SACRAMENTO, CA - September 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Driven by a substantial increase in the multifamily sector, California housing starts surged in August posting a 30 percent increase over the same month a year ago, the California Building Industry Association announced today

Torrance, CA - September 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In another move signaling Lee & Associates’ rapid growth in the Midwest, the firm appoints Chris Etmanczyk as vice president of Lee’s Madison, Wis., office. Etmanczyk’s appointment is the latest in a string of personnel moves reflecting the expansion of Lee & Associates, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the country.

September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lee & Associates, the nation’s largest broker-owned commercial brokerage firm, has closed on the $9 million sale of a 131,420-square-foot industrial property at 19161 E. Walnut Dr., in City of Industry, Calif.

OAKLAND, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Wearing hardhats and donning shovels, city and county officials today joined executives from The Michaels Development Company and LINC Housing Corporation to celebrate the coming transformation of a long-vacant lot on the city’s west side into a new mixed-used, transit-oriented affordable housing community. Red Star Apartments, which will offer affordable one- and two-bedroom apartment homes to income-eligible seniors, is being built on the former site of the Red Star yeast factory and is expected to generate hundreds of high quality jobs for local residents and businesses.

San Diego, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- C.W. Driver’s work building the Ramona Library in the San Diego town has resulted in the 21,000-square-foot structure being granted LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. C.W. Driver, a premier builder serving the Western U.S. since 1919, left its environmentally conscious mark on the Tuscan and Southwestern-style building, which is the second-largest library in San Diego County. It opened this spring and is four-times larger than the original library it replaced.

Lomita, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, has completed the sale of a 2,538-square-feet property located at 2005 Lomita Blvd., Lomita, Calif. The transaction is valued at $1.222 million. The property is located on the corner of Lomita Blvd. and Eshelman Ave. and has NNN corporate guaraunteed lease, occupied by 7-Eleven.

ONTARIO, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Western States Technologies Inc. (www.westernstatestech.com) has signed a lease for $1 million with Sky Tech Worldwide Inc. (www.skytech-ww.com). The lease transaction is for 50,000 square feet at 1975 E. Locust St., a 90,000-square-foot industrial building near Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif.

Los Angeles, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Charles Dunn Company, one of the largest full-service regional real estate firms in the Western United States, has completed the $5.45 million sale of The Kester House, a 29-unit multifamily property built in 1984 that is located at 5421 Kester Ave. in Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Los Angeles County).

Irvine, CA - September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Faris Lee Investments, the nation’s largest retail-specialized investment sales and advisory firm, has completed the $3.7 million sale of The Shops at Pacific Park, a 15,195 square foot multi-tenant retail and office strip center in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Built in 1999 and situated on 1.18 acres, the property is located at 22912 Pacific Park Drive. The property, which was sold through receivership, is 88 percent occupied and includes a mix of dining, retail, and office tenants.

Washington, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today urged the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to expedite its efforts to help millions of responsible homeowners refinance so that borrowers can take advantage of today’s record low interest rates.

Santa Ana, CA - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Brickman Group, one of the nation’s largest commercial landscaping companies, marks the next step in deepening its Southern California presence by establishing a Southern California regional office in Santa Ana, Calif. The transition comes on the heels of Brickman’s purchase of Los Angeles-based Dworsky Landscaping this summer — a move that cemented the 72-year-old firm’s entrance into the Los Angeles/Orange County market

San Francisco, CA - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Stefano DeZerega, a Top Producer and a Premier Property Specialist with Zephyr Real Estate, is a volunteer and is on the board of directors at Pie Ranch—a sustainable farming operation in Pescadero that is also one of the Bay Area’s more unique community organizations.

EVERLY HILLS, CA - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) today announced the grand opening of Toscana, a 39-unit townhome community in West Hills, which is located in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. A joint venture managed by the company purchased the residential project from Bank of America for $12.8 million and will officially open the homes for sale on Saturday, September 24.“This project is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the move-up buyers looking for a high quality townhouse at a very affordable price,” commented Robert Hart, president of KW Multifamily Management Group.

Los Angeles, CA - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Westwood Financial Corp. (http://www.westfin.com), one of the largest privately held owner-operators of retail properties in the U.S., is about to wrap up the biggest summer season in recent company history. The firm is prepared to comment on numerous deals that have helped shape the retail transaction marketplace in 2011.

SAN JOSE, CA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2011, the state’s largest trade show, opens next week at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. Running Sept. 20-22, CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2011 features more than 70 cutting-edge seminars on topics ranging from social media, to short sales, and the millennial generation. EXPO 2011 will also feature more than 150 exhibit booths and is expected to attract more than 6,500 attendees.

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales posted an increase from both the previous month and previous year in August, while the median home price rose to its highest level this year, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

EUGENE, OR - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc has partnered with The Avery Group Realty of San Francisco, Ca. to create an enhanced website that improves the way their brokers serve their clients’ every real estate need. The Avery Group is now an IDX enabled website, which allows them to effortlessly sync their website to thousands of listings within the San Francisco Multiple Listing Search (SFMLS). Clients of The Avery Group now have access to the same level of property listings once only reserved for real estate agents and brokers.

IRVINE, CA - September 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture + Planning announces that The Crossings at Escondido celebrated its grand opening today. Developed by Urban Housing Communities (UHC) LLC, a leading developer of quality multifamily residential projects, and designed by KTGY, The Crossings at Escondido provides eco-friendly, high-quality workforce housing to families earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. The Crossings at Escondido offers 55 thoughtfully-planned apartment homes ranging in size from two- to four-bedroom units. Rent ranges from $508 to $1,063 per month based on family size and income level.

Los Angeles, CA - September 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kitty Wallace, Executive Vice President of Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, closed the sale of the Villas at Sherman Place located at 23130 Sherman Place in West Hills, California. This 39-unit luxurious Tuscan styled property was recently completed in late 2010 and just sold for $12,800,000.

Torrance, CA - September 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Karen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the community under her management,” said Denise Bergstrom, vice president of association management of Keystone Pacific Property Management. “Her extensive customer service experience and management background will enable her to provide our clients with exceptional service.”