Yearly Archives: 2009

December 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Learn about fair housing practices and laws at a free three-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 15, at the Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., assembly room A. This workshop will offer ADRE-authorized fair housing REALTOR® re-licensing credit and is presented in partnership with the Southwest Fair Housing Council.

Phoenix, AZ - December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Long-term mortgage rates fell to a new low in December, according to the Phoenix Business Journal, with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 4.71 percent, the lowest rate since at least 1971, when Freddie Mac started keeping track. While this is excellent news, it is important for investors to remember that much like credit cards, an interest rate is heavily dependent on the borrower's credit history. According to Ron Kuhn, Senior Mortgage Planner at AmeriFirst Financial, investors often mistakenly believe that all interest rates are equal from borrower to borrower; however, it is much more involved that just a current rate quote. Most are locking in rates that fall between 4.875% and 5.125% due to factors such as loan size, property type, Loan to Value (LTV) and credit scores

December 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Residents of the city of Phoenix Sunnyslope Manor Senior Housing Community will be served a special holiday meal by The Terraces of Phoenix, a senior living community, at noon Thursday, Dec. 24, at 205 E. Ruth Ave. The Terraces Foundation Committee staff and members will provide a traditional holiday meal including turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and cheesecake as well as holiday music offered by Terraces resident Howard Lawrence, who will play an assortment of tunes on his portable keyboard. He has been volunteering as a keyboardist for almost 30 years.

December 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Owners of residential rental property (individuals, corporations, LLCs) are required to register with Maricopa County Assessor’s Office and update any status changes within 10 days, stipulated in Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance Sec. 39 – 48.

December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To safeguard, it is recommended that individuals supply their own medium-sized garbage bags double bagged and their own shovels.

November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Learn about fair housing practices and laws at a free three-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., assembly room D.

PHOENIX, AZ - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Brandon Azadegan, 29, of Phoenix, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for an April 2009 conviction for his role as an investor selling four homes to a straw buyer. Azadegan pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and one count of Transactional Money Laundering. Six other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy. Gheorge Babeti was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison in August 2009. The remaining defendants will be sentenced in the next few months

Contest offers sustainably-minded real estate professionals a chance to gain recognition and win a free membership with the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce. Tempe, AZ - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fidelity National Title, one of Arizona's largest title insurance and escrow service companies, has announced the launch of its "Win the Paperless Fight Title Championship" contest, which is accepting nominations at www.WinThePaperlessFight.com through December 31st, 2009. Open exclusively to real estate professionals, both residential and commercial, the contest invites nominations for those who are demonstrating a commitment to sustainable business practices and making a big impact specifically through the reduction of paper waste. Self-nominations are encouraged.

November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal funds continue to create jobs and reduce energy use in Phoenix. Nearly 400 homes are being “weatherized” using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), with many more to follow. The city of Phoenix received $7.2 million federal dollars to fund this program, administered by the city’s Neighborhood Services Department.

Offers real estate professionals a chance to win free AGCC membership for going paperless. PHOENIX, AZ - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce (AGCC), a non-profit organization committed to promoting a more sustainable, environmentally sound economy, announced today that Fidelity National Title of Maricopa County has joined the Chamber. The Chamber has gathered significant momentum recently through the addition of large local businesses such as Fidelity, Southwest Gas and McMurry.

Legislation to Extend, Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit Headed to President's Desk WASHINGTON, DC - November 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House voted overwhelmingly today for a measure backed by U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell to extend the homebuyer tax credit beyond its current November 30 expiration date and broaden eligibility for the tax break. The measure passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 403-12 after passing the Senate 98-0. It now moves to the White House for the President's signature, which is expected this week.

Washington, DC - November 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council today announced that key Obama environmental adviser Carol M. Browner will be the keynote speaker at the closing plenary session of USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, held Nov.11-13, 2009, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Phoenix, AZ - November 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Land Advisors Organization presents an interactive discussion of Metro Phoenix's housing and land conditions affecting real estate development now and in the future. Experts from the homebuilding, brokerage, financial and research industries will share the most up-to-date data, analysis and industry insight, providing a better understanding of where we are headed as the industry anticipates recovery through future real estate cycles.

Phoenix, AZ - October 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- McCarty on Monroe today officially opened its doors to seniors age 62 and older. The new, modern, 69-unit apartment complex is on the property where Phoenix real estate broker Leon McCarty originally built quality and affordable housing for low-income families, particularly families of color, in 1963.

PHOENIX, AR - October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- McCoy’s Building Supply was recognized by Home Channel News (HCN) magazine as the 2009 Pro Dealer of the Year during their annual Pro Dealer Industry Summit, held October 7 to 9 in Phoenix, Arizona.From HCN’s listing of the top 500 building supply pro dealers in the nation, McCoy’s was the largest retailer to show an increase in sales during 2008, despite the current economic recession and upset in the U.S. housing market

October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Learn about fair housing practices and laws at a free three-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 15, at the city of Phoenix, Calvin C. Goode Municipal Building, 251 W. Washington St., 7th Floor.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell and Ken Calvert (R-CA) are inviting their colleagues in the House to join them in support of the bipartisan Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, H.R. 1245, to extend and expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Amid Foreclosure Crisis, Local Prosecutors Lack the Resources, Manpower to Fight New Wave of Mortgage Scams New National Legislation Would Empower DOJ To Award Competitive Grants To States and Localities Seeking to Establish ‘Real Estate Fraud Units’

September 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Phoenix $3.4 million in competitive American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) grants that will allow the city of Phoenix Housing Department to make public housing units more energy efficient. The $3,408,000 “stimulus” grant will green-retrofit the 374 Marcos de Niza units at 305 W. Pima St.

Washington, D.C. - September 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva is pleased to announce that several communities in Congressional District 7 have been awarded grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for public housing under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)