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WASHINGTON, DC - August 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee, today criticized FHFA’s decision not to allow principal reduction for struggling homeowners under any circumstances. Senator Menendez has led the call for FHFA to fix its flawed study on principal reduction, spearheading a letter from 30 Senators to Acting Director Edward DeMarco. Click here for a PDF of the letter and here for a press release on the letter.

TRENTON - July 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Division of Taxation has mailed out Senior Freeze checks worth $195 million to 163,000 senior and disabled homeowners around the state, State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff announced.

June 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thanks to the efforts of local officials all around New Jersey, and the State officials who recognize and appreciate their service, we are one giant leap closer to the restoration of vital municipal property tax funding

Trenton, NJ - December 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Chris Christie has put forward a common sense policy to finally end the wasteful practice of paying out taxpayer dollars to public workers for unused sick days. These local government obligations have a real and direct cost to property taxpayers, totaling over $1000 for the average property taxpayer in some municipalities. The legislature, now on vacation through the end of the year, has failed to take up these reforms and deliver relief to property taxpayers despite the fact that accumulated sick and vacation liabilities already total over $825 million on municipalities’ books.

Trenton, NJ - December 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Christie Administration’s continued commitment to rein in the cost of government, maximize taxpayer dollars and provide sustainable property tax relief, Governor Chris Christie today released the Year Two Best Practices Checklist results, which demonstrate that the majority of municipalities are adhering to good governance practices and working to achieve greater efficiencies. These results -- for the approximately 545 municipalities operating on a calendar year budget -- were compiled by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Earlier this year, DCA also began working with all 21 counties to complete similar Best Practices Checklists, with results to be released next year.

November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement today after an independent audit of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) revealed that the housing agency’s cash reserves are down 45% from last year and the “chance that future net losses on the current, outstanding portfolio could exceed current capital resources is close to 50 percent,” which could necessitate a taxpayer bailout next year

Edison, N.J. - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) Governmental Research Foundation (GRF) today released a group of three reports on methods of controlling property taxes in New Jersey. The first two studies show the benefits associated with consolidating either services such as police, fire, municipalities or school districts. The third report details how property taxes can be controlled and ultimately lowered by the new 2.0 percent property tax cap that took effect at the beginning of this year. The reports listed below were conducted for NJAR®GRF by the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research:

Edison, N.J. - October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) Governmental Research Foundation (GRF) today released a group of three reports on methods of controlling property taxes in New Jersey. The first two studies show the benefits associated with consolidating either services such as police, fire, municipalities or school districts. The third report details how property taxes can be controlled and ultimately lowered by the new 2.0 percent property tax cap that took effect at the beginning of this year. The reports listed below were conducted for NJAR®GRF by the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research:

Trenton, NJ - October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Courier-Post: “Christie projected local governments will save $337 million in pension and health care costs in 2012 as a result of bipartisan reforms he championed.” (Carol Comegno, “Christie Visits Mount Laurel, Talks Property Tax Reform,” Courier-Post, 10/14/11)

Trenton, NJ - October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Chris Christie today visited the home of Gary and Linda Cogan, 26-year residents of Mount Laurel, for his second consecutive day of conversations with property taxpayers to discuss the critical property tax relief his historic, bipartisan pension reforms are providing in their first year of implementation. In total, Mount Laurel will save $557,557 in its 2012 budgets alone, including township savings of $509,221 and school district savings of $48,336 from the reforms signed into law on June 28, 2011. Statewide, Governor Christie’s reforms will save New Jersey’s property taxpayers and local governments $267 million in 2012, making good on the Governor’s promise to drive down the skyrocketing cost of local government and to provide real, long term property tax relief.

Trenton, NJ - July 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Highlighting the direct relief provided to New Jersey seniors in his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, Governor Chris Christie today met with senior Sultana Kizides at her home in Perth Amboy to have a conversation about how his budget maintains fiscal discipline while prioritizing and funding core priorities to assist New Jersey seniors

May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the recent Tax Foundation study, again demonstrating the regressive burden shouldered by New Jersey property taxpayers, League of Municipalities’ President, Mayor Chuck Chiarello of Buena Vista Township, issued the following statement:

May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the announcement that hundreds of millions of previously unanticipated dollars are now available to address priority needs, League of Municipalities’ President, Mayor Chuck Chiarello of Buena Vista Township, issued the following statement

TRENTON, NJ - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that six men were indicted today on charges that they stole more than $2.6 million from lenders by filing fraudulent mortgage loan applications.

WOODSTOWN, N.J. - January 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) joined local officials today to celebrate the completion of Freedom Village, an affordable housing community located on Woodstown-Alloway Road in Woodstown. The HMFA, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), provided $2 million in permanent financing to the project from the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and also awarded federal tax credits and tax credit subsidies. The DCA committed housing vouchers from the State Rental Assistance Program to assist with the project’s operations.

December 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Concerned that a significant number of already-expired public employee contracts would not be subject to the proposed two percent cap on arbitration awards to public employee unions, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon introduced today a measure clarifying that the cap would apply to contracts that expired before the cap begins on Jan. 1

December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Republican Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer, released the following statement regarding an announcement by Governor Christie of a bipartisan agreement on arbitration reform which is a key component of the governor’s property tax reform Tool Kit package:

December 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, released the statement below regarding today's announcement by Governor Christie of a bipartisan agreement on arbitration reform which is a vital element of the governor's property tax reform Tool Kit package:

November 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With only 39 days left until the state’s new hard property tax cap takes effect and with no meaningful property tax reform legislation again on today’s General Assembly Board list, Assembly Republicans said Assembly Democrats are inaccurately portraying to the public their legislative efforts in advancing Governor Christie’s property tax reform Tool Kit

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Frustration boiled over at the League of Municipalities conference this morning, as local officials had a chance to address state lawmakers and a cabinet official on Gov. Chris Christie’s “tool kit” measures meant to help them curtail property taxes.