Washington, D.C. - November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Rep. Gary Peters announced a loan of over $10 million from Section 202 development funds to provide affordable housing for low income seniors in Pontiac. This loan will be made to CSI Support and Development Services to build a new 77 unit apartment facility in Pontiac. These funds come as part of a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program and include a three-year subsidy to help seniors pay for their rent.

November 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has shut down an operation claiming to be a Detroit mortgage company called “United Commercial Credit” by ordering it to cease and desist from doing business. OFIR believes that the bogus company, through its website, http://www.unitedcommercialcredit.com was posing as a legitimate mortgage and lending company in an attempt to steal consumers’ money and identities. The fraudulent company was encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers.

November 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Legislation providing tougher penalties to those who knowingly engage in mortgage fraud has been passed through the legislature and recently signed into law by Governor Snyder. These new Public Acts seek to address the increased amounts of mortgage fraud in Michigan.

EUGENE, OR - October 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real estate professionals Scot Kellogg with 616 Realty have adopted the premier IDX software from IDX Broker, to increase the functionality of their Kellogg, Grand Rapids, Michigan online real estate search page. Kellogg now host a dynamic property search online, thanks to their membership in the Southwestern Michigan MLS (SWMRIC) and their integration of an IDX solution, allowing them to display thousands of current available properties conveniently on the search page they host. Finding a home in and around Grand Rapids has never been so easy!

MT. PLEASANT, MI - September 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the nation's first launch of a pilot program that will reduce regulatory burdens on affordable housing developers and owners, as well as help state and federal agencies' staff to better serve low-income families who rent their homes.

EUGENE, OR - September 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Cathy Champion, of Bolton-Johnston Associates, has become the latest real estate professional to enable IDX Broker software onto her website. With the dynamic Internet Data Exchange (IDX) technology her site now hosts, Champion can implement a thorough and comprehensive online property search feature for her page. MIRealSource MLS listings are now seamlessly integrated into her search capabilities, giving Champion clients the ability to quickly access and scan listing information for thousands of properties. The Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan online real estate search has never been so easy or simple.

September 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Whatever your heating needs this fall, going into winter -- from furnace cleaning -- to repair or replacement, make sure you hire a certified professional from a reputable company to do the job. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Director Steven H. Hilfinger offers some sensible tips to help consumers avoid paying for needless heating repairs and equipment.

September 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MSU Extension is offering a class, Are You Ready to Buy a Home? on September 8, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, in Warren. It is free of cost and open to the public. For more information or to register, please call 586-469-7614.

August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Macomb Urban County Housing Rehabilitation Program, administered by the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development, is accepting applications for deferred, no interest loans to help eligible owners make necessary repairs to their homes.

August 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- LANSING The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) announced today that it has issued bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000 on July 26, 2011, and will use the proceeds of such bonds to make mortgage loans to eligible low and moderate income applicants to finance single family homes. Reservations are now being accepted for the loans to be made from the proceeds of the bonds

Lansing, MI - August 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan State Housing Development Authority announced today it has received nearly 9,000 applications for foreclosure prevention assistance during the past five months since the launch of a new "Step Forward" publicity campaign. The "Step Forward" awareness effort has helped contribute to a 16 percent decline in Michigan's foreclosure activity in July from the previous month and a 42 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from July 2010, MSHDA officials said.

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 - August 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Rick Snyder today appointed Lauren Eisbrenner to the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

Clinton Township, MI - August 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MSU Extension is offering a 3-part workshop on Home Ownership on August 11, 18 & 25, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Verkuilen Building, 21885 Dunham Rd., Suite 12, Clinton Township.

Reston, VA - July 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Another ruling from the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division declined to reconsider a non-judicial foreclosure initiated by Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), as mortgagee, underscoring former borrowers’ lack of standing under Michigan law to challenge a foreclosure after the statutory redemption period has expired, further limiting the applicability of the Michigan Court of Appeals’ decision in Residential Funding v. Saurman/Bank of New York Trust v. Messner (“Saurman”).