Yearly Archives: 2009

September 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Potential homebuyers may qualify for $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to help buy a foreclosed single family home, townhouse or condominium in the city of Phoenix

Washington, D.C. - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard met this morning with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, other senior Obama Administration officials and 11 other state Attorneys General to coordinate proactive strategies and strengthen efforts to fight consumer fraud in the housing markets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is continuing her efforts on behalf of Native Americans who have served in our military, introducing the Indian Veterans Housing Opportunity Act of 2009 last Thursday. H.R. 3553 would correct an oversight in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) that has caused disabled Veterans, their families and their survivors to be denied help because they are receiving Veterans’ and survivor benefits.

September 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- USAA Real Estate Company, in development partnership with Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc., announced the acquisition of 46.12 acres of land in Tolleson, Arizona for the build-to-suit development of a 465,600-square-foot regional distribution center. Home improvement specialty retailer Home Depot, Inc. signed a 20-year lease to occupy the space upon completion. The transaction price has not been disclosed.

PHOENIX, AZ - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mario Bernadel, 51, of Phoenix, was convicted yesterday on 19 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Wire, and Bank Fraud; Mail Fraud; Wire Fraud; Bank Fraud, and Transactional Money Laundering as a result of his involvement in a cash back mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee on November 30, 2009.

September 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Learn about fair housing practices and laws at a free three-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 14, at the city of Phoenix, Calvin C. Goode Municipal Building, 251 W. Washington St., 7th Floor

September 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Abla Zumot Najjar was recognized today as the first Phoenix homebuyer to purchase a foreclosed single family home through the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Homeownership Assistance. She used a $15,000 loan from the program for down payment and closing cost assistance.

August 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Phoenix Public Transit Department announced it was awarded $88.8 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for projects in the Phoenix/Mesa urbanized area. The portion of these funds dedicated to city of Phoenix projects totals more than $29.1 million in improvements to its transit system and infrastructure, including $3.9 million for METRO light rail improvements in Phoenix. Also, as the region’s federal grant recipient for the Phoenix/Mesa urbanized area, the city of Phoenix was awarded additional funds to disburse to grant sub-recipients.

PHOENIX, AZ - August 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jake David Abegg Whitman, 33, of Mesa, Ariz., pleaded guilty on August 18, 2009, to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and seven counts of Bank Fraud.

August 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will celebrate the first Phoenix home renovated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s “Weatherization Program” 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the home of Arthur and Rosa Lovato, 1711 W. Mitchell Dr. The city of Phoenix received 7.2 million federal dollars to fund this program, administered by the city’s Neighborhood Services Department

Phoenix, AZ - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that he has filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order to stop the perpetrators of an alleged fraud that claimed a homeowner’s property qualified for a “property tax reduction review.” The official-looking advertisement appeared to be an attempt to scam homeowners who were looking to reduce their property tax bill.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit is working to help stabilize the housing market support is growing in Arizona and across the country for a proposal backed by U.S. Rep Harry Mitchell to extend the tax credit

PHOENIX, AZ - August 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Christopher S. Bartlemus, 31, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to conspiracy counts in two separate indictments on August 10 and August 12, 2009. In one case, Bartlemus pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire, Bank and Mail Fraud and in a separate case, to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud. Sentencing is set before Judge McNamee on November 2, 2009 and Judge Campbell on November 16, 2009.

Renews call for expansion as well as extension. WASHINGTON, DC - August 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep Harry Mitchell today welcomed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's call to extend the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit as a good first step and renewed his call to expand, as well as extend, the tax credit.

Washington, D.C. - July 31, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva announced today that the Nogales West U.S. Land Port of Entry in Congressional District 7 will receive grant funds from the General Services Administration (GSA) through the American Recovery and Investment Act to construct a new high-performance green federal building.

Washington, D.C. - July 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged four promoters and a Phoenix-based company with securities fraud for orchestrating a mortgage lending scheme that attracted hundreds of investors by making false and misleading statements about the safety and performance of the investments.

July 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Low appraised home values due to foreclosure sales are hurting the housing market, especially the new home builders, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which says builders are reporting about 26% of sales fall through due to appraisals coming in below the contracted sales price.

July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Fannie Mae and the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department are partnering to provide homeowners an opportunity to meet with lenders and HUD certified housing counselors to discuss foreclosure prevention options 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 8

Phoenix, AZ - June 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Potential homebuyers may qualify for $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to help buy a foreclosed single family home, townhouse or condominium in the city of Phoenix.

June 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Property taxes that keep streetlights lit around 27,000 homes and businesses will drop next year, after the City Council voted June 16 to roll back funds being held in reserve for the city’s 355 separate streetlight tax districts.