Washington, DC – June 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act with an amendment introduced by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the top Democrat on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, that significantly expands home foreclosure protections for servicemembers, veterans with disabilities, and their families under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 14, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) warns County residents to be cautious when hiring contractors to repair damage caused by this week’s severe storm and advises consumers to do their homework before signing a contract for any home repair, improvement or tree service work. more »

Delaney labels exclusive focus on problems with housing model intellectually dishonest, calls for deep research

WASHINGTON, DC – June 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Wednesday the House Committee on Financial Services held a full committee hearing titled, “Beyond the GSEs: Examples of Successful Housing Finance Models without Explicit Government Guarantees.” During the hearing, Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) stressed that when evaluating the GSEs our analysis should include a full assessment of both the economic costs and benefits associated with our current housing model. more »

BALTIMORE, MD – June 11, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced $400,000 in brownfields assessment funding to the Baltimore Development Corporation, the city’s economic development agency, to identify and assess potentially contaminated sites for clean-up and redevelopment. more »

Mount Airy, MD – June 11, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen announced a grant of $70,659 to the Union Bridge Fire Company in Union Bridge, MD. This grant, awarded through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, will help the Company obtain professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefighting and non-affiliated EMS operations and safety. more »

Rockville, MD – June 7, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced that Montgomery County has been granted 15 additional Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The County has received 80 VASH vouchers over the past four years. more »

17 community organizations and agencies from across the state to begin or expand programs and provide greater housing opportunities to families

Baltimore, MD – June 7, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Standing in a North Baltimore neighborhood where once-vacant homes are being revitalized, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that 17 community and government organizations are receiving a total of $16.9 million in Neighborhood Conservation Initiative (NCI) funds. The grants are expected to improve housing options for Maryland families and stabilize neighborhoods across the state. The funds are the result of two recent housing-related settlements by Attorney General Gansler and will be administered and monitored by DHCD. more »

June is National Homeownership Month

CROWNSVILLE, MD – June 6, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced yesterday that the Maryland Mortgage Program is offering reduced interest rates in Targeted Areas around the State. The promotion, in recognition of June as National Homeownership Month, was announced by Division of Development Finance Deputy Director William Ariano at a free educational event co-sponsored by the Maryland Mortgage Bankers Association at Scossa Restaurant and Lounge in Easton (Talbot County). Deputy Director Ariano also provided a message from DHCD Secretary Raymond A. Skinner celebrating National Homeownership Month more »

No-strings-attached payments adds to $1.3 billion in relief so far

Baltimore, MD – June 6, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that more than 10,000 Maryland borrowers who submitted a valid foreclosure payment claim through the National Mortgage Settlement will receive a check this month for approximately $1,480. The settlement administrator, Rust Consulting, will mail the checks between June 10 and June 17. more »

OCEAN CITY, MD – June 4, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Henry Hanna, CCIM, SIOR, Senior Advisor with Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury, MD is pleased to announce the sale of the Sea Isle Motel on Route 50 in West Ocean City, Maryland. The motel was previously owned by the Trimper family and used to house their summer employees. more »

EUGENE, OR – May 31, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — IDX, Inc. and Frederick, Maryland real estate professional Keith Litchauer, today announce the website Litchauer hosts synced with a customizable IDX solution, revolutionizing the online property search for potential Maryland buyers. By utilizing IDX Broker software on his website, Litchauer is seamlessly integrating thousands of Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) listings onto the search page he supports. Home seekers can now experience unprecedented access to MRIS listings and the dynamic website of Litchauer, thanks to IDX Broker software. more »

EUGENE, OR – May 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Benson & Mangold Broker Dana Eggert have collaborated with IDX, Inc. to deliver potential buyers a dynamic and simplified real estate resource. Searching for a home has never been easier for Maryland home seekers, as the Metropolitan Regional Info System (MRIS) listings are now seamlessly integrated onto the search page Eggert hosts, giving buyers thousands of options to consider in their real estate search. more »

More than 16,600 Marylanders benefit in first 13 months; another $60 million in ongoing trial modifications for 500 Maryland families may boost total assistance

Baltimore, MD – May 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that 16,627 Maryland families have received more than $1.3 billion in relief from the National Mortgage Settlement during the period of March 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013. This represents approximately $400 million more in relief and assistance for distressed homeowners than was originally estimated. This latest report does not include the one-time, no-strings-attached cash payments to eligible borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure. Eligible Marylanders should begin receiving checks next month; they are expected to exceed the $840 minimum, although an exact amount is not yet known. more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 20, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety today said that Maryland citizens will be safer due to legislation passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley. The new law prohibits local jurisdictions from weakening the wind design and windborne debris provisions in the state’s building codes, and will take effect Oct. 1. more »

As prepared for delivery

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – May 16, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Good morning. Thank you, Secretary Skinner, for that kind introduction, and thanks for inviting me here today. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to talk about the housing market with you, and in my own hometown no less. Although I now spend most of the week in Washington, I’m proud to call Baltimore my home. more »