Yearly Archives: 2012

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to member feedback, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today announced that all members of the Association will receive 12 free hours of online continuing education (CE) courses, included as part of membership dues, beginning January 1, 2013.

Torrance, CA - December 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Temecula and Murrieta offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage wrapped up its Toys for Tots campaign on at its annual Toys for Tots event held on Dec. 13 at the Temeku Theater in Temecula, Calif. Between the event and the collection boxes that were distributed throughout the community, the Temecula and Murrieta offices were able to collect over 1,700 toys.

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, a landmark package of legislation that extends key mortgage and foreclosure protections to California homeowners and borrowers, will take effect on January 1, 2013

Los Angeles, CA - December 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A San Gabriel man who was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday but failed to appear in court is being sought by the FBI, announced Bill Lewis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and André Birotte Jr., the United States Attorney in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the statewide median price continued to register double-digit gains from year-ago levels, strong sales of higher-priced homes led to a year-over-year increase in sales in California during November, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® reported today.

December 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- CBIA is pleased to announce bestselling author Dan Pink will be the Opening Keynote Speaker on Thursday, June 6 at PCBC 2013. Dan is the author of several provocative, bestselling books about the changing world of work.

Torrance, CA - December 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Daniel W. Finley has joined the national real estate law firm Pircher, Nichols & Meeks. An associate in the Los Angeles office, he is an addition to the firm’s real estate practice.

Torrance, CA - December 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new 208-unit multifamily complex that is the first of a Young Urban Community series planned by AMF Development, LLC (AMFD) has officially topped out, moving it closer to its opening in the early spring of 2013. The project, named Elevé Lofts & Skydeck, is designed specifically for the social and economic dynamics of the Gen Y crowd – those between 20 and 34 years old – many of whom have been forced to either move home or have multiple roommates given the soft job market and weak economy.

Washington, DC - December 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Mike Thompson and a bipartisan group of 29 Senators and Representatives sent a letter to President Obama Wednesday calling for Master Limited Partnerships and Real Estate Investment Trusts to be a priority in the federal government’s “all of the above” energy strategy. The letter was led by the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act: U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX-02), Mike Thompson (D-CA-01) and Peter Welch (D-VT-AL). The legislation, H.R. 6437 and S. 3275, will modify the federal tax code to make it easier and more attractive for private capital to invest in renewable energy

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a sign of an improving housing market, California home buyers are more optimistic about the housing market now than they were three years ago, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2012 Survey of California Home Buyers.”

December 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Bill 800, commonly known as the “Right to Repair," became effective January 1, 2003 and establishes a mandatory process prior to the filing of certain types of construction defect claims against homebuilders. This law, codified as Title 7 of the California Civil Code, applies whenever there are defects alleged by a homeowner in new residential construction. The legislative intent of this law is to afford both homeowners and homebuilders the opportunity for quick and fair resolution of claims so that homebuilders can work with their homeowners to ensure that they are content with the construction of their home.

Torrance, CA - December 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- When Jane and David Catos of Chula Vista wrote on their calendar “Marty will be calling me today!” it was actually meant as a joke. David and his wife, Jane, had entered the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage $20,000 client appreciation cash giveaway sweepstakes at the encouragement of their agent, Marty Price, in Coldwell Banker’s La Mesa office earlier this year. Then, they won.

Torrance, CA - December 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- General contractor C.W. Driver was awarded a multi-million dollar contract for two restaurant tenant improvement projects totaling 11,000 square-feet at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon Calif., further solidifying the firm’s presence in the Native American gaming and casino market. Fifteen-year industry veteran Brent Hughes, senior project manager, will be leading the firm’s projects in the gaming and hospitality industries.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The General Services Administration (GSA) today announced additional details for the possible redevelopment of highly valuable but significantly underdeveloped and underutilized federal property in the heart of Washington, DC. Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) called the GSA proposal a long overdue but positive step forward

LOS ANGELES, CA - December 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected a contractor to seismically upgrade and renovate Building 209 on the north end of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS), West Los Angeles campus. The contract was awarded today to Westport Construction Company in Arcadia, CA. This project will create approximately 190 construction jobs. Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2014

Torrance, CA - December 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael Savoy, CPA, managing director of Santa Monica-based Gumbiner Savett Inc., has been elected vice president of the California Board of Accountancy (CBA) for 2013. Appointed to the CBA less than two years ago by then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Savoy previously served as secretary/treasurer.

Torrance, CA - December 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Christopher L. Muno has joined the national real estate law firm Pircher, Nichols & Meeks as an associate in its Los Angeles office. He is an addition to the firm’s real estate practice group.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced legislation to help homeowners who live in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas and whose homes have sustained major damage from a fire or other unforeseen event to rebuild their homes. The Fire Damaged Home Rebuilding Act of 2012 would amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to require FEMA to create a waiver process to consider on a case-by-case basis allowing these homeowners to rebuild their homes without elevation requirements, while ensuring their flood insurance costs remained the same as their neighbors.

November 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- CHF CIRB released their July 2012 California Construction Review to subscribers last week. The review demonstrates the positive turn in the construction industry has taken over the past year. A few highlights from the report include:

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Glendale man has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud charges, admitting that he ran three separate scams, including a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 30 families out of more than $8 million.