New York RealEstateRama

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.

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.

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

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) -- 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

Albany, NY - April 11, 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 17-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible survivors from Superstorm Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the New York City Housing Authority’s goal to enhance customer service, it has launched an online service tool for Public Housing and Section 8 Voucher applicants. The NYCHA Housing Application Self-Service Portal allows applicants to check the status of a current Public Housing or Section 8 Voucher application (the Section 8 list is currently closed and no new applications are being accepted). Also, New York City residents can now apply for public housing online.

NEW YORK, NY - April 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City residential sales market got off to a strong start in 2013 with an increase in activity and a jump in median sales prices citywide, despite the lack of inventory, according to The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)’s First Quarter New York City Residential Sales Report.

Albany, NY - April 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that his Administration is demanding that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac change restrictive guidelines which could hit thousands of Superstorm Sandy victims with large spikes in their mortgage payments. Fannie and Freddie’s current policies could result in a typical family being forced to make an immediate balloon mortgage payment of more than $6,000 or see a monthly payment spike of more than $500 or 50 percent.

Washington, DC - April 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-16) announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is awarding $108,175 in grant money to the Village of Pelham Manor. The Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) – administered through DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – is designed to help municipalities boost preparedness in response to fire and related hazards. The Pelham Manor Fire Department will receive the funds to purchase 18 sets of SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) Units

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), senior member of the House Financial Services committee and Ranking Member of its Capital Markets Subcommittee, today wrote the Comptroller of the Currency and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve following a recently released GAO report on the Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR) process and the regulators’ disclosure in late March that it would be an additional four to eight weeks before these borrowers receive payments under the IFR settlement with major banks announced in January.

Hauppauge, NY - April 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, County Executive Steven Bellone announced that applications for a competitive grant and loan program will be made available on April 5, 2013 for construction-ready municipal and private sewer infrastructure expansion projects within Suffolk County. With less than 25% of Suffolk County currently served by sewage treatment facilities, this program will assist in expanding sewers, protecting the drinking water supply and spurring economic development

ATLANTA - April 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] one of the world’s largest hotel companies announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn® NYC - Lower East Side, in the thriving Lower East Side neighborhood close to major businesses, universities and Manhattan attractions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched a two-pronged plan to help ensure that veterans returning home to Staten Island from Iraq and Afghanistan are receiving critical benefits that will allow them to afford a home and live stable civilian lives. Schumer highlighted data that shows that more than one in three veterans on Staten Island have not applied for the property tax benefit for veterans that is available to them and worth hundreds of dollars a year, and a disconnect in communication between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and localities that administer federal and state benefits are to blame

BUFFALO, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned an indictment charging 12 defendants with conspiracy to traffic 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of cocaine within the Perry Housing Projects. The defendants are also accused of utilizing three apartments within the Perry Housing Projects and a juvenile to further their drug trafficking activities.

New York, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, we joined seven other state attorneys generals in calling on President Barack Obama to replace Edward DeMarco, the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We don’t have anything against DeMarco personally, but we believe that he is standing in the way of progress toward a full economic recovery and hurting families across the country. It is time for new leadership and a new direction at Fannie and Freddie

NEW YORK, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today published an op-ed in Politico calling on President Obama to replace Edward DeMarco, the acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Co-authored by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the op-ed notes that Acting Director DeMarco’s refusal to provide relief to struggling homeowners stands in the way of progress toward a full economic recovery, hurting families nationwide. The following are excerpts of the article

New York, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- “The first three of nine bills before me today relate to our Administration’s continued response to Hurricane Sandy and our efforts to protect New Yorkers and get businesses affected by Sandy back on their feet.

Hauppauge, NY - April 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that the County is extending the deadline to apply for 52 new affordable rental apartments located in the new Summerwind Square development in downtown Riverhead until May 1, 2013