January 24, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a fourth defendant connected to a mortgage fraud scheme was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik to spend five months in federal prison. more »

King of Prussia, PA – January 20, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The Tile Shop is expanding the Philadelphia region, and Metro Commercial has completed a 25,522-square foot lease for the tile and floor covering store in King of Prussia, PA. The store will open this summer at 201 Allendale Road adjacent to Costco and will occupy the former Levitz Furniture. more »

Harrisburg Park “Makes Strategic Sense” for Growing Regional Portfolio

HARRISBURG, PA – January 3, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Tryko Partners, LLC, has added Harrisburg Park, a 163-unit, garden-style apartment complex in Harrisburg, to its growing regional portfolio.
The private equity real estate group acquired the property on South 15th Street from The Altman Group in late December. more »

Philadelphia, PA – December 21, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Philadelphia Housing Authority has filled two key positions to complete the restaffing of its Office of General Counsel with the hiring of Laurence Redican and Joffie Pittman. more »

HARRISBURG – December 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Linda Kelly today announced that a consumer protection lawsuit filed against several employees linked to OPFM ? a defunct financial services company operating in Reading and Lancaster counties involved in a wide-reaching Central Pennsylvania mortgage fraud case ? has resulted in judgments totaling more than $28 million in restitution for the benefit of hundreds of consumers victimized by this Ponzi scheme. more »

December 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — A multiple-year housing subsidy program, sponsored by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, and supported by PMHCC, Inc., is in need of Housing Quality Standards-certified housing inspectors to perform inspections consistent with HUD Housing Quality Standards (24 CFR 982.401). more »

Duquesne, PA – December 16, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Proceeds from a nine-year-old, uncashed $1,500 check will soon be back in the rightful possession of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank after Pennsylvania State Treasurer Rob McCord today reunited the organization with its unclaimed property. more »

Industrial Transaction fills Seagis Property Group asset in Central Pennsylvania

NEW KINGSTOWN, PA – December 15, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Fry Communications Inc. has signed a new full-building lease for 146,500 square feet at 36 East Main Street, a one-story industrial facility owned by Seagis Property Group. The landlord was represented by Gerry Blinebury, Pat McBride, and Leah Balerno of the Philadelphia office of Cushman & Wakefield. more »

December 12, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) makes it possible for hungry families to purchase food that is essential to their well-being. Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP is cost-effective and reaches the neediest households. Income-eligible program participants, having been screened by the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer ACCESS Card that is used just as a credit card is used at point-of-purchase. An eligible household’s income may not exceed 130% of the federal poverty guideline but, in fact, most food stamp households have incomes well below the maximum allowed. more »

December 12, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a third defendant connected to a mortgage fraud scheme was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik to spend 20 months in federal prison. more »

News from the National Alliance to End Homelessness

December 6, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — HUD officially published the regulations for the new Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program in today’s Federal Register. The regulations will go into effect in 30 days, on January 4. Public comments will be due in 60 days, on February 3. The final regulation on defining “homeless” was also officially published in the Federal Register today, and those changes will also go into effect on January 4. more »

PITTSBURGH, PA – November 28, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — A resident of Blairsville, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 41 months in prison on his conviction of wire fraud conspiracy, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today. more »

Mt. Laurel, NJ – November 23, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Metro Commercial Real Estate, Inc. is thrilled to announce that Athleta has opened its first store in the Philadelphia area this month at 1722 Walnut Street in the heart of Center City. The 4,000 square foot store was identified and negotiated on behalf of Athleta by Steven Gartner, President of Metro Commercial Real Estate. more »

AFC first private company named Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor; Keystone HELP to use program’s national “whole house” energy efficiency standards

Harrisburg, PA – November 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Energy’s designation of Allentown-based AFC First Financial Corporation as a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor means Pennsylvania families that pursue money-saving home energy-efficiency improvements through the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program will benefit from higher standards, State Treasurer Rob McCord said today. more »

Harrisburg, PA – November 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Pennsylvania Treasury holds more than $315,000 in unclaimed property that belongs to veterans, active duty personnel, and military support organizations, and State Treasurer Rob McCord wants to help return this property to its rightful owners. more »