New York RealEstateRama

Washington, DC - February 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that today, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act that she has co-sponsored to delay the most aggressive rate increases and fix major flaws in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform law to make the National Flood Insurance Program affordable, accessible and self-sustainable. The bill, which also includes Gillibrand’s amendment that will help thousands of New York City homeowners whose homes are impossible to elevate reduce their flood risk and lower flood insurance rates, now heads to the House for a vote.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The maps show unequal lending patterns based on the racial composition of communities in New York City, controlling for the number of owner-occupied units in each neighborhood. New Yorkers who live in predominantly white neighborhoods on average receive twice as many conventional home purchase loans as New Yorkers who live in predominantly black or Latino neighborhoods, for every 100 owner-occupied housing units in the neighborhood.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, opposed the Farm Bill considered by the House earlier today because it would disproportionately impact New Yorkers, reducing nutritional assistance benefits $90 per month for approximately 12,530 households in Westchester and Rockland Counties and 300,000 statewide

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that her amendment to help thousands of New York City homeowners whose homes are impossible to elevate reduce their flood risk and lower flood insurance rates will be included in the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved her amendment today to be part of the latest flood insurance legislation and is set to vote on final passage of the bill tomorrow. Gillibrand’s amendment would help New York City and urban homeowners of buildings such as brownstones, brick buildings, and multi-family homes that are physically impossible to elevate to reduce their flood risk and lower their flood insurance rates.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE), released the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s call for housing finance reform in the 2014 State of the Union Address

Washington, DC - January 28, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Senate gets ready to vote tonight to begin debate on a bill to delay flood insurance premiums, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced an amendment to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which will help New York City and other urban homeowners of buildings such as brownstones, brick buildings, and multi-family homes that are physically impossible to elevate to reduce their flood risk and lower their flood insurance rates. Currently, the only way to reduce flood insurance premiums for homeowners living in flood-prone areas is to elevate their homes. But for thousands of New York homeowners who cannot elevate their properties due to its inherent structure, there are no federal guidelines in place to prevent a costly increase in their flood insurance rates

Newburgh, NY - January 27, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Sean Patrick Maloney urged folks in the Hudson Valley to take precautions, and check on those who are most vulnerable during the recent dangerously cold temperatures. With freezing temperatures and winds plummeting temperatures to below zero for the next week, Rep. Maloney encouraged folks to be careful and take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our children, the elderly, and the homeless in need of emergency shelter

Albany, NY - January 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a partnership between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the State University of New York (SUNY) to undertake energy efficiency measures at 10 SUNY campuses that will save the university system $3.5 million each year and contribute to cleaner communities. The projects will reduce the university system’s peak energy use by approximately 3.6 megawatts (MW)—enough to power some 3,600 typical homes—and help to eliminate 21,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

New York, NY - January 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing and Development Corporation (HDC) and Preservation Development Partners announce the $41 million acquisition and financing for the rehabilitation of Albert Goodman Plaza, a four-building 252-unit complex in the Bronx. The property, which had fallen into disrepair under its previous owner, was acquired by Preservation Development Partners, a joint venture of developers Francine Kellman, Brian Raddock, Donald Capoccia, Joseph Ferrara, and Brandon Baron.

Albany, NY - January 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today deployed the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center to West Seneca to help homeowners and businesses affected by recent flooding. Governor Cuomo also outlined resources and advice for victims who are dealing with their insurance companies to help them get the relief to which they are entitled as quickly as possible, including the availability of a DFS Disaster Hotline at 1-800-339-1759

Commack, NY - January 21, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced he’ll be introducing federal legislation, the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act, to require improved notifications of fire-safety systems for students and their families as they pick campus-affiliated housing at colleges and universities across the country. He was joined by the Fitzsimons Family of Commack who lost their daughter, Kerry Rose, to a fire in the house she lived in at Marist College in 2012.

New York, NY - January 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Warburg Realty®, one of Manhattan’s leading residential real estate companies, has announced its top 10 brokers for 2013. Wendy Greenbaum was the firm’s top agent, followed by Richard Steinberg and Jay Glazer.

New York, NY - January 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced today the award of an $857,500 grant to the St. John Fruit Belt Development Corporation to help finance the St. John Townhomes II project, which will build 49 units of affordable housing in the Fruit Belt neighborhood of Buffalo; a $400,000 grant to the Lackawanna Housing Development Corporation to help finance the Lackawanna Homes project, which will build 48 single-family homes and a community building in a targeted revitalization neighborhood in Lackawanna; and a $163,800 grant to Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. to help finance the rehabilitation of 20 units of owner-occupied housing across Niagara County. Federal Home Loan Bank of New York members M&T Bank and First Niagara Bank submitted the applications for the funding.

New York, NY - January 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that, after his push, the FY2014 Appropriations Bill will increase federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to $3.4 billion, up $169 million from FY2013. In light of record low temperatures and extreme weather throughout Upstate New York last week, Schumer called on appropriators to increase funding for LIHEAP this year.

Brooklyn, NY - January 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Assemblyman Nick Perry (AD-58) announced the addition of Canarise, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach and Georgetown to the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program. The program provides funding for rebuilding and redevelopment assistance to communities that were crippled by Superstorm Sandy and Hurricanes Irene and Lee.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his fourth State of the State address on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Included in his speech were several proposals important to New York State’s REALTORS including

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In light of record low temperatures and extreme weather slamming Upstate New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today on a conference call urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately release over $35 million in funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that are currently being held back and will go to New York residents upon release. As of November 2013, HHS only obligated $316 million of the $351 million that is available for New York this winter from the FY13 appropriations

New York, NY - January 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you choose to live in America's most populated city, you have to be ready to fight for space. Apartments and homes rent at a premium, with NYC residents paying an average of $3,344 per month simply to stay in the city. If you're a real estate agent or broker in the Big Apple, you're probably familiar with the cutthroat world of apartment hunting, where residents often start looking far in advance of their move date and arrive at every unit viewing with documents in hand, ready to write a check on the spot

Country Club, Bronx, N.Y. - January 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) --In the wake of a major fireworks explosion Monday night in the Bronx, State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) announced he will introduce legislation that would dramatically increase penalties for vandals who set-off fireworks explosions causing more than $1,000 in property damage or public panic. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) will sponsor the legislation in the Assembly

Washington, D.C. - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The President signed into law today the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act, which included a bill authored by Rep. Maloney to help address the Veterans Administration (VA)’s backlog of disability claims. Earlier this year, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney introduced the Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act, HR 1521, to allow veterans to have their medical examinations done by physicians outside the VA system to help process veterans’ disability claims faster.

New York, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve Suffolk County’s application for hazard mitigation grants that would help support the Northeast Branch Nissequogue River Restoration Project. The project will mitigate recurring groundwater flooding that impacts residents and businesses around Miller’s Pond and the Northeast Branch of the Nissequogue River. Over 900 homes have been identified as having experienced damaged related to the flood hazard in this area. Schumer today pushed for funding through FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant to improve the storm water infrastructure. Schumer also urged the New York State Office of Emergency Management to include this project in their final list of Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) projects submitted to FEMA by late January

Albany, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced 10 awards totaling $23.7 million to create or preserve high quality affordable housing and spur economic growth in regions around the state, awarded through New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

BRONX, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Standing on the steps of the Bronx County Supreme Court, Senator Klein, joined by dozens of Bronx homeowners and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx), announced that a lawsuit charging fraud, conspiracy, breach of contract and negligence had been filed against members of an elaborate scheme targeting first time, minority homeowners. Homeowners allege that the defendants, working in concert, (referenced to as the “Tota-Kash Group” in the complaint), bilked them for millions of dollars by inducing them to purchase homes in the Bronx without valid certificates of occupancy and with shoddy workmanship

New York, NY - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Warburg Realty®, one of Manhattan’s leading residential real estate companies, announced leading broker Wendy Greenbaum as the Top Sales Agent in 2013 at the firm’s annual holiday party this week. A broker in the firm’s 654 Madison Avenue office, she is one of the eight original shareholders of Ashforth Warburg Associates, Warburg’s predecessor corporation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced the approval of an Industrial Development Agency (IDA) economic development compact that will allow Bedford Construction Group, a Valley Stream developer, to rescue an abandoned and incomplete affordable housing opportunities and retail space in New Cassel. The project, which began in 2005 and then was halted, is expected to be complete within six months. The project includes the completion of 12 apartments, seven affordable and five at market rate, in an underserved community