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PHFA recognized the work of the state’s private sector housing counselors today during an event at the Harrisburg Hilton. These counselors help PHFA achieve its housing mission by assisting state residents with questions about homeownership, home foreclosure, budgeting and their personal credit score so they can make better informed housing decisions.

Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) announced today that the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) will receive $915,324 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for counseling services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Congressmen Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17) and Steven Horsford (D-NV-4) sent a letter cosigned by 75 Democratic House colleagues to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mel Watt urging him to impose a moratorium on foreclosures for individuals who have lost their emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) due to congressional inaction.

HARRISBURG - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced her involvement in a federal and multistate investigation and $2 billion national settlement with Ocwen Financial Corporation and Ocwen Loan Servicing. The settlement is the result of a mortgage foreclosure practices investigation of the firms and two companies that they acquired. Pennsylvania consumers may receive over $52 million in relief through principal reductions as a result of the settlement.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in addition to resources being provided by FEMA and other federal partners. HUD will provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Sandy.

HARRISBURG - January 22, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, in collaboration with the American Society of Certified Housing Executives (ASCHE) and the National Real Estate Training Institute (NREI), today announced a day-long event and free educational workshops for Monroe County residents in danger of losing their homes. This special event will be held Feb. 1 at the Innovation Center, Room 336, East Stroudsburg University, 562 Independence Road in East Stroudsburg from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m

HARRISBURG - November 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency today celebrated the work of the state’s housing counselors with an awards ceremony at the Hilton Harrisburg. The state’s private sector counseling agencies support the mission of PHFA by assisting state residents with questions about homeownership and home foreclosure.

PHILADELPHIA - October 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Anthony J. DeMarco III, 33, of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to serve 25 years in prison for conspiracy and fraud charges in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme involving more than $30 million in loans. Between 2006 and 2009, DeMarco owned and operated DeMarco REI Inc., a foreclosure rescue company.

HARRISBURG - September 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Linda Kelly today announced that official notifications are being sent to approximately 29,000 Pennsylvania borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 and who may be eligible for payment as part of the $25 billion national mortgage foreclosure settlement.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) alerted Pennsylvanians who may have wrongfully lost their homes that they could qualify for financial compensation via the Independent Foreclosure Review process. The program is set to expire in September 30, 2012.

Harrisburg PA - July 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In 2009, the enactment of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) was a major step forward in achieving housing stability for renters living in a property in foreclosure. The Act ensures that most tenants can stay in their homes for the remainder of their leases or for at least 90 days post-foreclosure. Prior to PTFA, such tenants were often required to move with as little as a few days' notice.

June 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- House returns HEMAP funding bill to Senate for chamber’s expected approval. A bill to provide a multi-year funding stream to the state’s currently idled Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) is on its way back to the state Senate.

April 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- On March, 12, 2012, the final negotiated agreements between the states, the federal government and Bank of America, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, Ally/GMAC, and Wells Forgo were filed with the Court. In addition to requiring changes in the way the banks service their loans, the settlement provides approximately $25 billion for loan modifications, refinancing, payments to people who lost their homes to foreclosure, and direct payments to the states.

HARRISBURG, PA - October 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency today announced that it exceeded its $105 million allocation from the federal government through the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program by approximately $3 million.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following Tropical Storm Lee.

HARRISBURG, PA - September 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is encouraging homeowners in danger of foreclosure to contact an approved counseling agency and submit their applications for the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program on or before Friday, Sept. 16 to allow adequate time for processing.

WASHINGTON, DC - July 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and flooding in April.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - June 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gennaro Rauso, 47, of Trenton, NJ, was sentenced today to 160 months in prison for several mortgage fraud related charges, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Rauso owned and operated a real estate management company—D&B Property Investors—that purported to help financially distressed homeowners with their foreclosure problems

Harrisburg, PA - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $105 million to aid homeowners facing foreclosure through the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - December 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- An indictment was unsealed and a verified civil complaint was filed today against Anthony J. DeMarco, III and his real estate companies, DeMarco REI, Inc. (“DeMarco REI”) and OPM Group, LLC, (“OPM”), alleging a mortgage fraud scheme involving more than $30 million in loans, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The civil complaint seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against defendant. It also seeks to forestall foreclosures against the victims.