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Washington D.C. - June 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives today voted to extend the closing deadline for taxpayers seeking the homebuyer’s tax credit. H.R. 5623, the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010 would extend the current deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2010, enabling an estimated 180,000 additional homebuyers to utilize the credit. Taxpayers must have entered into a written, binding contract prior to May 1st to claim the credit. The legislation also includes an important provision to crack down on reported instances of fraud identified in a recent report by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

LANSING, MI - March 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michigan Senate Democrats continued to combat the negative impact of home foreclosure on Michigan families today with their effort to lower property taxes for homeowners in communities hit hard by foreclosure. The amendment to Senate Bill 395 would have required tax collectors to consider foreclosed homes in a neighborhood when determining property values and taxes. The amendment was defeated by the Republican Majority on a party line vote.

February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Historic Preservation Office architect Bryan Lijewski will meet with Monroe property owners and developers at a free workshop on Thursday, February 18. The event is being presented by the Monroe Historic District Commission.

LANSING, MI - January 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), originally of Cascade, announced that her entire December legislative expense account was donated to a Grand Rapids foreclosure assistance program to highlight the need for government reform and more transparency in state spending.

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.

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, 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.

$8,000 Credit, Which Is Helping Home Sales Rebound, Is Set to Expire at the End of Next Month. Washington, D.C. - October 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Gary Peters today urged House leadership to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit, a measure enacted in February that saves new homebuyers thousands of dollars and has helped the U.S. housing market rebound in recent months. The credit is set to expire November 30th. Congressman Peters, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, today sent a letter (text below) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner expressing their desire to extend the credit’s deadline.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Mark Schauer voted to pass two key measures for our American veterans. The Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act (H.R. 3590), which passed with bipartisan support today, will extend the deadline for taking advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for qualified service members by one year.

LANSING, MI - September 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- With property values across the state and country falling while taxes for some homeowners are increasing, Sen. Roger Kahn introduced four measures in the Michigan Senate to make the appeals process more fair and smooth for property owners

LANSING, MI - August 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Tom George will be introducing legislation allowing for the creation of a Detroit/Wayne County Redevelopment Authority. A redevelopment authority would enable the city and county to develop a cohesive strategy for stabilizing and redeveloping tax-reverted properties, the lawmaker announced today

LANSING, MI - July 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The governor signed a bipartisan legislative package Tuesday that will strengthen existing requirements for loan officers in Michigan, said Sen. Randy Richardville, the main sponsor of the reform plan.

Families Considering Buying Their First House Have Limited Time to Save Thousands of Dollars on New Home Purchase This Year. Washington, D.C. - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Gary Peters, the Michigan Association of Realtors and a local family who recently closed on their first home today gathered at the family’s new house to discuss the tax credit available—for a few more months—that can save first time homebuyers thousands of dollars on the purchase of a new home. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic recovery plan Congress enacted in February, created a temporary tax credit worth up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers to help families become homeowners in tough economic times and to spur home sales in a sluggish housing market. Southeast Michigan foreclosure rates are among the highest in the nation (according to RealtyTrac, Oakland County’s foreclosure rate is in the top 5 percent among all counties nationwide), so encouraging the purchase of empty homes is extremely important for the region.

May 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Legislation to give homeowners on who are on the brink of losing their home a 90-day period to work out a payment plan with their lending institution has been signed by the Governor. House Bills 4453-4455, now Public Acts 29, 30, and 31 of 2009, would allow consumers who are on the brink of foreclosure a 90-day period to attempt a loan modification plan.