers through Dec. 31, 2010. To date, C.A.R. has approved benefits for 3,122 first-time home buyers at no cost to the consumer.

Washington, DC - December 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today introduced a measure to spur the development of renewable energy employment and construction, such as wind and solar farms and solar panel factories. The bill would primarily extend and expand a popular Treasury Department grant program that was established in Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to help diminish the impact of the economic crisis on the renewable energy sector

Washington, D.C.- December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Faith Schwartz, Executive Director, of the HOPE NOW Alliance, testified today before the State Assembly Select Committee on the Safety and Protection of At-Risk Communities in California. Schwartz testified that through October 2009, more than 279,000 California homeowners received mortgage workout solutions. This compared to about 139,000 foreclosure sales in the state this year shows that workout solutions outpace foreclosures in sales 2 to 1 in California

Fights to Keep American Families in Their Homes. WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D–California) to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173) yesterday, which requires mortgage servicers or lenders participating in the Making Home Affordable Program to publicly report their progress in helping responsible homeowners stay in their homes. The amendment was introduced by Congresswoman Matsui with Rep. Betty Sutton (D–Ohio) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D–Florida), and debated on the House floor. Passage of H.R. 4173 is expected today.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congress took significant action to reform the nation’s financial system today with the passage of The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Passed with Congressman Cardoza’s support, the bill also includes provisions he requested that take aim at the nation’s continuing foreclosure crisis.

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The pace of home sales at California new-home communities rose above year-ago levels for the first time since December of 2006, the California Building Industry Association reported today

December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continuing his commitment to California’s veterans, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) Secretary Roger Brautigan and commanding officer of the Naval Base Ventura County Captain James McHugh to celebrate the grand opening of California Veterans Home, Ventura (CVH-Ventura), the newest state veterans home which will provide housing and long-term care for many of California’s veterans

Events in Ukiah and Lakeport Help Consumers Facing Housing Issues. Ukiah, CA - November 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco), working with the Mendocino/Lake Housing Foreclosure Prevention Coalition, hosted community housing workshops last weekend in Mendocino and Lake Counties

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Construction of new homes in California continued to decline in October, prompting California homebuilders to call on state lawmakers to reexamine the benefits of the state new-home buyer tax credit enacted earlier this year in hopes of getting similar legislation passed to stimulate the housing sector and the economy, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

California still home to half of the top 20 least affordable markets. SACRAMENTO, CA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing affordability continued to creep downward throughout the state during the third quarter of 2009 as a result of incremental price increases due to increased demand for homes, the California Building Industry Association said today

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the appointment of Douglas Guthrie as the new General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). Mr. Guthrie brings with him a wealth of experience in community development, housing affordability and urban policy.

November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bank today announced the results of the 2009 election for two nonmember independent director positions and two California member director positions on its Board of Directors.

Southern California Loan Officer, Real Estate Agent Linked to Scheme in Which Unqualified Buyers Obtained Mortgages for Luxury Homes. LOS ANGELES, CA - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The former director of sales for a Colorado real estate company that built luxury homes throughout the state agreed in court papers filed today to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he and other company officials participated in a $16 million “builder bailout” scheme in which buyers of $1 million-plus homes were paid kickbacks if they purchased homes from the company

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced two foreclosure counseling clinics in South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley this Saturday, November 14, 2009. The free clinics are designed to educate the public about the foreclosure process, distribute information about foreclosure prevention, and present residents with options to modify loans and keep their homes.

Washington, D.C. - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Kevin McCarthy joined House colleagues in cosponsoring bipartisan legislation, the Small Business and Military Family Assistance Act (H.R. 4042), that would extend a tax credit for small businesses that pay differential wages to their employees who are Armed Forces servicemembers and have been called up to active duty.

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- New-home sales in California continued to remain below levels seen a year ago, but the year-over-year declines have continued to shrink, the California Building Industry Association reported today