Illinois RealEstateRama

Reston, Virginia, - September 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. announced that the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois this week accepted the report and recommendation of Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal and dismissed a lawsuit filed by Macon County, Illinois and Mary Eaton, Macon County Recorder of Deeds, on behalf of Macon County and other similarly situated counties in the state of Illinois, ruling in favor of MERSCORP Holdings, Inc., Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) and numerous other defendants.

CHICAGO - August 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state’s housing finance agency, today announced Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has upgraded its credit rating. S&P cited IHDA’s financial strength and strong management practices in raising the credit rating to AA- from A+.

CHICAGO - August 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law protecting Illinois renters in foreclosed multifamily properties. The new law requires those acquiring foreclosed residential property to honor existing leases or give tenants adequate time to make a safe move. This legislation is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to protecting Illinois families and helping them fight foreclosure

SPRINGFIELD, IL - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois home sales surged 28.5 percent over previous-year levels in July and median prices increased 14.2 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, providing evidence of a strong summer housing market.

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.

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

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