CHICAGO, IL - October 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- For most people, home furnaces have sat idle during the summer. As temperatures go down, it’s important to understand the possible dangers that lurk when restarting a dormant furnace, warns the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

CHICAGO, LONDON, SINGAPORE - October 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- New research from Jones Lang LaSalle reveals that preliminary global direct commercial real estate investment volumes totalled US$69 billion in the third quarter of 2010. This level is similar to the second quarter of 2010 and indicates that the recovery in investment activity seen in the previous four quarters has levelled off. Direct commercial real estate investment volumes in the first three quarters of this year have reached US$202 billion compared to the US$139 billion transacted over the same period of 2009. Jones Lang LaSalle expects volumes for the full year to reach US$280 to 290 billion

CHICAGO, IL - October 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush today expressed his support and admiration for the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts for the survivors of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. Last week, in a powerful expression of support for those who are still struggling to rebuild their lives, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade welcomed 163 Haitian students to new homes and a fresh start in life in this west African nation. The Haitian students have remained homeless in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck 10 miles southwest of Haiti's capital, in Port-au-Prince, leaving in its wake 230,000 dead and tens of thousands of families homeless.

NORMAL, IL - October 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) officials today joined Bluestem Housing Partners NFP and local dignitaries to celebrate the groundbreaking of an independent living facility for seniors in Normal. The construction project is estimated to create more than 60 jobs for local residents and will produce 50 affordable rental homes for low-income seniors. The State of Illinois invested $5.3 million to build Cottage Apartments, including $1.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and $3.8 million in loans and tax credits from other state resources.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - October 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 1,200 radon-related lung cancer deaths occur each year in Illinois, yet many people have never tested their homes to find out if dangerous levels of this radioactive gas are present. During Radon Action Week Oct. 17-23, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is encouraging people throughout Illinois to test their homes.

Chicago, IL - October 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a recent issue of Chicago Agent magazine, the publication used various tools to rate a number of brokerage websites, touching on an overview of national, local, franchise, and independent offices. The results of the rankings clearly demonstrated that some brokerages might need to up the ante on their websites’ capabilities, and a survey featured in the issue highlights that agents agree.

CHICAGO, IL - October 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $4 million state investment to help build a housing development that will provide quality, affordable apartments and supportive services for 80 Veterans who are homeless. Approximately 75 jobs will be created during the construction of Hope Manor Apartments in Chicago

EUGENE, OR - October 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce that Robert Picciariello has become the latest real estate professional to upgrade the search functions and capabilities of his website, with IDX Broker software. As a Chicago, Illinois agent, Picciariello has proven his dedication and devotion to serving his clients and their every real estate need. Now, his IDX solution helps him further accomplish these goals by syncing his search page directly to the Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) listings database, making thousands of Chicago area properties appear for home seekers to browse through during their online property search. Picciariello has forever changed the way potential buyers find homes online by simply adding the innovative IDX Broker software to his page; his real estate business will never be the same.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced 26 projects as 2010 Governor’s Home Town Award recipients. The awards recognize the contributions of thousands of Illinois’ volunteers for their hard work and dedication towards improving their communities

EUGENE, OR - October 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chicago, Illinois real estate broker Greg Kohlhagen and IDX, Inc. have teamed up to deliver thousands of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) listings to home seekers, on the professional website Kohlhagen hosts. With the addition of his own customizable IDX Broker software, Kohlhagen has revolutionized the way potential buyers scan the MRED listings and begin their property search processes online. Home seekers can now look at every single listing in Chicago without ever leaving the convenience of the real estate website Kohlhagen supports with an IDX solution

NEW LENOX, IL - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- NexCore Group broke ground Thursday on a $52 million, 182,000 square foot integrated Medical Services Building (MSB) on the new Silver Cross Hospital (SCH) campus in New Lenox, about 36 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is the first project to be financed in part by the Denver-based healthcare real estate firm’s newly acquired, publicly held capital company. An affiliate of Heitman LLC partnered with NexCore to provide the equity for the MSB project, w

WASHINGTON, DC - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a commitment to insure a mortgage loan to the John & Mary E. Kirby Hospital in Monticello, Illinois. The $31.2 million loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program.

URBANA, IL - October 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal jury deliberated approximately five and one-half hours before returning guilty verdicts on all nine counts of fraud charged against Decatur real estate broker Terry Hart for his participation in a real estate “flipping” scheme Hart’s sentencing is scheduled on Jan. 20, 2011. Trial began in Urbana federal court on Sept. 21.

CHICAGO, IL - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today celebrated the grand opening of a new housing development featuring 73 affordable apartments for low-income seniors and a senior center. An estimated 100 jobs were created with the construction of the Casa Maravilla development in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Melrose Park, IL - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Specialty Practice Group, a division of Lee & Associates Asset Management Group (LAM), has been appointed as receiver of a 500,000-square-foot office and industrial complex in Melrose Park, Ill., by the Cook County Court System.