Homeowners

KBIA’s partnership with Greensburg is a model for communities needing to rebuild

April 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with the City Council of Greensburg, Kansas, and the Kansas Building Industry Association (KBIA), announce the launch of Greensburg GreenHome Residential Green Building Program.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury has indicted four defendants, and an information has been filed against a fifth defendant, for their participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that allegedly promised to pay off homeowners’ mortgages on their "Dream Homes," but left them to fend for themselves, Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced today.

The indictment was returned on April 22, 2009, and unsealed today.    » read more »

Court Grants Obama Administration Request to Reconsider Weak Bush-Era Standard

April 23, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit yesterday granted the Obama Administration’s request to reconsider weak efficiency standards of residential furnaces, one of the home’s biggest users of energy. The case was brought to the U.S. DOE by several states, and environmental and consumer groups.

A stronger standard for residential furnaces would save at least enough gas to heat four out of every five U.S. homes for one year, net about $11 billion in direct consumer savings and cut global warming pollution by the amount emitted by 25 million cars in a year.    » read more »

Executive Order Takes First Step Towards Property Tax Relief by Establishing Measures to Evaluate Costs of Mandates on Local Government

April 27, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today took a first step towards providing real property tax relief to New Yorkers by issuing Executive Order No. 17, which establishes measures to evaluate costs of mandates on local governments.    » read more »

Latest series of “Opportunity Knocks’’ homebuyer fairs will be held at 10 shopping malls across the state on May 2 and May 9

BOSTON – April 24, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced today that the latest series of free “Opportunity Knocks’’ regional homebuyer fairs and open houses to promote affordable homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts will held on Saturday, May 2, and Saturday, May 9, at 10 shopping malls across Massachusetts.    » read more »

April 22, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced today a special initiative by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) to offer up to $4,500 for down payment and closing costs for first-time home buyers who obtain a KHC home loan. The program will begin on May 1, 2009 and continue through Nov. 30, 2009.

The First Home Advantage Program provides a second mortgage with principal and interest payments deferred until July 1, 2010 for KHC-approved, first-time home buyers.    » read more »

04/21/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today requested a Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration for Benton, Dickson, McMinn, Moore, Rutherford and Sequatchie Counties following tornadoes that struck Tennessee on April 10. A SBA Disaster Declaration makes homeowners and businesses affected by the disaster eligible for low-interest loans.

“Help from this federal program is another tool that can be used to assist Tennesseans as they recover and rebuild from this deadly storm,” said Bredesen. “The state is working aggressively with local authorities to ensure that all applicable aid programs are engaged in the recovery process.”    » read more »

Calls on Legislature to pass IJOBS Plan to further recovery efforts

April 21, 2009 -- IOWA CITY – Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed legislation today to help Iowa homeowners affected by last year’s flood. Senate File 289 reduces the amount of time, from 10 years to 5 years, state-funded Jumpstart Iowa recipients must stay in their homes before their entire Jumpstart loan is forgiven.    » read more »

April 20, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.-The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Environmental Foundation named Maria Gunnoe, a tireless voice in the movement against mountaintop-removal coal mining, as a recipient of the prestigious 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize. The Worldwatch Institute was one of several organizations to nominate Gunnoe for the award, which recognizes individuals for their sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.    » read more »

Holds roundtable discussion with Florida realtors, urges Legislature to reduce property-tax burden

April 15, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today met with Florida realtors to discuss Florida’s housing market. Governor Crist encouraged first-time home buyers to take advantage of the tax credit made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $8,000 tax credit applies to primary residences as long as they are purchased before December 1, 2009.    » read more »

Gaming Revenues Provide $1.7 Billion In Tax Relief Over Past Three Years

April 13, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – Pennsylvania homeowners will receive nearly $770 million in property tax relief in 2009 under the latest installment from the historic Taxpayer Relief Act, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

All Pennsylvania homeowners in 66 counties can receive reductions in the school property tax bills they will receive this summer. Approximately 110,000 Pennsylvania seniors will pay no school property taxes again this year, thanks to state-funded property tax relief, and many more will receive rebates of up to $975 in addition to the property tax relief that all homeowners receive.    » read more »

Civil Enforcement Cases, State Enforcement Actions, Alert to Financial Institutions Among New Efforts to Protect American Homeowners Seeking Relief

WASHINGTON, DC, April 6, 2009 -- As homeowners and communities throughout the country continue to face devastating consequences from the deep contraction in the economy and the housing market, the Obama Administration today announced a new coordinated effort across federal and state government and the private sector to target mortgage loan modification fraud and foreclosure rescue scams that threaten to hurt American homeowners and prevent them from getting the help they need during these challenging times.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan released the following statement today in response to new data suggesting improvements in the housing market. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD announced an increase in residential home sales in February 2009.

"This week we have seen some encouraging news on housing. Sales of both new and existing homes rose in February for the first time in more than six months while home prices are starting to stabilize.    » read more »

Public housing agencies across U.S. are saving energy using ENERGY STAR products, practices

March 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will receive special recognition for promoting the use of energy efficient appliances in public housing units and encouraging public housing authorities across the country to follow "green" building standards.

On March 31st, HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing will be presented with an ENERGY STAR Special Recognition Award at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C. for its commitment and dedication to furthering the ENERGY STAR program, which encourages energy conservation.    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- Surrounded by friends and relatives of recent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today signed the Lofgren and Johnson Families Carbon Monoxide Safety Act into law.

The act is named after Parker and Caroline Lofgren and their children Owen (10) and Sophie (8), all of whom died while vacationing in Aspen over Thanksgiving, and Lauren Johnson, a 23-year-old University of Denver graduate student who died in her apartment in January.    » read more »