October 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) will announce that it has provided counseling to 17,000 Michigan families since 2008 thanks in part to funding from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program. The NFMC Program recently announced that more than 1 million homeowners in Michigan and across the nation have sought and received foreclosure intervention counseling from more than 1,700 nonprofit counseling organizations funded by the program, including MSHDA.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today made the following statement about the ongoing foreclosure crisis and Bank of America’s announcement: “Families living in neighborhoods across Michigan continue to suffer from the economic downturn, declining home values and foreclosures. That’s why I welcome today’s announcement that Bank of America has suspended foreclosures in every state. I am concerned that too many Michigan families are losing their homes as a result of faulty paperwork and I hope that this motivates all institutions to reevaluate their processes and make sure homeowner’s are being treated fairly.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and three Senate colleagues wrote on Friday to the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase and Ally Financial, asking them to halt foreclosure proceedings in 27 states, including Michigan, where they have not already done so

Washington, DC - October 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14) and Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (MI-13) called on lenders to extend their foreclosure moratorium to Michigan and other states and to cease administering foreclosures until the problem of fraudulent paperwork is resolved.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, both D-Mich., announced a $589,273 grant for homeless veterans in Northern Michigan today. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs made the grant to Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan in Gaylord to provide 24 beds in transitional housing to homeless veterans

Troy, MI - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the interest of encouraging law students and MBA students, the Board of the United Condominium Owners of Michigan (UCOM) has set aside four registrations for students of law and management schools in the Detroit area.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a commitment to insure a mortgage loan to Unity Hospital of Rochester in New York State. The $197 million loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program.

October 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- This is the time of year to get your furnace cleaned and ready for winter. Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) Acting Director Andrew S. Levin offers some sensible tips to avoid getting burned by furnace fixing "scam artists."

LANSING, MI - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that his office, with the assistance of the Michigan State Police, secured a guilty plea against Eddie Zaben of Dearborn for his role in a major mortgage fraud operation in Southeast Michigan. Zaben, 40, pled guilty to two counts of obtaining mortgage proceeds under false pretenses. Zaben will serve 2-10 years in prison and must pay $3 million in restitution. Zaben is the latest conviction resulting from a year-long investigation by the Michigan Mortgage Fraud Task Force and included efforts by the Michigan State Police, the U.S. Secret Service and the Attorney General's office. Six other defendants have already been convicted for their roles in the scheme.

September 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr today encourages consumers to take extra safety precautions while using generators when the power is out -- especially to reduce risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning - a silent killer that builds up quickly without any warning signs or odors.

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.

Washington, D.C. - September 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement encouraging eligible affordable housing entities to apply for two recently announced grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Appearing in today’s Federal Register are the Notices of Funding Availability, the federal application, for two revitalization initiatives: The Choice Neighborhoods Planning or Implementation Grants for FY 2010 and the HOPE VI FY 2010. Both applications can be accessed at www.grants.gov.

LANSING, MI - September 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Senator Tupac A.Hunter (D-Detroit) today introduced legislation that would prevent banks and other lending institutions from foreclosing on most homes unless they have signed up to participate in the “Help the Hardest Hit Program.”

LANSING, MI - September 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today continued her effort to push the nation's largest banks to join other lending institutions and take part in the Helping Hardest Hit Homeowners Fund. Since announcing the availability of an additional $128.4 million in federal dollars for the fund earlier this month, Granholm has reached out to executives at Bank of America, Chase, Citigroup, PNC Bank and Wells Fargo, asking them directly to help prevent additional home foreclosures

August 31, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today issued an order approving $18 million in low-income energy efficiency grants...