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| Housing & Development |
SARBANES HONORED FOR ADVANCING ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS
February 25, 2010 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Washington, DC - February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman John Sarbanes was honored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in its Top 10 List of legislation that is helping to advance green building and the economic activity and jobs that come with it. Congressman Sarbanes was included in the list as author of H.R. 4155, the Property Assessed Clean Energy Tax Benefits Act of 2009
Consumer Protection Division Orders Prince George’s County Home Builder to Pay Nearly $300,000 in Restitution and Penalties; Suspends the Registration of Harford County Builder
February 19, 2010 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
BALTIMORE, MD - February 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring Home at Last, LLC and its principal to refund payments of $211,076.20 collected from consumers to construct homes in Prince George’s County and to pay penalties of $75,200. The Division found that Jacquelyn Willis, and her company, Home at Last, violated Maryland’s Custom Home Protection Act by failing to place or maintain money paid by consumers into an escrow account or having a surety bond to cover the deposits and payments made. The Division also found that Willis and her company violated the Home Builder Registration Act and the Consumer Protection Act by failing to build homes as promised.
Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards’ Statement on Housing & Urban Development Funds Reclaimed from Prince George’s County
January 25, 2010 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Washington, D.C. - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reclaiming over $2 million in funds from Prince George’s County because the funds were not used within the five-year deadline
Governor O’Malley Announces Plan to Promote and Sustain Affordable Housing in Maryland
January 8, 2010 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
BALTIMORE, MD - January 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Martin O’Malley announced a Four Point Plan for improving Maryland neighborhoods, reducing foreclosures, and making quality housing more affordable for more people. The Governor made this announcement at the annual meeting of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) in Baltimore today.
First County Survey of Tenants Shows Concern about Rent Increases, Future Affordability
December 14, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
December 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett’s Tenant Work Group today released the results of the first-ever survey of County tenants, a survey that highlighted concerns about rent increases and affordability
Ruppersberger Speaks at St. John Properties “Double” Groundbreaking for Raytheon and L-3 at Aberdeen Proving Ground
December 14, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Aberdeen, MD - December 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today participated in a “double” groundbreaking of two buildings that will house top defense contractors, Raytheon and L-3, within Aberdeen Proving Ground. In a unique agreement known as an enhanced use lease, St. John Properties will lease land directly from the Army for “The GATE” development project and 100 percent of the lease payments will go directly to the post for infrastructure and facility improvements.Ruppersberger was joined by Harford County Executive David Craig, Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett, Colonel Orlando Ortiz, Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison Commander Orlando Ortiz, as well as executives from St. John Properties, Raytheon Company and L-3 Communications
Mikulski Announces Nearly $3 Million Conditional Loan Guarantee to Rehabilitate Affordable Housing Complexes in Kent County
December 10, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
WASHINGTON, DC - December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) announced today that Kent County Associates, L.P. in Kent County, Maryland, has been awarded a conditional $2.97 million loan to guarantee the rehabilitation and revitalization of affordable rental housing complexes in Fairlee and Rock Hill, Maryland. The conditional loan guarantee has been awarded through the USDA Rural Rental Housing Guaranteed Loan program.
FHA SUSPENDS EQUITABLE TRUST MORTGAGE CORP.
December 8, 2009 Posted by HUD
WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that it is immediately suspending Equitable Trust Mortgage Corporation (ETM) of Baltimore, Maryland, thereby preventing the Company from originating and underwriting new FHA-insured mortgages. FHA is imposing this action because ETM improperly overcharged 37 borrowers for broker and loan origination fees in excess of what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development currently allows. HUD discovered that these unauthorized fees were charged to a substantially greater percentage of minority borrowers (68 percent) than non-minorities.
Hoyer Joins Governor, Charles County & ACPT in Announcing New ‘Green City’ Development Project
December 3, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
ST. CHARLES, MD - December 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) joined Governor Martin O’Malley, Charles County officials and the American Community Properties Trust (ACPT) to announce a planned 9,100-acre “green community” development project in St. Charles, MD. The largest of its kind, the project will entail the development of 4,000 acres and retrofitting of more than 12,000 existing homes and four million square feet of commercial space, and is anticipated to create up to 20,000 new jobs through a Green Jobs Opportunity Zone, including 1,000 in the next three years. Below are Rep. Hoyer’s remarks as prepared for delivery.
CARDIN LAUDS EXTENSION OF TAX CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS, NEW CREDIT FOR STEP-UP PURCHASES
November 5, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Washington, DC - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), co-chair of the Senate Real Estate Caucus and one of the authors of the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit, today praised the Senate for its timely action to keep the $8,000 credit from expiring at the end of this month. In September, Senator Cardin led a group of Senators, including Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Harry Reid (D-NV), John Ensign (R-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), introducing a bill to extend the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit
EPA Cites Unlawful Filling of Wetlands at Wicomoco County, Md. Housing Development Site
October 23, 2009 Posted by EPA
PHILADELPHIA - October 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited a Millersville, Md. couple and a Millsboro, Del. real estate developer for unlawfully filling protected wetlands, a violation of the Clean Water Act
Model Homes Open at Renaissance Square in Essex/Middle River, Maryland
October 8, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Columbia, MD - October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Council Chair Joseph Bartenfelder, Councilman John Olszewski Sr., and representatives from Enterprise Homes, Inc. and the Mark Building Company cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the model homes at Renaissance Square, a new green housing community in Middle River. Renaissance Square will have 115 for-sale homes and townhomes and 81 apartments for seniors in the new Evergreen building. The model homes will be open for public tours beginning Friday, October 9, at 11 a.m. and thereafter from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The sales center is located at 15 St. Stephen’s Lane, off of Old Eastern Avenue, just east of Back River Neck Road
SENATOR CARDIN CUTS RIBBON FOR NEW MD ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HEADQUARTERS
October 6, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
ANNAPOLIS, MD - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maryland Association of REALTORS headquarters. The Senator is a strong supporter of the housing industry and recently introduced legislation to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit for another six months, until June 1, 2010.
Leggett Joins Freddie Mac Foundation to Announce Grants to House Homeless Families
October 5, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
October 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Freddie Mac Executive Vice President for Community Relations and Freddie Mac Foundation President and CEO, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., to announce nearly $1 million in grant funding to two Montgomery County organizations serving homeless families. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) will receive $450,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to continue the Partnership for Permanent Housing program, which relocates families directly from homelessness to permanent housing. The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), operators of the Greentree Family Shelter, will receive $425,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to provide intensive services to some of the County’s most vulnerable homeless families — to move them quickly to permanent housing.
Enterprise Celebrates Grand Opening of Cherrydale Apartments in Baltimore
October 1, 2009 Posted by Maryland RealEstateRama
Green Renovation of 186 Affordable Apartments in Cherry Hill Neighborhood. BALTIMORE, MD - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano and community residents joined Enterprise today to celebrate the grand reopening of Cherrydale Apartments in Baltimore. Cherrydale Apartments, which has provided affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income families in Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood for more than 40 years, was renovated to meet the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria for affordable housing.
