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SACRAMENTO, CA - January 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The pace of home sales at California new-home communities was slightly lower than levels seen a year ago, the California Building Industry Association reported today

January 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continuing California’s efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the California Building Standards Commission unanimously adopted the first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) requiring all new buildings in the state to be more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Taking effect on January 1, 2011, these comprehensive regulations will achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use to create a greener California

WASHINGTON, DC - January 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the dramatic increase in homeless families caused by the current economic downturn affecting California and the nation, Congresswoman Laura Richardson is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing $6,152,772 to the City of Long Beach for preventing and decreasing homelessness.

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- calREDD™ today announced that members of the Lake County Association of REALTORS® now can view properties for sale, place listings, prepare CMAs, and access agents for referrals via calREDD™, the statewide Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which officially launched in Lakeport, Calif. today

SACRAMENTO, CA - January 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- California homebuilders applauded Governor Schwarzenegger for his determination to reinvigorate the state’s economy by focusing on jobs, streamlining the construction permitting process and establishing a new homebuyer tax credit.

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Business Services Inc. (REBS) today announced that the Orange County Association of REALTORS (OCAR) has signed an agreement to provide both Clarus MarketMetrics and Clarus Investor as free member benefits for an additional 12 months. Clarus MarketMetrics and Clarus Investor®, together, retail for $480 for an annual subscription.

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.

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

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

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.

C.A.R. reports entry-level housing affordability reached 64 percent in the third quarter of 2009. LOS ANGELES, CA - November 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 64 percent in the third quarter of 2009, compared with 55 percent (revised) for the same period a year ago, according to a report released today by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).