Monthly Archives: July 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today applauded the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s approval of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) solvency legislation that includes his amendment to protect seniors who take out reverse mortgage loans. The amendment, which Senator Kirk offered with Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and David Vitter (R-La.), strengthens the FHA Solvency Act, a bill that reforms the FHA to put the agency on more stable financial ground.

Washington, DC - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) speaks out against drastic cuts to infrastructure and housing programs made in the FY 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

CHICAGO - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing today announced the release of a new Fair Housing Webinar series funded as a partnership project by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The series of webinars covers major fair housing issues and is designed to educate stakeholders and the general public about fair housing law under federal law as well as the Illinois Human Rights Act.

STATEWIDE - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Affordable housing for seniors, working families and people with disabilities is on the horizon for Illinois communities. As the state housing finance agency under Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Board recently approved the allocation of federal tax credits generating an estimated $62.2 million in private equity to create more than 620 new and refurbished affordable rental units and generate more than 930 jobs across Illinois.

Washington, D.C. - July 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Bill Foster introduced an amendment to the PATH Act, Republican legislation which would radically remake housing finance policy leading to fewer opportunities for home ownership for middle class families.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following a Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released a statement on the role of community banks in the housing finance system, and expressed his support for winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded over $67 million dollars in grants to be allocated throughout specific counties, cities and the state of Illinois. The Community Development Block Grant, which has been awarded to Cook, Dupage, and Kane counties as well as multiple cities including Elgin, Palatine and Schaumburg, aims to help further develop urban communities by creating better living environments and increasing economic opportunities

SPRINGFIELD, IL - July 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois home sales increased 14.9 percent over previous-year levels in June and median prices increased 9.7 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, continuing an impressive run of sales gains that show resurgence in the housing market is continuing.

CHICAGO, IL - July 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by U.S. Department of the Treasury officials to announce the success of his Illinois Hardest Hit Program and urge homeowners to apply for up to $35,000 in mortgage payment assistance by Sept. 30 when the program ends. Since taking office in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Governor Quinn has worked hard to keep Illinois families in their homes. In the last year, properties in foreclosure have dropped to 73,688, a nearly 29 percent decrease from last year, and the downward trend continues in Illinois

EUGENE, OR - July 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The IDX, Inc. team eagerly announces today the addition of Dawn Dause with ReMax Ultimate Professionals, to the growing list of elite rank real estate professionals choosing to integrate customized IDX Broker search tools into their websites. Operating out of Shorewood, Illinois, Dause’s site visitors will now be able to browse a plethora of listings within the Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), using innovative Internet Data Exchange (IDX) search tools and functions. The addition of this custom IDX Broker product will offer potential home buyers a more personalized and intimate online property search experience by allowing them to specify their criteria in great detail.

AURORA, IL - July 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Individuals who sustained storm damages can gain valuable information about repairing and rebuilding their damaged property in a stronger, safer and smarter way by visiting one of the FEMA mitigation teams located at home improvement centers throughout the area.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today announced his support for the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act, S. 1217, led by U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) and supported by a bipartisan group of eight members on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The bill would establish a new housing finance system—one void of the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that take all the private gain while exposing taxpayers to all the risk. Under the proposed legislation, the new housing finance system would be based on a greater reliance on private capital, while shielding taxpayers from loss, and maintaining a liquid mortgage marketplace

Chicago, IL - July 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- HomeFinder.com, a leader in digital marketing solutions for real estate agents and online real estate, today announced that it is teaming up with the CENTURY 21 System to support Easter Seals. For every CENTURY 21 agent who enters the HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes through August 16, 2013, HomeFinder.com will donate $1 to Easter Seals*, which provides services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as support to their families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Wednesday, July 3, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has awarded a grant of $1,093,748 to help Wood Dale secure flooded land. The grant will fund the acquisition and demolition of five residential properties that are regularly flooded by the Salt Creek. The land will be returned to beneficial flood plain and deeded in perpetuity to remain open space

DECATUR - July 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- This Fourth of July, veterans who are at risk of homelessness will have a safe and decent place to call home in Decatur. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state housing finance agency under Governor Pat Quinn, today helped celebrate the grand opening of North Street Commons, an affordable development that achieved the dual goal of supporting veterans and stimulating Decatur neighborhoods