Yearly Archives: 2009

People across the state will get help to stay in homes, find new housing. LANSING, MI - December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met in Kalamazoo with residents struggling to stay in their homes who are finding help through a federal program designed to keep families from becoming homeless and to help the newly-homeless find stable housing.

LANSING, MI - December 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today highlighted benefits of the state's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in helping to reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency in the homes of low-income families throughout the state. Michigan received more than $243 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), which will fund weatherization projects in more than 30,000 homes over the next three years.

December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Trout Creek Condominium Resort, located in Harbor Springs, has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).

LANSING, MI - December 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the early morning arrest of a Grosse Ile woman accused of defrauding dozens of people in a massive real-estate Ponzi scheme. Rita Gosselin, 58, is charged with racketeering and multiple counts of obtaining money under false pretenses for orchestrating numerous fraudulent real estate investments and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Michigan families

LANSING, MI - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the filing of three criminal complaints and a total of 10 charges against illegal advanced fee "foreclosure rescue" operations accused of defrauding Michigan families of thousands of dollars.

LANSING, MI - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Board this week approved a $7.2 million tax credit for the NSO Bell project expected to invest $50 million in Detroit, State Senator Martha G. Scott (D-Highland Park) announced.

Lansing, MI - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homelessness ends with a place to live. That is the message the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) in partnership with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) wants to drive home this week during Homeless Awareness Week in Michigan. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has issued a proclamation designating November 15-21 as the official week for this year's homeless awareness activities.

Washington, D.C. - November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representatives including Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, introduced bipartisan legislation to boost solar panel manufacturing in the United States.

LANSING, MI - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the sentencing of two west Michigan loan officers convicted of operating a widespread mortgage fraud ring, duping members of the Grand Rapids Hispanic community into purchasing distressed properties at inflated prices, falsifying records and pocketing thousands of dollars. The targeted buyers often spoke or wrote little English and had a limited understanding of the mortgage process.

November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home Federal Savings Bank, Detroit, Michigan, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Liberty Bank and Trust Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, to assume all of the deposits of Home Federal Savings Bank.

Washington, DC - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR 3548, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 by a vote of 403 to 12. This bill provides critical aid to families in Southeast Michigan and across the country in the form of extended unemployment benefits, tax relief to businesses, and an extension and expansion of the homebuyers’ tax credit.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3548, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, to provide up to 14 additional weeks of unemployment for jobless workers, with an extra six weeks for those in high unemployment states such as Michigan who have or soon will run out of benefits. The bill, which passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, will now go to the president to be signed into law.

Washington D.C. - November 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives today passed legislation which extends unemployment insurance up to 20 weeks for jobless workers who have exhausted their previous extensions. Additionally, the legislation extends and expands the availability of the homebuyer tax credit and provides tax relief for businesses hard hit by the recession. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act passed by a vote of 403 to 12. The President is expected to sign the measure into law.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) voted to stimulate the local economy and provide stability to Michigan families hit hardest by the recession by extending unemployment benefits, the homebuyers’ tax credit, and tax relief for military families and businesses. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (HR 3548) will provide immediate assistance, extending relief to the 62,753 Michigan workers whose benefits would otherwise run out by the end of the year.

LANSING, MI - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that his office has filed charges against a Wyoming, MI woman accused of defrauding the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) by fraudulently obtaining a mortgage, defaulting on that mortgage and leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.