Illinois RealEstateRama

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - January 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois home sales increased 7.9 percent over previous-year levels in December and median prices increased 13.7 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS

SPRINGFIELD - January 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of Radon Action Month in January, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) today urged people throughout Illinois to test their homes for radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas that has been found in nearly 40 percent of Illinois homes tested.

CHICAGO - January 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new round of $6.1 million in federal funds will help low-income homeowners, including seniors and persons with disabilities, afford the necessary repairs to stay in their homes. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today announced the Single-Family Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation (SFOOR) program will ensure 148 homeowners can keep up with necessary but costly repairs – and will keep communities strong by stabilizing neighborhoods and creating local economic activity.

Dr. Paul M. Lisnek, an award-winning television host and anchor of "Politics Tonight" on CLTV and the on-air political analyst for WGN-TV.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T & I), advocated for the transportation and infrastructure priorities of Illinois’ 17th Congressional District at a full T& I Committee hearing on “Building the Foundation for Surface Transportation Reauthorization.” Among other projects, Bustos discussed replacing the functionally obsolete I-74 bridge in the Quad Cities, widening Highway 20 in northern Illinois, building the Eastern Bypass in Peoria, increasing passenger rail service throughout the district and investing in the region’s three international airports.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - January 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois REALTORS® and their national colleagues are poised to provide housing assistance to those in areas affected by the November tornadoes.

SPRINGFIELD - January 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of The Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is raising awareness about winter fire risks, especially with the use of space heaters and fire places as alternative sources to heat homes. Nearly half of all home heating related fires occur between the months of December and February, according to the National Fire Safety Association.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) announced that the City of Elgin and DuPage county will receive Housing Choice Voucher - Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) grants for $66,194 and $88,710, respectively. The program encourages communities to develop local strategies to help families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency

URBANA - December 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state-funded rehabilitation project at the University of Illinois’ Lincoln Hall has allowed the building to achieve LEED Platinum status, the nation’s highest “green building” designation. This designation is particularly difficult to achieve with projects on historic buildings like Lincoln Hall, and it is only the second historic building in the state of Illinois to be certified LEED Platinum. Today’s announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to making all state buildings as energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible.

CHICAGO - December 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Quinn today announced that the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided more than $471 million in financing this year to make 5,000 quality affordable rental homes available to working families, seniors and people with disabilities. Since Governor Quinn took office, IHDA has provided $2.2 billion in financing to build or preserve more than 19,600 affordable apartments in 131 communities across the state, generating an estimated 20,280 jobs. Today’s announcement is part of the Governor’s agenda to ensure quality affordable housing for people in-need across Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - December 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Take advantage of a new year to make your family safer in the face of future disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages Illinois residents to resolve to rebuild stronger and smarter, reducing the risk of potential devastation caused by events like the Nov. 17 tornadoes

CHICAGO - December 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to protect Illinois homeowners by preventing a lender from selling a home while the homeowner is applying for a federal mortgage assistance program. This legislation is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to protecting Illinois families and helping them fight foreclosure

CHICAGO - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today requested federal aid to help local governments in nine Illinois counties recover from the Nov. 17 deadly tornado outbreak. Counties included in the request include Champaign, Douglas, Grundy, Massac, Tazewell, Vermilion, Washington, Wayne and Woodford. If the request is approved, local governments could receive reimbursement for 75 percent of eligible disaster-related costs such as overtime, debris removal and repair and replacement of damaged public property.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - December 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois housing market saw November median prices rise 7.4 percent over previous-year levels while statewide home sales dipped 1.8 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, along with partners from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are encouraging homeowners, renters and businesses to apply for low-interest disaster loans to help fund their losses