Yearly Archives: 2015

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama announced new actions and investments to support workers, farmers and rural communities suffering from drought and to combat wildfires, including $18 million for the State of California to provide jobs for workers dislocated by the drought

This morning, Friday, June 12, 2015, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) introduced legislation in the United States House of Representatives to improve water storage capabilities in California

H.R. 2749; the Dam Authorization, Maintenance, and Safety (DAMS) Act would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to repair or modify aging dams and evaluate whether additional modifications could be made to the dam facility to increase water storage capacity. Water storage has been a long standing issue in addressing California’s drought crisis, and by restoring and improving California’s existing dams, the Golden State could dramatically increase its storage capacity at little cost to taxpayers.

Significant steps toward protecting endangered southern steelhead and other environmental resources will take this summer and fall at Leo Carrillo State Park. California State Parks and partner agencies are undertaking the project, which will also enhance beach access

U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.) questioned U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro on the need for housing finance reform and the exodus of bank lenders from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program at today's House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled “The Future of Housing in America: Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

A former audio-visual technician for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) has been charged with more than two dozen felony counts for allegedly misappropriating more than $4 million in public funds, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced

An amendment authored by Congressman McClintock and a bi-partisan amendment co-authored with Congressman Jared Huffman have been adopted by the House of Representatives to H.R. 2685 - FY16 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals ® (NAHREP) has released its 2015 report on the Top 250 Latino Mortgage Originators in the United States. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage led the way with the most mortgage originators on the list, with independent lenders New American Funding and Alterra Home Loans finishing second and third, respectively. NAHREP reports that it received more than 800 nominations from 42 different companies.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today that it has refinanced an eight-property portfolio in California for a total investment of $160 million. The properties were all refinanced using Fannie Mae Choice Refinance facilities and carry a ten-year term amortizing over 30 years.

U.S. Representative Mimi Walters (CA-45) released the following statement after voting in support of the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill. This legislation provides $55.3 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other related agencies.

Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2577, the FY 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill. This bill, which the Administration has threatened to veto, cuts critical investments in infrastructure and housing assistance

During his appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) reiterated his strong opposition to the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, which is currently scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives this Friday.

Late last night, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) proposed an amendment on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives calling for LGBT equality and non-discrimination provisions in federal transportation and housing programs. The amendment passed with bipartisan support on a 241-184 vote.

In Partnership with San Francisco Retirement System, Mayor’s Office Will Invest up to $125 Million Over Next 10 Years in Down Payment Assistance Loans for Middle Income Residents to Buy Homes

Christy Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP); Stephanie Yonekura, Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California; David Bowdich, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Los Angeles Field Office; Erick Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office

Zephyr Real Estate is pleased to announce the addition of Rick Stern to the fast growing team at its all-new Marin office in Greenbrae. He is a long-time top-producing Residential Real Estate Specialist who has made his home in Marin County for more than 35 years.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement on House passage of H.R. 2577, the FY 2016 Transportation, Housing, & Urban Development funding bill

In case you missed it, the Sacramento Bee recently featured an op-ed by Congressman Garamendi titled, “Water Solution for California: Little Sip, Big Gulp’” (linked to and included below). The op-ed offers an alternative to the Governor’s so-called “California Water Fix.”

On Tuesday, June 2, 2015, over sixteen brokers and support staff from LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, teamed up with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) volunteers to landscape one of the brokerages’ largest hands on landscaping projects in company history.

“We are thrilled to have Leisa Sollenberger as part of our team,” said Katie Williams, managing broker, LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, DTC. “She is a true professional with vast experience in the new construction arena as well as resale homes. Her focus on providing customer service at the highest level makes her a perfect fit for the LIV Sotheby’s International Realty brand.”