SPRINGFIELD, IL - July 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state’s request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration has been granted for several counties in north central Illinois that were hit by tornadoes on June 5. The declaration will make low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses in the primary counties of LaSalle, Livingston and Peoria, as well as 15 contiguous counties, including Kankakee and Putnam

Washington, DC - June 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14) voted to pass legislation that would extend the closing deadline for the homebuyer tax credit, benefiting families who are in the process of purchasing a home.

Elgin, IL - June 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the metro Chicago real estate market continues on the road to recovery, two RE/MAX agents with a vision of better days ahead have taken the reins at RE/MAX United in Wheeling, Ill., and have moved the office to a new location at 401 S. Milwaukee Ave. Gary Aver and Luigui Corral have both been affiliated with the office for several years, and now they are making it their own. Former broker/owners Alla Aizenberg, Mila Friedman, Igor Groysman and Oleg Moldavsky remain with the office as sales associates

Department of Labor funds going to Chicago, Peoria and Woodstock. WASHINGTON, D.C - June 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that grant funding from the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) is going to Illinois to fight homelessness among veterans by providing job training programs.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois home sales activity in May increased for the ninth consecutive month and it was the third month of positive year-over-year price movement in 2010. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in May 2010 were up 27.1 percent, totaling 11,638 homes sold compared to May 2009 sales of 9,159 homes. The median price in May 2010 was $157,000, up 0.6 percent from $156,000 in May 2009. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - June 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today asked President Obama to declare Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Peoria and Putnam counties major disasters areas. If approved, a federal disaster declaration would help people and businesses affected by the June 5 tornadoes recover from the storm’s aftermath by allowing them to apply for grants and loans to assist with storm-related losses

PEORIA, IL - June 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that will create a pilot program to provide a state tax credit for the renovation of the historic Hotel Pere Marquette in downtown Peoria. The project is expected to generate 1,000 jobs and lead to economic benefits for central Illinois.

EUGENE, OR - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtor Karen Schwieger has updated her professional website, thanks to IDX, Inc. and their IDX software. With the ability to draw raw listing data off of the Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) listings, the IDX Broker software then displays these properties conveniently her website. Now, it is easier than ever before for home seekers in Chicago, Illinois to get matched with a property that suits them, with the technology utilized on the Crane Chicago website.

CHICAGO, IL - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Demonstrating the State of Illinois’ commitment to sustainable homeownership, Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed June to be Homeownership Month in Illinois.

CHICAGO, IL - June 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn opened the Rosa Parks Apartments, newly-built rental property that will provide affordable homes for 94 families. The multi-million dollar project was funded in part by $9.8 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and $2.2 million in state funds from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Elgin, IL - June 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For 17 years, the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network has been a generous donor to the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), supporting its mission of providing financial assistance to more than 170 children’s hospitals across the country. Now, CMN has honored two local RE/MAX executives for their role in fostering that relationship and achieving a remarkable record of fund-raising, even over the last several years when strong economic headwinds prevailed.

CHICAGO, IL - June 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Insurance will provide free, one-on-one counseling services in Dwight and Streator to help individuals affected by the recent tornados with the insurance claims process. Department staff can assist with questions such as how to properly document storm damage, whether to make temporary repairs, what a consumer’s homeowner policy covers, and what to expect during the claims process.

CHICAGO, IL - June 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Consumers prescribed home-based oxygen therapy are urged to exercise extreme caution especially when operating the equipment near possible ignition sources, such as stoves, ovens, smoking materials and candles, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) warns.

CHICAGO, IL - May 31, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) - Governor Pat Quinn today signed two bills into law that support Illinois’ servicemembers. The new laws increase foreclosure protections for active-duty servicemembers and expand the War on Terrorism Compensation Act, allowing more servicemembers to receive a $100 service compensation

West Chicago, IL - May 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- City of West Chicago Building Official and Assistant Community Development Director John Fincham has been recently appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to the Elevator Safety Review Board as a public member representing municipalities between 25,000 and 50,000 residents.