Newjersey RealEstateRama

Haddon Heights, NJ - December 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, Congressman Andrews announced $50,000 in federal money that will create skilled trade jobs in South Jersey. These funds will help improve the homes of low-income homeowners in rural areas throughout Gloucester County and make these homes safer by providing much needed repairs. This past September, Congressman Andrews casted his vote in favor of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Housing Preservation Grant Program which will provide the funds.

TRENTON - December 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that an Atlantic City man who formerly worked as a local administrator of the New Jersey Home Energy Assistance (HEA) Program was sentenced today for stealing $9,062 from the program by filing false applications to obtain benefits.

UNION CITY/WEST NEW YORK, N.J. - December 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta today joined Congressman Albio Sires, Mayors Brian Stack of Union City and Dr. Felix Roque of West New York, and other officials to celebrate the grand opening of Horizon Heights, a 52-unit affordable housing community on Broadway in Union City and West New York. The HMFA, an affiliate of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), provided financing for this project through the Multifamily Rental Housing Program, the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and through an allocation of federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today at a hearing to review legislation to reform the secondary mortgage market:

Charlotte, NC - December 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the housing market continuing to struggle and fewer consumers being able to purchase a new home or apartment, LendingTree.com, the nation’s leading online lender exchange and personal finance resource, today released data highlighting the average down payments on residential real estate purchases for all 50 states and Washington D.C. New Jersey leads the country with the highest average down payment of 13.76%. The state with the lowest average down payment is North Dakota, where buyers put down an average of 11.37%.

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.

Trenton, NJ - November 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Acting Governor Kim Guadagno today, joined by Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher and Health and Senior Services Commissioner Mary O’Dowd, announced $1,363,600 in funding for the state’s six food banks to purchase healthy foods to feed the hungry this holiday season. This funding will ensure food assistance for those in need and is the second payment of the fiscal year.

BELLMAWR, N.J. - November 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representatives of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) today joined local and state officials to celebrate the unveiling of newly installed solar panels at Bellmawr Senior Housing, an independent senior living community in Bellmawr, Camden County. The HMFA, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), committed funding for the installation through its Multifamily Solar Funding Pilot Program.<

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

November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The phrase “buyer’s market” has probably been driven into your head by now. For those who are looking to move up to a larger home, or those on the lookout for their first home, the time is right. But another market has also been blooming for those already comfortable in their current housing situation; the second home market.

TRENTON, NJ - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a lawyer from Westfield was indicted today on charges that he stole $189,660 in closing funds related to a home sale that were entrusted to him as the settlement agent.

November 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Linda Schwarz, Realtor with Gloria Nilson, Realtors®, Real Living® of South Brunswick was honored by the Middlesex County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with its prestigious 2011 Presidents’ Award. This award acknowledges the top four real estate professionals in the Middlesex County MLS who have the highest number of listings that sell/close during the fiscal year. The award was presented at the annual stockholders’ meeting held at the Pines Manor in Edison.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released $72.1 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in New Jersey. The program provides critical assistance to low-income families who struggle each winter to pay their energy bills.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today appeared at a press conference with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to urge passage of the “Rebuild America Jobs Act,” a proposal that would put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work rebuilding aging roads, bridges, and airports across the country.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, today unveiled his proposal to reform the secondary mortgage market to ensure robust private investment in the U.S. mortgage market without a government guarantee.

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.

September 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lou Ventre and Bernadette Ruegg, sales associates with Gloria Nilson, Realtors, Real Living in Shrewsbury, are currently marketing The Ivy at Shrewsbury, a new KHovnanian Homes townhome community coming soon to Shrewsbury. The Ivy at Shrewsbury is a private community of 61 townhomes, featuring 3 distinctive floor plans with 2 car garages and optional finished basements and lofts.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continuing his efforts on behalf of Passaic County residents who have endured repeated losses due to severe weather and flooding, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award a total of $10.2 million in hazard mitigation grants to Pompton Lakes and Little Falls

WASHINGTON, DC - September 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration's assistance for homeowners, renters, and businesses recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irene.