Archives

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.

HARRISBURG, PA - June 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- An additional $7.1 million in federal funding has been approved by FEMA for property acquisitions. This is the latest round of funding to permanently remove flood-prone properties in eight hard hit Pennsylvania counties. Additional projects continue to be approved as the application process moves ahead and program requirements are met.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael J. Smith, 31, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with participating in a mortgage fraud conspiracy that caused losses of over $600,000, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Specifically, Smith is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and forfeiture. According to the indictment, Smith, who was a mortgage broker at the time, conspired with John C. Lucidi, Jr. and Eric Maratea, both of whom are charged elsewhere, as well as numerous other individuals, in a scheme to buy properties at inflated prices so that buyers could receive kickbacks of tens of thousands of dollars. Smith was one of the alleged buyers.

PHILADELPHIA - May 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $2 million to fair housing organizations to assist people in Pennsylvania who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

PITTSBURGH - April 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $2,480,000 million in grants to 198 housing units in Lawrence County to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards

Harrisburg, PA - April 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Treasury last month collected nearly $25.4 million, more unclaimed property than it had in any March in the past seven years, State Treasurer Rob McCord noted today as he announced Treasury will accept reports from entities subject to the state’s unclaimed property law through Monday, April 16 because the statutory deadline of April 15 falls on a Sunday this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) today announced that the Allegheny County Housing Authority and Housing Authority of the County of Butler will receive $293,898 in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH). The award is part of a $72.6 million grant to public housing agencies across the country to provide permanent housing to the more than 10,000 homeless veterans in America.

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.

Pittsburgh, PA - March 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- As school districts across Pennsylvania face state funding cuts and budget deficits, Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord reminded public school officials to see if their districts may be owed unclaimed property, and he returned more than $12,000 to the Pittsburgh Public Schools today.

HARRISBURG - March 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency held its annual homeownership program awards ceremony today at its headquarters to honor its leading lenders. These lenders assist homebuyers throughout the state in the application, processing, and closing of PHFA loans. Brian Hudson, executive director and CEO, recognized these outstanding organizations in their efforts to assist Commonwealth families and individuals achieve the American dream of homeownership.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that the owner of Breckenridge Plaza Apartment complex in Phoenixville, PA, has agreed to pay $15,000 as part of a consent decree in federal district court to settle claims that the development’s on-site manager, Morris Zelikovsky, discriminated against families with children. In August 2011, HUD charged the owner and manager of Breckenridge with charging families higher rent when they have children and indicating a preference against families with children

HARRISBURG, PA - February 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property owners rebuilding or making repairs to their flood-damage properties have access to a number of resources - including financial -- that can help them reduce, or prevent, future disaster loss.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.