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Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Protect Homeowners

SPRINGFIELD, IL - July 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- July 12, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed two bills into law that will protect consumers from deceptive home repair and remodeling practices. Senate Bill 3645 and Senate Bill 2540 protect homeowners and individuals who have disabilities from fraudulent home repair projects

IHDA Awards $2.8 Million To Illinois First-Time Homebuyers Funds will assist with down payment,...

CHICAGO , IL - July 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today announced the award of $2.8 million in grants and loans to 436 first-time homebuyers to assist in the purchase of a new home. The funds will be allocated to nine agencies for disbursement to Illinois residents to assist with down payment and closing costs, subordinate loans and homebuyer education to income-eligible homebuyers.

Governor Quinn Secures SBA Disaster Assistance to Help Communities Affected by June 5 Tornadoes

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

Foster votes to extend homebuyer tax credit

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.

Senator Roland W. Burris Announces Grant Funding to Fight Homelessness among Veterans in Illinois

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.

Double-Digit Home Sales Gains Continue in Illinois Statewide Median Price Up 0.6 Percent

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.

Governor Quinn Requests Federal Assistance for Five Counties Hit by Tornadoes

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

Governor Quinn Signs Law to Provide State Tax Credit for Renovation of Peoria Landmark

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.

Governor Quinn Proclaims June to be Homeownership Month

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.

Governor Quinn Opens Rosa Parks Apartments Affordable Housing in Chicago

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)

One-on-One Counseling Services to Tornado Victims Department staff to help homeowners with insurance forms,...

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.

Smoking is leading factor in home fires where oxygen therapy equipment is in use...

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.

Governor Quinn Signs Legislation on Memorial Day Weekend to Honor Illinois’ Servicemembers

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

City of West Chicago Building Official, John Fincham, Appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to...

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.

Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Study Energy Performance of State Buildings

CHICAGO, IL - May 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that initiates a study of the energy performance of state-owned buildings. This process sets the stage for the state to adopt more comprehensive energy efficiency benchmarks for existing state buildings.

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Investigation by CHA and HUD Inspectors General ends with guilty plea...

The Chicago Housing Authority will receive restitution for money stolen by a former contractor and her husband after the pair pleaded guilty to stealing funds intended for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, a crime that was exposed following an investigation by the CHA’s Office of the Inspector General.

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Make Your Garage Door Quieter

How to Make Your Garage Door Quieter

Did you know that the structural noise from a garage can be anywhere from 5 decibels to 20 decibels above the background noise levels? And if you are wondering how much change would a 20-decibel increase make, then consider this – with a rise of 20 decibels, the sound energy increases by a factor of 100!