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WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 13, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Still need health insurance to meet the individual mandate requirements of the Affordable Care Act? You should be aware of other vital deadlines set up by health insurance carriers. There are many key dates that make a difference to when your coverage starts, when you are eligible and other tax implications since enrollment for health insurance can be complicated

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over the last few weeks, the MAR has received calls from members regarding drastic increases in the cost of flood insurance. These increases are making some pending sales unaffordable. The National Association of REALTORS® is working on important legislation to halt these increases

LANSING, MI - August 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) announced today that it has released radio public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at helping Michigan consumers shop around for more affordable automobile and homeowners insurance rates. The PSAs, which can be heard on radio stations throughout the state, advise Michigan drivers and homeowners to use OFIR resources to help them stretch their insurance dollar.

LANSING, MI - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- When choosing homeowners insurance, most Michigan consumers may think more about the value of the home than about their prized possessions inside. When you’re deciding out how much coverage you need, it is important to know all the “stuff” in your home that warrants special protection. Certain valuables might be better covered with an insurance rider or additional policy, depending on the circumstances.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a commitment to insure a mortgage loan to Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, Michigan. The $36.6 million loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program.

Michigan, MI - July 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Melvin Butch Hollowell today said he is extremely disappointed by the Michigan Supreme Court's decision to allow insurers to continue using an individual's credit score in setting rates for automobile, home, and other personal lines of insurance.

March 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, during National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan's Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Melvin Butch Hollowell announced he has been appointed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to the position of Consumer Liaison Representative. The NAIC has also listed Hollowell in its newly-created Consumer Expert Database

LANSING, MI - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) shut down an operation claiming to be a Detroit-based mortgage company called “Kenneth and Doyle Financial” by ordering it to cease and desist from doing business. OFIR believes that Kenneth, through its website, was posing as a legitimate mortgage company in an attempt to steal consumers’ money and identity. The fraudulent company was encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers.

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.

It's time for OFIR and Hollowell to uphold the law - Not Ignore it. Eliminating credit based insurance discounts would increase insurance costs for more than 70% of Michigan policyholders. Lansing, MI - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Commissioner of the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) Ken Ross, and Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Melvin Butch Hollowell both went before the Michigan Supreme Court today asking the Court to ban the use of credit-based insurance scores. Ross was in the courtroom while Hollowell was holding court outside the Hall of Justice at a press conference to influence the Judge's decisions.

October 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michigan's Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Melvin Butch Hollowell today urged the Michigan Supreme Court to affirm the state's right to prohibit auto insurance companies from using occupation, education, and credit scores in setting auto insurance rates.

LANSING, MI - June 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) Commissioner Ken Ross has ordered the state’s insurance companies to submit to OFIR, prior to use, all new or revised personal automobile and homeowner insurance documents and forms.

LANSING, MI - April 07, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) announced today that all new rate filings by homeowners insurance companies that rely on insurance credit scoring as a factor in determining their discounts are being challenged by the agency. The expansion to all home rate filings using insurance credit scoring is based on the fact that insurance credit scoring is unfairly discriminatory and also does not result in reasonably anticipated reductions in losses or expenses and therefore does not meet the requirements Michigan's Insurance Code.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- GMAC Insurance today unveiled a new, comprehensive strategy to grow its base of diversified dealers in 2008. A...