Yearly Archives: 2009

Washington, DC - May 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) helped the House pass, by a 367-54 margin, legislation to help Americans stay in their homes and to avoid many of the estimated 8.1 million additional defaults on mortgages predicted over the next four years when potentially 5 million homes could be lost through foreclosure or short sales.

Washington, D.C. - May 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, 16 members from the Pennsylvania delegation sent a letter to Shaun Donovan, Secretary of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today announced that HUD is offering nearly $1 billion to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide. The Public Housing Capital Funds being offered are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and are designed to help public housing authorities improve the quality of their housing stock, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) voted for H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009, which the House passed by a vote of 300 to 114. The measure is aimed at curbing “predatory” lending – a major factor in the nation’s highest home foreclosure rate in 25 years.

Harrisburg, PA - May 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Hailing it as the single most important step Pennsylvania lawmakers could take to jumpstart the state’s economy, prime sponsor Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) today unveiled the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA).

Glenside, PA - April 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Incentives to produce more quality rental housing could help stem the current housing crisis and promote long-term economic stability, according to a new study released today by the Fels Institute of Government and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. Study author and Fels consultant John Kromer calls the lack of reasonable rental alternatives to homeownership a factor in the housing market collapse.

Mt. Laurel, NJ - April 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Metro Commercial, the region’s largest full-service retail real estate firm, recently brokered a 6,270-square-foot lease for Ruth’s Hallmark in the Manoa Shopping Center in Havertown, PA bringing the occupancy of the center to 100 percent.

Harrisburg, PA - April 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — State Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) was among General Assembly members to stand in support Monday of legislation that would place options for property tax relief on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. If passed, voters would be able to select from several different property tax reduction or elimination bills.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - April 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The complete renovation and energy upgrading of 300 houses and apartments will be the first of several projects the Philadelphia Housing Authority will complete with the $90 million in stimulus funds approved this year by Congress and signed by the president.

Blue Bell, PA - April 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Responding to the “quiet crisis of desperation” among Pennsylvania families with disabled loved ones, Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) has again introduced legislation to eliminate the waiting list for housing and community services and to establish a Bill of Rights.

Harrisburg, PA - April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Rep. John Perzel (R-Philadelphia) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Ed Rendell’s announcement on property tax reductions as a result of slot machine gambling revenues:

Harrisburg, PA - April 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Pennsylvania homeowners will receive nearly $770 million in property tax relief in 2009, delivering on Governor Rendell’s promise to help reduce the burden of property taxes.

Harrisburg, PA - April 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — While the governor on Monday touted the approximately $200 in average property tax relief that Pennsylvania homeowners...

This course will cover the following: · A review of USPAP requirements and changes—Standards and Advisory Opinions · The new Scope of Work Rule including disclosure...

PITTSBURGH, PA - April 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Pennsylvania homeowners will receive nearly $770 million in property tax relief in 2009 under the latest installment from the historic Taxpayer Relief Act, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - April 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-02), and the Federal Home Loan Banks of Pittsburgh and San Francisco (FHLBanks) today announced the awarding of $9.87 million in affordable housing grants for the construction and rehabilitation of 861 units of affordable housing at 18 project sites.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on April 9, 2009, announced that federal funding totaling $100...

HARRISBURG, PA - April 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has launched an investigation into the business practices of American Escrow LLC, an Illinois-based escrow company that suddenly halted operations in March 2009.

This course reviews the current uses of Automated Valuation Models in the real estate industry as a whole, and specifically in the appraisal end of the business.

Harrisburg, PA - April 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Reps. Kate Harper and Rick Taylor, both of Montgomery County, have introduced legislation to help protect owners of manufactured housing, or mobile homes, from unreasonable and unexpected ground rent fees.