Yearly Archives: 2009

FORT WORTH, TX - June 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD is allocating $1,743,001,247 in disaster aid to help the State of Texas recover from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Houston, TX - June 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — JT Parker Claims, a multi-line independent adjusting and claims management company, has expanded its office lease at Ashford Crossing II with an additional 3,238 square feet. The six-story, 161,213 square foot building is located at 1880 Dairy Ashford in southwest Houston. Matt Dunn of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord, Enterprise Development Company, in the transaction.

ATLANTA, GA - June 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that Houston can expect another 2,400 guest suites from extended-stay hotel brands Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites with 27 new hotels in the development pipeline.

HOUSTON, TX - June 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Hines, the property and leasing manager for Phoenix Tower in Houston, on behalf of building owner, FSP Phoenix Tower Limited Partnership (“FSPLP”), announced today the following leasing activity at the 34-story, 629,000-square-foot office tower located at 3200 Southwest Freeway:

HOUSTON, TX - June 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has charged O’Connor & Associates, which purports to be the state’s largest property tax consultant, with violating the Texas Property Tax Code and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

AUSTIN, TX - May 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Promoting homeownership as the key to bringing prosperity to families and economic stability to local communities, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs saluted two area homeowners who recently purchased their first home through the Department’s Texas Mortgage Credit Program while reminding all residents of the benefits of homeownership.

HOUSTON, TX - May 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A Harris County district judge froze several Houston firms’ assets after Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott charged the companies with running foreclosure “rescue” scams.

HOUSTON, TX - May 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Clarence Lewis III has been was found guilty of devising a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders by misstating information material to the lending decision, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

AUSTIN, TX - May 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Recognizing the importance of preserving single family housing in rural Texas, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and State Senator Judith Zaffirini have announced a funding award to repair or rebuild several homes in Roma damaged last year by severe flooding.

Washington, DC - May 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Finance and Budget Committees, released the following statement after supporting the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 91-5.

WASHINGTON - May 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Four affordable housing developments are recipients of the HUD Secretary's Housing and Community Design Award for excellence in residential housing design. The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects, selected Homeless Assistance Center of Dallas, Texas; Project Place - Gatehouse of Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeton Neighborhood Revitalization of Bridgeton, New Jersey; and Irvington Terrace of Fremont, California.

Prior to investing in real estate, you should select a lender with caution. Always question the lenders about how they can help you out...

AUSTIN, TX - April 02, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $3,974,593 to the state of Texas for Texas Southern University in Houston for repairs to classrooms, hallways and an auditorium severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.

AUSTIN, TX - March 31, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Consumers who suffered damage to their homes or vehicles in the recent severe weather across Central Texas should contact their insurance company or agent to file a claim as soon as possible.

CORSICANA, TX - March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A Henderson County woman was today sentenced to 99 years in prison for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme.

AUSTIN, TX - March 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Floods are consistently one of the most common, costly and deadly natural disaster Americans face each year - 90 percent of all natural disasters in the nation involve flooding and Texas residents cannot afford to ignore this threat. Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 16-20), is a perfect time to consider local flood risks and learn important information about steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - March 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the conclusion of the state’s enforcement action against Foreclosure Assistance Solutions (FAS). As a result of an agreement, the Florida-based company must no longer engage in the foreclosure mitigation business in Texas and has paid more than $390,000 in restitution to 351 Texas homeowners.

AUSTIN, TX - March 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Recognizing that promoting and maintaining homeownership in rural Texas improves the viability of entire communities, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and State Representative Pete Gallego have announced two awards to a Uvalde-based nonprofit that will help fund homebuyer assistance and home repairs for area low income residents, providing benefits to numerous residents and the local economy.

Fraudulent companies cheat Texans out of the American Dream of homeownership Austin, TX - March 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Tough economic times bring out criminals seeking to take advantage of the desperate or unwary.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- March 05, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Louie Gohmert released the following statement following the House’s passage of H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, a bill that allows bankruptcy judges to “cram-down” the principal balance of mortgage loans for borrowers facing home foreclosure and unfairly leaving responsible borrowers to pay for the homes of their neighbors: