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LOS ANGELES, CA - January 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners has successfully arranged $16 million in construction financing for DJM Capital Partners, Inc., whose affiliate is the owner of the Bella Terra Shopping Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. according to Principal and Managing Director, Steve Bram and Senior Vice President, David Pascale. The construction loan will allow DJM to create a big box retail pad for new tenant Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Torrance, CA - January 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp. (WFC), one of the largest privately held owner-operators of retail properties in the U.S., is reporting one of its most successful years in its 40-year history with more than $172 million in acquisitions and dispositions in 2011. In total WFC completed 67 transactions in 2011, including five core acquisitions, 10 value-add acquisitions, five core dispositions and 47 value-add dispositions. The transactions were in 24 states. Over the past two years Westwood Financial Corp. has closed 14 value-add transactions for $60 million and is actively looking to reach its $100 million goal. In addition, the Los Angeles-based firm had an increase in its shopping center portfolio, particularly in the Southeast, which brings its ownership and management of more than 100 shopping centers and retail properties in 24 metropolitan markets.

January 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Councilmember Dee Andrews, 6th District, The Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) and Jamboree Housing Corporation (Jamboree) are proud to announce the start of the rehabilitation of Pinecrest Apartments located at 1893 – 1911 Pine Avenue. Three severely blighted buildings will be rehabilitated to provide affordable housing for local families. The public is invited to a "Wallbreaking" Ceremony at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 5, at 1893 Pine Ave.

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California housing production increased for a fourth consecutive month in November but the state is still on track to end the year with the third-lowest housing starts tally on record, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

San Francisco, CA - December 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded San Francisco $18.9 million in HUD’s Continuum of Care grants to fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach programs and support services programs to transitional and permanent housing for individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. The HUD Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. This year, 51 San Francisco-based organizations and programs received grant awards.

Torrance, CA - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) at California State University-Northridge has won several recent design awards for architectural excellence. Designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, the Performing Arts Center received an AIA Minnesota Honor Award, an AIA Los Angeles Merit Award, an ENR California /McGraw-Hill Construction Award of Merit, and a Design Award in the Institutional Category by the Southern California Development Forum.

COLTON, CA - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Hodgdon Group, a full-service real estate brokerage, development and construction firm, announced today that it has completed construction on the conversion of the former Levitz building at Northridge Fashion Center in Northridge, Calif., for the opening of an Ashley Furniture HomeStore. Hodgdon-Miank Construction served as the full-service design-build contractor and completed the major renovation of the 34,000-square-foot freestanding Ashley Furniture HomeStore. This is the 12th Ashley HomeStore to open, which has been completed by the Hodgdon Group.

Inland Empire, CA - December 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Merit Property Management, a FirstService Residential Management company, announces today that Kristie Rose, PCAM, CCAM, Merit’s Inland Empire Business Unit Leader, was honored with the industry coveted Manager of the Year Award from the Community Associations Institute (CAI). More than 250 attended the award ceremony which took place at the Riverside Convention Center on December 8, 2011.

December 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The California Building Industry Association (CBIA) released the following statement today on the recent Field Poll conducted on behalf of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) which asked Californians their opinions on the proposed state water bond and its importance to the state’s prosperity and economy

Orange County, CA - December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The South Coast Villas Homeowners Association has selected Merit Property Management, a FirstService Residential Management company, to manage 304 condominium units in Santa Ana, CA. Merit is assisting the community with all its HOA property management needs.

Inland Empire, CA - December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Merit Property Management, a FirstService Residential Management company, announces today the hiring of Kristie Rose, PCAM, CCAM, as Business Unit Leader for the Inland Empire region. Rose is now responsible for the supervision of Merit’s current association community management clients and will also coordinate and manage new contracts, maintain client relations and spearhead Merit’s continued growth throughout the Inland Empire region. She will also supervise account executive staff and association onsite teams.

Washington, DC - December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- At today’s House Financial Services Committee hearing to evaluate the financial health of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and one of the few members to oppose every bailout, pressed Secretary Donovan on the need to prevent a taxpayer bailout of the FHA.

Washington, DC - December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This morning, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the health of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Insurance Fund. Prior to this morning’s hearing, Congressman Gary Miller met with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and FHA Commissioner Carol J. Galante to discuss the impact of California’s Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project on Chino Hills’ homeowners. Following their discussion, Congressman Miller issued this statement:

Petaluma, CA - December 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc., The Proven Leader in Smart Water Management announced today its customer PEP Housing has reduced outdoor water consumption by 40 percent with WeatherTRAK Smart Irrigation controllers at 12 senior housing communities in Sonoma County. The 58-unit Casa Grande Senior Apartments in Petaluma, California recently received a Met Life Foundation Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing, recognizing best practices in green, service-enriched housing for low-income seniors. The Casa Grande property is also the county's first Green Point rated multi-family project.

SAN JOSE, CA - November 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, November 28, 2011, San Jose celebrated the grand opening of Brookwood Terrace Family Apartments, a development by ROEM Corporation and Eden Housing, Inc., in collaboration with the City of San Jose. The grand opening celebration was held at 1346 East San Antonio Street in San Jose, Calif.

Los Angeles, CA - November 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home affordability is higher now than in the past. Potential homebuyers are encouraged to purchase their home during this holiday season. Reports indicate lower home prices and record low interested rates in the third quarter of 2011 for the state of California. The down side is that during the last two years, families in Los Angeles County lost their home to foreclosure every 15 to 18 minutes. Southern California residents can take the first step in the home buying process or saving the home they already own from foreclosure, by attending a FREE Homeownership Fair on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Congress late yesterday passed a “minibus” appropriations measure that will continue to fund the government and includes a provision to reinstate the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limit in high-cost areas for two years. President Obama signed the measure into law today.

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Californians were able to afford a higher percentage of homes sold in the third quarter of 2011 as housing affordability increased in 22 of the state’s 28 metropolitan areas included in the report, the California Building Industry Association announced today.

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- According to a new study released today, the use of residential nexus analysis (RNA) in determining inclusionary housing percentage requirements and in-lieu fees for both residential and commercial development is unreliable and often produces highly inflated affordable housing requirements and in-lieu fees, the California Homebuilding Foundation announced today.

Washington DC - November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week Congress is expected to pass legislation championed by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) to extend higher housing loan limits as part of a bill that will fund several agencies through 2012 and the rest of the government on a temporary basis. The bill, known as the “minibus conference report,” includes a provision to extend higher Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits for 2 years in high cost areas of the country.