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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.

April 07, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Homeowners, neighborhoods and communities are best served when people are able to remain in their homes. Families across our state are struggling to do just that, and I want to make sure they have a fighting chance. That’s why I am working on measures to protect homeowners from property tax increases that are out of step with their home’s actual value

LANSING, MI - April 03, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The state Senate today approved legislation that would help Michigan homeowners who are facing foreclosure, said Sen. Randy Richardville, who voted for the measures.

April 02, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss today announced that five Michigan builders have been awarded federal grants from the Energy Star Home Grant Program to construct energy-efficient houses. "As the demand for energy efficiency in home building goes up, so too, does the demand for the technologies and products that are critical to Michigan's new energy economy and the jobs that come along with it," said Granholm.

April 01, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Deputy Director Liesl Eichler Clark will present Energy Star Home Grants of $5,000 to five builders from across the state at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1 at Urban Options in East Lansing.

LANSING, MI - April 01, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A Michigan State Senate panel has presented three foreclosure prevention bills that removed a provision that allowed consumers or borrowers trying to rework their mortgage to take their case to court if a lender wasn't cooperating with loan modification.

April 01, 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 passed the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee last week. House Bills 4453-4455 would allow consumers who are on the brink of foreclosure a 90-day period to attempt a loan modification plan.

BAY CITY, MI - March 31, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony will welcome the Michigan Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) and the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) to their new location at the Bay City Business Center, a building with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Murray D. Wikol - President and CEO of ProVisions, LLC, the facility's developer and owner - will host this ceremony at 2 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22, at 401 Ketchum Street.

LANSING, MI - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — State Sen. Alan Sanborn on the Senate floor today denounced the Macomb County Board of Commissioners’ Wednesday vote to raise residents’ property taxes.

March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Legislation is on the move under the Capitol Dome to provide homeowner relief by way of a tax credit. Senate Bill 346, provides a tax credit for all homebuyers purchasing a home as their principle residence. If passed, the tax credit would be available to Michigan homebuyers from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2011

LANSING, MI - March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has ordered an entity claiming to be a Southfield-based mortgage company called “Capita Management Group” to cease and desist from doing business. OFIR believes that Capita, through its website, www.capitamanagementgroup.com, is posing as a legitimate mortgage company in an attempt to steal consumers’ money and identity. The fraudulent company is encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers

March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Michigan homeowners are in desperate need of relief. That’s why recently the Michigan Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution designed to help homeowners with rising property taxes and declining home value.

LANSING - March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Senate today approved legislation to help ensure that all mortgage loan officers conducting business in Michigan will be registered with the state, said Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom, one of the sponsors of the package.

March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Legislation is on the move under the Capitol Dome to provide homeowner relief by way of a tax credit. Senate Bill 346, provides a tax credit for all homebuyers purchasing a home as their principle residence

LANSING - March 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Sen. Bill Hardiman today announced that West Michigan will receive $30 million more in federal stimulus funds than was first announced by the governor earlier this year.