Monthly Archives: April 2013

Albany, NY - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled the Community Reconstruction Zones (CRZ) program, a bottom-up, community driven initiative that will empower localities that were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, or Tropical Storm Lee to develop comprehensive and innovative local rebuilding plans that will be funded by the state and federal government. The program will be funded by Federal Supplemental disaster aid fought for by Governor Cuomo and approved by Congress and signed by the President earlier this year.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced federal approval of New York State's recovery action plan to help homeowners and businesses following Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. Funded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG - DR) program, New York State's recovery action plan calls for a combined $1.7 billion investment in a variety of housing, infrastructure and business recovery activities. Read New York State’s action plan.

New York, NY - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement Thursday that provides a 16.6% wage and benefit increase over the life of the contract.

Greenbelt, Maryland - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Emeka Udeze, age 38, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with two separate mortgage fraud schemes which resulted in over $2,013,478 of actual losses to mortgage lenders.

Albany, NY - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced federal approval of New York State’s recovery action plan to help struggling homeowners and businesses following Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. Funded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG – DR) program, New York State’s recovery action plan calls for a combined $1.7 billion investment in a variety of housing, infrastructure and business recovery activities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for victims of Superstorm Sandy on Long Island—one of the nation’s most expensive housing market. A wide variety of people use this program including homeless veterans and victims of domestic violence fleeing their abusers.

NEW YORK, NY - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced his office’s rollout of a new series of public service announcements aimed at highlighting free legal assistance and housing counseling available to New Yorkers who are struggling to fight foreclosure. The statewide advertisements are intended to publicize the Attorney General’s Homeowner Protection Program, a $60 million initiative to support housing counselors and legal services providers working with homeowners statewide.

New Windsor, NY - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), The New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF), SONYMA, Orange County Trust, Riverside Bank, First Sterling Financial Inc., Jonah Mandelbaum, residents, and elected officials today celebrated the completion of Amber Grove, a newly constructed development featuring 84 state-of-the-art units of senior housing

Albany, NY - April 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the State of New York, has approved a 28-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program beginning on May 1st, which was the deadline for the last extension granted earlier in April. This new extension allows eligible survivors from Superstorm Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels.

New York, NY - April 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- This morning, New York State Homes and Community Renewal released a set of proposed new rules and regulations for rent law enforcement. This comes nearly two years after the passage of 2011's Rent Act, which mandated that HCR "promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce all provisions of this act and any law renewed or continued by this act."

NEW YORK, NY - April 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City real estate brokers reported a significant uptick in confidence in the current real estate market in the first quarter of 2013, as well as a positive outlook for the next six months, compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY’s) Real Estate Broker Confidence Index released today.

ALBANY, NY - April 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York Department of State will hold a public meeting followed immediately by a public hearing on "Thursday, April 24, 2013 at the Department of State, 99 Washington Avenue in Albany, 65 Court Street in Buffalo, and 123 William Street in NYC, regarding the profession of real estate salespersons and brokers. The Department’s Division of Licensing Services issues licenses to persons who sell real estate, and the Real Estate Board assists the Department in adopting rules and regulations relating to this discipline.

Albany, NY - April 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State housing market posted a solid first quarter of 2013 with gains in closed sales, median sales price and pending sales compared to the 2012 first quarter, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide inventory of homes for sale continued to decline, reaching its lowest point since January 2006

New York, NY - April 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that a New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) investigation has produced an additional settlement with a major force-placed insurer, QBE, which requires the company to implement New York’s nation-leading reforms to help better protect homeowners from abuse in this industry.

EUGENE, OR - April 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Horizon Property Management Group, LLC Broker Linda Okonzak has partnered with IDX, Inc. to deliver potential buyers a dynamic and simplified real estate resource. Searching for a home has never been easier for New York home seekers, as the New York State Alliance MLS (NYSAM) listings are now seamlessly integrated onto the search page Okonzak hosts, giving buyers thousands of options to consider in their real estate search

Albany, NY - April 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today called on Congress and the Administration to reject proposals included in federal budget discussions that would cost New York taxpayers billions of dollars on their annual tax bill.

EUGENE, OR - April 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. welcomes Linda LaFaro to the ever-expanding networks of agents and brokers dedicated to transforming the online real estate search on their professional websites. As a member of the Empire Access MLS (EAMLS), LaFaro has long had access to thousands of detailed property listings. Now, his clients and other Mamaroneck, New York home seekers can experience the same level of accessibility to the EAMLS. IDX Broker has forever changed the way potential buyers search for homes online

New York, N.Y. - April 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Museum of the City of New York, which recently opened Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers, will host a panel of urban planners and experts – including New York City Housing Commissioner Mathew Wambua – on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

New York, NY - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Museum of the City of New York, which recently opened Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers, will host a panel of urban planners and experts – including New York City Housing Commissioner Mathew Wambua – on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The event will involve a discussion about the future of “micro-apartments” in the city. Recently, Mayor Bloomberg announced the winner of the city’s AdAPT design competition, an innovative structure of 55 micro-units to be built on East 27th Street in Manhattan. The panel will discuss the project, the larger goals of the adAPT initiative, and the strategies for providing small living spaces in New York City

WASHINGTON, DC - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R,C-NY) issued the following statement on the upcoming FDA ruling on allowing generic opioids, such as OxyContin and Opan, to hit the market this Tuesday

EW YORK - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Disaster assistance to New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy has reached nearly $3.2 billion, including

Albany, NY - April 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) financed and completed 83 energy efficiency projects in 2012 at public facilities throughout New York State. The upgrades, totaling more than $88 million, will provide annual energy savings of $6.4 million to New York taxpayers. The projects will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 34,000 tons a year, equivalent to removing more than 6,400 cars from the road.

Albany - April 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Many local REALTOR boards/associations and their members across New York State and the country will be showing homes to the public as part of the REALTOR Nationwide Open House Weekend, April 20-21, 2013. REALTORS from Long Island to Buffalo will assist local sellers in showcasing their homes and interested buyers will have an opportunity to visit houses in their area without having to make an appointment for a showing.

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today recognized Binghamton University of the State University of New York with a High Performance Building plaque for exceptionally high energy efficiency at its Engineering and Science Building. The building is rated to perform 44 percent above the energy code, and energy efficiency measures save $370,000 in costs annually.

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that there are over 1,100 dams considered “high” and “significant” hazards in Upstate New York, and more than three-quarters do not have an emergency action plan (EAP) to protect local homes, businesses and human life should dam breakage and subsequent flooding occur. Dams are a vital part of our nation’s aging infrastructure and provide enormous benefits to Upstate New Yorkers, including flood protection, drinking water, renewable hydroelectric power, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. Yet many of these hazardous dams are nearly a century old, and with the spring thaw fast-approaching, the risk to the surrounding community is too great to ignore