Georgia Housing & Real Estate

Atlanta Commercial Real Estate: Five More Years to Recovery?

2011-07-16T13:59:00.002-04:00

New Report Explores Effects of White House Mandate to Reduce Government Real Estate Costs

/PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta office market freefall has slowed despite the fact that the office space vacancy rate for Atlanta's metropolitan area is at 20.28%, a 20-year high. Hope of recovery for this market rests on one thing: jobs creation. However, there is a dark cloud hovering overhead that could significantly impact the Atlanta region's ability to recover in the short term.

In May, the White House mandated reduction of real estate-related costs to the government across the country, and legislation has been introduced that would liquidate certain owned assets and consolidate or renegotiate leased assets.

The U.S. government owns or leases at least 8 million square feet of office space in the Atlanta region. With about 2.2 million square feet in leases expiring from 2011 through 2015, and the potential for the government to sell the owned property and lease it back at or below market rates, this legislation could have a significant impact on Atlanta's office real estate market.

Excluding government-controlled space in the Washington, D.C. region, the state of Georgia contains the fifth largest amount of government real estate of the 56 states and territories. The impact of the governmental mandate to Georgia, and the Atlanta region, will be one of the highest in the country. The Atlanta "domino" could be one of the first, and the hardest, to fall.

These realities have been detailed in the just-published report, Cloud on the Horizon: Government Debt Reduction and the Atlanta Commercial Real Estate Market. Compiled by Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos, a leading turnaround management firm, the report is based on research conducted over the past two months.

According to John Connor, Principal of Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos, the government should sell a significant portion, if not all, of its owned portfolio to reduce costs and generate revenue. In addition, he said, the government should consolidate leases that are expiring in the next few years and consolidate the space that is leased into fewer buildings. The weak lease market makes it an opportune time to negotiate for office space.

"The government cannot continue to do business as usual and will be forced to take substantial measures to reduce debt, increase revenue, and cut costs," said Connor. "If the government reduces its footprint in metro Atlanta by 25% over the next three years, it will take 1.2 million square feet of occupied space from the market. Any way you spin it, this will exert downward pressure on lease rates and further depress sale prices, likely pushing back recovery for up to five more years."

The report can be downloaded at http://abtv.com/commercialrealestatereport0711.pdf.

Colorado and Georgia Lead Highest U.S. Foreclosure Listings Increase

2011-05-25T14:54:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- ForeclosureDataOnline.com reports that Colorado and Georgia had the highest increase in foreclosure listings, considered the most in the United States from April to May of 2011, reflecting more accurate statistics and reasons challenging the overall appearance of a downward trend over the previous year.

Colorado foreclosed homes were 6,825 in March and 7,277 listings in April, a 6.62% increase.

Georgia had a bit more at 3,575 foreclosure listings in March and 3,828 listings in April, a 7.08% increase.

Only Georgia, Colorado, New Jersey, Wyoming, Alabama, and Alaska had increases from March to April 2011. Experts suggest that the slight rise in the preceding month has to do with the continuous flow of foreclosures that have been stuck in limbo while courts and lenders wade through the many filings to ensure that all paperwork was correctly and accurately completed. Last year's scrutiny of so-called "robo-signing" of documents by inexperienced personnel hired to help process the many loans in default or in modification, temporarily slowed the process.

As more foreclosure paperwork continues to be processed, more of these homes will appear on the market. In Colorado, the consensus is that the tourism industry has been affected by the lack of spendable income and that has affected jobs in the mountain state. In Georgia, jobs were added in several industry sectors for the second straight month. Yet data reveals a slight relief of the immense backlog of foreclosure listings that have been held up for months by the tight scrutiny of the foreclosure processes that have slowed the process in previous months, and now shows the increase in listings.

Completing the information, ForeclosureDataOnline.com also calculated the percentage of Colorado and Georgia foreclosed homes of the top cities of these states:

COLORADO
Denver: -1.0%
Aurora: +5.4%
Arvada: +7.0%
Colorado Springs: +7.7%
Brighton: +10.4%

GEORGIA
Atlanta: +28.9%
Lawrenceville: +5.4%
Marietta: +23.6%
Douglasville: +129.3%
Savannah: -5.6%

High unemployment, a soft real estate market, and underwater borrowers--all key factors that create foreclosures--are contributing to the long duration of the housing and financial crisis.

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Albert Burney Auction Company Manages Bank Ordered Auction of Savannah River Preserve

2011-05-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Savannah River Preserve is comprised of 1,217± acres of land with almost 250 riverfront acres in Sylvania, GA. The property includes 180± acres of bird and deer food plots and provides an ideal location for hunting and other outdoor recreation. Savannah River Preserve will be selling in three tracts or as an entirety.

Parcel one of Savannah River Preserve is 524.22± acres and includes a 2,533± sq. ft. main lodge with a kitchen, meeting room, game room and a master suite. Additional lodging includes four one-bedroom, one-bathroom cabins, each with its own kitchenette. This parcel also includes an assortment of outbuildings and recreational fields.

“It’s a sportsman’s dream,” said Warren A. Ward, President of Albert Burney, Inc. “It is one of the most inclusive recreational properties we have offered - from world class wing shooting, deer and turkey hunting to fishing. From sporting clay range to indoor archery, this property has it all. It is a world-class hunting preserve and it’s located just minutes from Savannah.”

Parcel two includes 444± acres of ideal hunting property in the Georgia woods. Parcel three includes 248.49± acres of river front property ideal for fishing; this parcel will be sold regardless of price.

This bank ordered auction will take place on June 18th at the Savannah River Preserve Lodge. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the auction following at 10:00 a.m.

Albert Burney representatives will be available to answer questions and offer site inspections two weeks prior to auction dates and continuing through auction day. Individuals seeking additional information may call (800) 434-1654 or visit www.albertburney.com.

Albert Burney Auction Company, headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., is one of the nation’s leading auction companies specializing in land, home sites, homes and other high end real estate.

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Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Show Slight Increase

2011-03-24T09:49:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates marked a slight increase, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 4.96 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage inched to 4.16 percent, and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate retreated to 5.45 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were mostly higher, with the average 5-year ARM moving up to 3.78 percent and the 7-year ARM moving to 4.11 percent.

Mortgage rates increased, but only slightly, as investors digest world events and assess the potential impact on global economic recovery. The outlook for economic growth, inflation, and a desire to avoid market volatility are the key drivers of bond yields and mortgage rates on a day-to-day basis. Mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government bonds.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At the time, the average 30-year fixed rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 4.96 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,068.76, a difference of $173 per month for anyone refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 4.96% -- up from 4.91% last week (avg. points: 0.41)

15-year fixed: 4.16% -- up from 4.12% last week (avg. points: 0.38)

5/1 ARM: 3.78% -- up from 3.74% last week (avg. points: 0.37)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgages-rise-as-treasury-signals-sell-off.aspx?ic_id=tsThumb1.

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. Slightly less than half of the panelists, 47 percent, predict rates to increase further. An equal amount of panelists, 47 percent, think the rates will remain more or less unchanged. The remaining 6 percent forecast a decline in mortgage rates over the next seven days.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI.

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Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta to Award $6.9 Million for Affordable Housing in Georgia

2011-02-17T12:26:00.002-05:00

Funding to Create, Preserve 724 Affordable Rental and Homeownership Units

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) announced today that it will award $6.9 million to assist in the funding of 15 affordable housing developments in Georgia. The funding is part of $42.7 million FHLBank Atlanta awarded in 2010 in 11 states and the District of Columbia to create or preserve 4,841 units of affordable rental and ownership housing.

FHLBank Atlanta will award the funds as part of its 2010 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) offering. Local community developers, in partnership with FHLBank Atlanta member institutions, will use the funding to build or repair 724 affordable housing units in Cherokee, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, and Fulton counties, as well as the cities of Atlanta, Cumming, Forsyth, Jefferson, Tennille, Tifton, Valdosta, and Waynesboro.

"FHLBank Atlanta continues to provide unique funding options that help members serve their communities," said Arthur Fleming, senior vice president and director of Community Investment Services, FHLBank Atlanta. "Through the participation of member institutions, AHP acts as a catalyst to revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, and support economic development."

AHP is a competitive funding program that helps develop owner-occupied and rental housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income families. FHLBank Atlanta awards funds annually to member financial institutions and their community housing partners. AHP is a component of FHLBank Atlanta's affordable housing, economic development, and down-payment assistance initiatives. For the complete list of AHP winners, visit www.fhlbatl.com/ahp.

Over 250 Foreclosed Atlanta Homes Head to the Auction Block, Tempting Buyers With Deals

2011-01-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire -- As home sales edge upward, buyers continue to gravitate toward foreclosed properties because they remain some of the best buys in today's real estate market. On average bank-owned homes sell at a discounted price compared to similar homes in a neighborhood. Hudson &Marshall will auction over 250 Atlanta area foreclosed homes January 22nd-23rd at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center at 1:00 p.m.

Prospective buyers will be required to make a $2,500 cash or certified check deposit for each property, for which they are the winning bidder. There is a wide array of homes from which investors and owner-occupant buyers can choose. Homes come with an insurable title, and all sales will close within 30-45 days. Buyers may secure financing with the lender of their choice prior to closing; however, closing is not contingent upon financing.

"The downturn in the housing market has made buyers more educated and savvy about the homebuying process. With the high levels of foreclosures flooding the market, consumers have realized that foreclosures don't necessarily mean run-down property anymore. They can be purchased at a reduced price and in move-in ready condition," remarked Dave Webb, principal, Hudson & Marshall.

All properties auctioned by Hudson & Marshall are sold "as-is" and buyers should inspect properties before placing any bids. Homes can be viewed during the open house scheduled Saturday, January 15th and Sunday, January 16th from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. or by contacting listing agents to schedule appointments. Complete property details and additional information may be found at www.hudsonandmarshall.com or by calling 866-539-4172.

Realtytrac® reported during the third quarter of 2010, foreclosures accounted for 25% of all U.S. home sales, and average sales price of properties sold while in some stage of foreclosure was more than 32% below the average sales price of homes not in the foreclosure process. In Georgia, foreclosure sales accounted for 29% of all residential home sales in the third quarter of 2010.

Prior to auction, buyers can purchase property online by visiting the website and clicking on the Bid-Now icon. Sellers typically respond to offers within 24 hours. This is a reserve auction, which means sellers have the right to accept, reject or counter any bid; however, in past auctions conducted by Hudson & Marshall, the majority of offers have been accepted.

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Having sold over 80,000 homes for sellers in the past ten years, Hudson & Marshall, Inc. is the most experienced, trusted leader in the REO auction industry. The company's accelerated sales process enables it to swiftly and efficiently sell large volumes of property in a way that minimizes expenses for sellers and maximizes return. Over the past five years alone, Hudson & Marshall's total sales have topped $3.5 billion, and the company anticipates selling another 15,000 homes in 2011.

Southeastern Realty Group Becomes Real Estate Brokerage

2011-01-06T22:43:00.002-05:00

As 2010 gave way to 2011, The Southeastern Home Team became the Southeastern Realty Group, Georgia's newest full-service real estate brokerage. With the brokerage comes a renewed commitment to providing a real estate experience that goes well beyond the expectations of buyers, sellers and agents.

“We will provide an environment where those agents that want to be successful will have the opportunity to do so. We know the market is difficult right now, but with the focused training and opportunities we provide, an agent willing to work WILL be successful,” said Mary Colson, Broker in Charge.

The company was founded in 2002 as the Southeastern Home Team when Amy Ransdell, an avid Realtor and investor, discovered the need in the Atlanta market for a real estate company that could go beyond the offerings of a typical real estate office. At the time, there was no company equipped to readily handle the needs of a short sale, as well as provide strategies to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Distressed properties were also frowned upon throughout the industry due to the amount of time it took to effect a sale, the usual condition of the property and the low success rate in completing a short sale.

"We were all about the short sale and foreclosure market, and saw the opportunities in rehabbing and flipping houses before it became the trend it is now. It seems like everyone is attempting to do them now. Even today, our success rate in bringing a short sale to the closing table is three times better than the national average,” said Ransdell.

The company's team concept proved to be successful from the onset. Ransdell's undying belief in the "Power of Team" has provided clients the best possible experience in specialized services. In addition to traditional real estate transactions, its team of professionals have over a century of combined experience, and are well-versed in Atlanta short sales, foreclosures, avoiding foreclosure and loss mitigation. The company, based just off I-575 in Woodstock, serves buyers and sellers throughout metro Atlanta.

Southeastern Realty Group's areas of expertise include:

Buyer’s agent
Seller’s agent
Short sales
Foreclosures
Avoiding foreclosure and loss mitigation
Quick sales
Strategic investments
Residential and commercial property sales
REOs and foreclosed bank assets

The brokerage is looking for a handful of top notch, tech-savvy agents to accommodate the growth it has experienced over the past few years. Southeastern Realty Group offers three different and affordable agent participation levels, excellent technology resources and a paperless transaction system. To learn more, please visit http://www.southeasternrealtygroup.com. Then click on the blue "Join Our Team" button.

Hard Hit Construction Industry May Find Assistance with New Communication Platform.

2010-11-20T09:36:00.000-05:00

Contractors will find assistance with their return on investment by utilizing a new asset communication platform now available on the web; ContractorAssets.com

ContractorAssets.com concentrates on four key areas in the construction industry; construction equipment, building materials, construction jobs and project opportunity. Their goal is to provide advertising and marketing for contractors in relation to these four key areas with little to no out of pocket cost. Currently ContractorAssets.com provides free listings for all project opportunities and construction Jobs. Their short term objective is to make all listings free; they are currently working with several industry organizations and advertisers to accomplish that task.

“Our overall goal is simple; we want to be the go to site for the construction industry in our specialties,” explains Doug Wattenburger, ContractorAssets.com project manager. “We will accomplish this by offering a superior product at little to no cost to the contractor.”

Understanding the specialties of Contractorassets.com is simple. The construction equipment category allows contractors to advertise and search surplus construction equipment and tools. Building materials offers contractors to list or locate excess or reclaimed building materials. Construction jobs are an outlet for construction companies to list employment opportunities. Project opportunities bring about new business partners through project awareness.

“We are excited for construction professionals to register and participate, we have already made the venue cost effective, but the more participation will allow us to pass additional value back to the contracting community,” Wattenburger said. “Our first full marketing campaign begins in December so we encourage contractors to get registered and listed early to take advantage of the upcoming increase in awareness.”

The Platform will be marketed through web based advertisement efforts such as Google Adwords, banner ads, direct marketing and traditional print advertisement in construction related publications

About ContractorAssets.com:
ContractorAssets.com is an entity of ICC Services. ICCS Services specializes in integrating creative communication in web based applications. The project was a collaboration of contracting experience, technical expertise and marketing history. The overriding intent is to harness technology and a new age business model to pass the production saving to our end users; the contracting community.
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FTC Issues Final Rule to Protect Struggling Homeowners from Mortgage Relief Scams

2010-11-19T11:06:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Homeowners will be protected by a new Federal Trade Commission rule that bans providers of mortgage foreclosure rescue and loan modification services from collecting fees until homeowners have a written offer from their lender or servicer that they decide is acceptable.

"At a time when many Americans are struggling to pay their mortgages, peddlers of so-called mortgage relief services have taken hundreds of millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of homeowners without ever delivering results," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. "By banning providers of these services from collecting fees until the customer is satisfied with the results, this rule will protect consumers from being victimized by these scams."

The FTC is issuing the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule to protect distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams that have sprung up during the mortgage crisis. Bogus operations falsely claim that, for a fee, they will negotiate with the consumer's mortgage lender or servicer to obtain a loan modification, a short sale, or other relief from foreclosure. Many of these operations pretend to be affiliated with the government and government housing assistance programs. The FTC has brought more than 30 cases against operations like these, and state and federal law enforcement partners have brought hundreds more.

Advance fee ban

The most significant consumer protection under the FTC's new rule is the advance fee ban. Under this provision, mortgage relief companies may not collect any fees until they have provided consumers with a written offer from their lender or servicer that the consumer decides is acceptable, and a written document from the lender or servicer describing the key changes to the mortgage that would result if the consumer accepts the offer. The companies also must remind consumers of their right to reject the offer without any charge.

Disclosures

The Rule requires mortgage relief companies to disclose key information to consumers to protect them from being misled and to help them make better informed purchasing decisions. In their advertising and in communications directed at individual consumers (such as telemarketing calls), the companies must disclose that:

* they are not associated with the government, and their services have not been approved by the government or the consumer's lender;
* the lender may not agree to change the consumer's loan; and
* if companies tell consumers to stop paying their mortgage, they must also tell them that they could lose their home and damage their credit rating.

Companies also must explain in their communications to consumers that they can stop doing business with the company at any time, can accept or reject any offer the company obtains from the lender or servicer, and, if they reject the offer, they don't have to pay the company's fee. The companies also must disclose the amount of the fee.

Prohibited claims

The MARS Rule prohibits mortgage relief companies from making any false or misleading claims about their services, including claims about:

* the likelihood of consumers getting the results they seek;
* the company's affiliation with government or private entities;
* the consumer's payment and other mortgage obligations;
* the company's refund and cancellation policies;
* whether the company has performed the services it promised;
* whether the company will provide legal representation to consumers;
* the availability or cost of any alternative to for-profit mortgage assistance relief services;
* the amount of money a consumer will save by using their services; or
* the cost of the services.

In addition, the rule bars mortgage relief companies from telling consumers to stop communicating with their lenders or servicers. Companies also must have reliable evidence to back up any claims they make about the benefits, performance, or effectiveness of the services they provide.

Attorney exemption

Attorneys are generally exempt from the rule if they meet three conditions: they are engaged in the practice of law, they are licensed in the state where the consumer or the dwelling is located, and they are complying with state laws and regulations governing attorney conduct related to the rule. To be exempt from the advance fee ban, attorneys must meet a fourth requirement – they must place any fees they collect in a client trust account and abide by state laws and regulations covering such accounts.

All provisions of the rule except the advance-fee ban will become effective December 29, 2010. The advance-fee ban provisions will become effective January 31, 2011.

The FTC rulemaking proceeding was conducted pursuant to Congressional legislation sponsored in 2009 by Senators Jay Rockefeller and Byron Dorgan. The Final Rule applies only to entities within the FTC's jurisdiction under the Federal Trade Commission Act, which excludes, among others, banks, savings and loans, federal credit unions, common carriers, and entities engaged in the business of insurance. In June 2009, the FTC issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on the practices of for-profit mortgage relief companies. In February 2010, the FTC announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and sought comments from interested persons, including advocates for consumers, the business community, and the legal profession.

Click here for facts about mortgage consumers' rights.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC's Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .

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Three Day Auction of 400 Atlanta Foreclosures Offers Buyers Bonanza of Deals

2010-11-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Bargain hungry buyers, combing the housing market for deals, are scooping up foreclosed homes like hotcakes because of their discounted prices. Hudson & Marshall will auction 400 bank-owned homes in Atlanta November 19th-21st.

Valued from $18,000 to about $375,000, there is a wide selection of homes for every type of buyer to choose from and each property comes with an insurable title. Buyers will be required to make a cash or certified check deposit of $2,500 for each property for which they are the winning bidder. All sales will close within 30-45 days and buyers may secure financing with the lender of their choice prior to closing; however, closing is not contingent upon financing.

"Auctions are attracting crowds of buyers because people have learned this is a convenient, fun and easy way to purchase a home. From bidding to closing, the process moves swiftly, lengthy negotiations are eliminated and the auction process allows a property's true market value to emerge," said Dave Webb, principal, Hudson & Marshall.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), in the third quarter of 2010, distressed homes, which typically sell at discounted prices, accounted for 34% of homes sold in the third quarter, an increase of 30% from a year ago. The median price of a home in the South fell 1.9% to $157,000 in the third quarter from the same period in 2009.

All properties auctioned by Hudson & Marshall are sold "as-is" and buyers should inspect properties thoroughly before placing any bids. Properties can be viewed by contacting listing agents to schedule appointments. Complete property details and additional information may be found at www.hudsonandmarshall.com or by calling 866-539-4172.

Homes will be auctioned on the following dates:

November 19th –Atlanta (120 homes) at 1:00pm- Atlanta Marriott Northwest

November 20th –Atlanta (160 homes) at 1:00pm- Atlanta Marriott Northwest

November 21st –Atlanta (120 homes) at 1:00pm- Atlanta Marriott Northwest

Prior to auction, buyers can purchase property online by visiting the website and clicking on the Bid-Now icon. Sellers typically respond to offers within 24 hours. This is a reserve auction, which means sellers have the right to accept, reject or counter any bid; however, in past auctions conducted by Hudson & Marshall, the majority of offers have been accepted.

Having sold over 80,000 homes for sellers in the past ten years, Hudson & Marshall, Inc. is the most experienced, trusted leader in the REO auction industry. The company's accelerated sales process enables it to swiftly and efficiently sell large volumes of property in a way that minimizes expenses for sellers and maximizes return. Over the past five years alone, Hudson & Marshall's total sales have topped $2.2 billion and the company anticipates selling another 15,000 homes in 2010.

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GEHC To Host Sustainable Gingerbread House Competition

2010-11-06T22:05:00.000-04:00

Green Gingerbread Houses - is there such a thing? Who doesn’t love making adorable gingerbread houses with the family or looking at the intricate works of professional gingerbread house architects?

“Imagine building your dream house with all the sustainable features possible. Only, instead of standard building materials, it would be made out of gingerbread,” said Jason West, Director of Development at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center (GEHC).

As part of its December Green Holiday Program, the GEHC will host a Sustainable Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibit. Designers will create environmentally-friendly houses out of edible materials that highlight sustainability and green building design.

“This is a great opportunity for families, businesses, civic groups, students, and/or individuals to get into the holiday spirit, show off their gingerbread building talents and green building ingenuity,” said West. “The gingerbread house can be as creative and imaginative as you like!”

At least three sustainable building elements must be included in the design of the gingerbread house, such as solar panels, rain barrels, green roof, windmills, etc. Participants may use a traditional gingerbread recipe, a recipe for dog biscuits, bird seed cakes, or any other edible product. (Suggested recipes can be found on www.gwinnettEHC.org.) The structure can also include birdseed, pinecones, leaves, twigs… anything from nature.

There are multiple categories for entry including: Pre K – 2nd Grade (group and individual), 3rd – 6th Grade (group and individual), Teen (group and individual), Adult (group and individual), Family (group), and Professional (group and individual).

Entry forms are due no later than November 29, 2010. Forms can be accessed on-line at www.gwinnettEHC.org or in person at the GEHC. Contestants are asked to deliver gingerbread houses to the GEHC between 9am and 4pm on one of the following dates: November 30, 2010, December 1, 2010, or December 2, 2010. Judging will take place the week of December 6, 2010, and the awards will be presented during the GEHC’s Green Holiday event on December 11, 2010 at 1pm.

For more information about this event, contest rules, and/or the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.
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Home Prices Increases Slow Down in August According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices

2010-10-26T10:32:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Data through August 2010, released today by Standard &Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller (1) Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show a deceleration in the annual growth rates in 17 of the 20 MSAs and the 10- and 20-City Composites in August compared to what was reported for July 2010. The 10-City Composite was up 2.6% and the 20-City Composite was up 1.7% from their levels in August 2009. Home prices decreased in 15 of the 20 MSAs and both Composites in August from their July levels.

The annual returns of the 10-City and 20-City Composite Home Price Indices show increases of 2.6% and 1.7%, respectively, in August 2010 compared to the same month in 2009. In August, 12 of the 20 MSAs posted negative annual growth rates. This is two more than what was reported in July, as Detroit and Miami posted negative annual rates in August. While still negative, three of the 20 MSAs saw improvement in year-over-year growth rates in August as compared to July. They are Charlotte, Cleveland and Las Vegas with annual growth rates of -3.4%, -0.4% and -4.5%, respectively. Annual growth rates slowed down in the three California cities, with Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco posting annual gains of +5.4%, +6.9% and +7.8%, respectively – a significant drop from the +7.5%, +9.3% and +11.2% reported for July.

"A disappointing report. Home prices broadly declined in August. Seventeen of the 20 cities and both Composites saw a weakening in year-over-year figures, as compared to July, indicating that the housing market continues to bounce along the recent lows," says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard &Poor's. "Over the last four months both the 10- and 20-City Composites show slowing growth, after sustaining consistent gains since their April 2009 troughs.

"The month-over-month growth rates tell the same story. Fifteen of the 20 MSAs and the two Composites saw a decline in the month of August as compared to July levels. The 10- and 20-City Composites fell 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Indeed, the housing market appears to have stabilized at new lows. At this time, it does not seem that any of the markets are hanging on to the temporary momentum caused by the homebuyers' tax credits."

As of August 2010, average home prices across the United States are back to the levels where they were in late 2003 and early 2004. Measured from June/July 2006 through August 2010, the peak-to-current declines for the 10-City Composite and 20-City Composite are -28.4% and -28.1%, respectively. The improvements from their April 2009 trough are +7.8% and +6.7%, respectively.

With August data, we find that 15 of the 20 MSAs and both Composites saw prices fall from their July values. Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, New York and Washington DC were the only five cities that recorded marginal improvements in home prices over July. The 10- and 20-City Composites were down 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively, in August versus July.

Chicago, Detroit, New York and Washington DC have all posted at least four consecutive months of positive increases in home prices; but none of the MSAs had monthly increases of greater than 1% in August. San Diego, which had posted 15 consecutive months of positive monthly change, recorded a 0.6% drop in average home prices in August. The same is true of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle and the two Composites – they all broke their trend of several consecutive months of positive monthly gains with August's report.

The table below summarizes the results for August 2010. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are revised for the 24 prior months, based on the receipt of additional source data. More than 23 years of history for these data series is available, and can be accessed in full by going to www.homeprice.standardandpoors.com.

	August 2010	August/July	July/June
Metropolitan Area	Level	Change (%)	Change (%)	1-Year Change (%)
Atlanta	109.09	-0.8%	0.3%	-2.0%
Boston	158.35	-0.3%	0.6%	1.5%
Charlotte	116.60	-0.4%	-0.2%	-3.4%
Chicago	126.70	0.4%	1.0%	-2.9%
Cleveland	107.00	-0.3%	0.0%	-0.4%
Dallas	119.41	-1.1%	-0.3%	-1.7%
Denver	128.57	-0.1%	-0.4%	-1.2%
Detroit	71.54	0.5%	1.6%	-0.1%
Las Vegas	101.03	0.1%	-0.8%	-4.5%
Los Angeles	175.55	-0.4%	0.3%	5.4%
Miami	147.47	-0.3%	0.7%	-1.0%
Minneapolis	126.53	-0.3%	0.7%	2.9%
New York	175.27	0.2%	1.2%	0.1%
Phoenix	108.84	-1.3%	-0.6%	0.4%
Portland	147.02	-0.9%	-0.3%	-2.3%
San Diego	163.99	-0.6%	0.7%	6.9%
San Francisco	142.83	-0.3%	0.5%	7.8%
Seattle	145.93	-0.8%	0.1%	-2.4%
Tampa	137.53	-0.5%	-0.2%	-4.1%
Washington	188.26	0.3%	1.0%	4.8%
Composite-10	162.13	-0.1%	0.8%	2.6%
Composite-20	148.59	-0.2%	0.6%	1.7%
Source: Standard & Poor's and Fiserv
Data through August 2010

Since its launch in early 2006, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices have published, and the markets have followed and reported on, the non-seasonally adjusted data set used in the headline indices. For analytical purposes, Standard &Poor's does publish a seasonally adjusted data set covered in the headline indices, as well as for the 17 of 20 markets with tiered price indices and the five condo markets that are tracked. A summary of the monthly changes using the seasonally adjusted (SA) and non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) data can be found in the table below.

A summary of the monthly changes using the seasonally adjusted (SA) and non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) data can be found in the table below.

	August/July Change (%)		July/June Change (%)
Metropolitan Area	NSA	SA	NSA	SA
Atlanta	-0.8%	-0.7%	0.3%	-1.0%
Boston	-0.3%	-0.1%	0.6%	0.0%
Charlotte	-0.4%	-0.4%	-0.2%	-0.5%
Chicago	0.4%	-0.4%	1.0%	-0.1%
Cleveland	-0.3%	-1.1%	0.0%	-0.6%
Dallas	-1.1%	-1.1%	-0.3%	-0.7%
Denver	-0.1%	-1.1%	-0.4%	-0.9%
Detroit	0.5%	-0.5%	1.6%	-0.1%
Las Vegas	0.1%	-0.5%	-0.8%	-1.5%
Los Angeles	-0.4%	-0.9%	0.3%	-0.4%
Miami	-0.3%	-0.7%	0.7%	-0.2%
Minneapolis	-0.3%	-0.7%	0.7%	-1.8%
New York	0.2%	0.0%	1.2%	0.9%
Phoenix	-1.3%	-2.2%	-0.6%	-1.5%
Portland	-0.9%	-0.8%	-0.3%	-0.9%
San Diego	-0.6%	-0.6%	0.7%	-0.2%
San Francisco	-0.3%	-0.8%	0.5%	-0.7%
Seattle	-0.8%	-1.0%	0.1%	-0.2%
Tampa	-0.5%	-0.4%	-0.2%	-1.4%
Washington	0.3%	0.0%	1.0%	0.5%
Composite-10	-0.1%	-0.2%	0.8%	0.0%
Composite-20	-0.2%	-0.3%	0.6%	-0.2%
Source: Standard & Poor's and Fiserv
Data through August 2010

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are published on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to accurately track the price path of typical single-family homes located in each metropolitan area provided. Each index combines matched price pairs for thousands of individual houses from the available universe of arms-length sales data. The S&P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index tracks the value of single-family housing within the United States. The index is a composite of single-family home price indices for the nine U.S. Census divisions and is calculated quarterly. The S&P/Case-Shiller Composite of 10 Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 10 original metro area indices. The S&P/Case-Shiller Composite of 20 Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 20 metro area indices. The indices have a base value of 100 in January 2000; thus, for example, a current index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation rate since January 2000 for a typical home located within the subject market.

These indices are generated and published under agreements between Standard & Poor's and Fiserv, Inc. The S&;P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are produced by Fiserv, Inc. In addition to the S&;P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, Fiserv also offers home price index sets covering thousands of zip codes, counties, metro areas, and state markets. The indices, published by Standard &Poor's, represent just a small subset of the broader data available through Fiserv.

For more information about S&P Indices, please visit www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

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Fannie Mae Marks First Year of First Look™ Initiative

2010-09-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) today announced that more than 29,000 owner occupants have purchased homes in neighborhoods across the country through its First Look™ initiative over the last year. Fannie Mae also worked with nearly 800 public entities under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to build stronger communities. Using NSP funds, public entities purchased nearly 5,000 Fannie Mae-owned foreclosure properties.

First Look is designed to promote owner occupancy and provide both owner occupants and public entities an advantage in submitting offers on Fannie Mae-owned foreclosed properties without competition from investors. Only offers from owner occupants and participants of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program are considered during the initial period a property is on the market. Offers from investors are considered after the First Look window has passed.

"While investors play an important role in the REO market, homebuyers who intend to occupy a home make an immediate and lasting commitment to the community and therefore merit priority consideration in the REO sales process," said Jay Ryan, Vice President for Alternative REO Dispositions at Fannie Mae. "Public entities under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program also benefit from inspecting eligible properties and making offers to purchase without pressure from open market competition. These entities are making considerable investments in rehabilitation and stabilization."

Prospective buyers can easily identify how many days remain to take advantage of the First Look initiative on a particular property by visiting www.HomePath.com. The First Look logo appears next to each qualifying property and there is a countdown identifying the number of days left for owner occupants and public entities to submit offers without investor competition.

Fannie Mae recently joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) national First Look program as one more way the company collaborates with the industry to support community stabilization efforts.

For more information about Fannie Mae-owned properties for sale and the First Look initiative, including how many days are left before the First Look period passes, please visit www.homepath.com and look for the logo.

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Fannie Mae to Host Open House at New Atlanta Mortgage Help Center September 15

2010-09-13T09:42:00.000-04:00

Open House - Fannie Mae Mortgage Help Center, Atlanta
September 15, 2010
10:00 AM

950 East Paces Ferry Road NE
9th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30326

Ceasar Mitchell, Atlanta City Council President
Jeff Hayward, Senior Vice President, Fannie Mae
Carrie Harris, President and Founder, The D&E Group, A
Financial Education and Training Institute, Inc.

Fannie Mae will host a special open house event at its Atlanta Mortgage Help Center. The event will bring together counseling and mortgage industry partners to emphasize foreclosure prevention and highlight help that is available.

Fannie Mae's new facility provides greater metro homeowners, who have a Fannie Mae loan and may be at risk of foreclosure, the opportunity to meet directly with dedicated on-site staff and experienced housing advisors who speak English and Spanish to discuss their mortgage situation. These face-to-face meetings help borrowers better understand the entire range of foreclosure prevention options and provide an opportunity to work closely with servicers to achieve a prompt resolution.

Fannie Mae exists to expand affordable housing and bring global capital to local communities in order to serve the U.S. housing market. Fannie Mae has a federal charter and operates in America's secondary mortgage market to enhance the liquidity of the mortgage market by providing funds to mortgage bankers and other lenders so that they may lend to home buyers. Our job is to help those who house America.

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HUD Awards $4.9 million in Funding to Ease the Impact of Foreclosures in Atlanta

2010-09-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

The State of Georgia received $50 million in HUD funding
Mayor Kasim Reed was joined today by HUD’s Southeast Regional Administrator Edward Jennings, Jr., Congressman Hank Johnson and other state and local leaders as U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded an additional $50,421,988 in funding to Georgia communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis. The grants announced today represent a third round of funding through HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and will provide targeted emergency assistance to help local communities in Georgia acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties.

“The City of Atlanta is grateful for the support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “The City of Atlanta is focused on continuing to do the work necessary to purchase, renovate and resale abandoned foreclosed homes and apartment complexes and make them livable once again. With additional NSP3 grant funds we will be able to reach deeper into our communities.”

“These grants will support local efforts to reverse the effects these foreclosed properties have on their surrounding neighborhoods,” said Donovan. “We want to make certain that we target these funds to those places with especially high foreclosure activity so we can help turn the tide in our battle against abandonment and blight. As a direct result of the leadership provided by Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who played key roles in winning approval for these funds, we will be able to make investments that will reduce blight, bolster neighboring home values, create jobs and produce affordable housing.”

“Targeting these funds to hard hit areas in the state will help local leaders and communities fight blight, abandonment and work towards improving home values and create jobs.” said, Edward Jennings, Jr., US Housing and Urban Development, Southeast Regional Administrator.

The funding announced today is provided under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. To date, there have been two other rounds of NSP funding: the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) provided $3.92 billion and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) appropriated an additional $2 billion. Like those earlier rounds of NSP grants, these targeted funds will be used to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them in order to respond to rising foreclosures and falling home values. Today, 92 cents of every dollar from the first round of NSP funding is obligated – and is in use by communities, buying up and renovating homes, and creating jobs.

State and local governments can use their neighborhood stabilization grants to acquire land and property; to demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or to offer down payment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers (household incomes not exceed 120 percent of area median income). In addition, these grantees can create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of urban property.

NSP 3 will take full advantage of the historic First Look partnership Secretary Donovan announced with the National Community Stabilization Trust last week. First Look gives NSP grantees an exclusive 12-14 day window to evaluate and bid on properties before others can do so. By giving every NSP grantee the first crack at buying foreclosed and abandoned properties in these targeted neighborhoods, First Look will maximize the impact of NSP dollars in the hardest-hit neighborhoods – making it more likely the properties communities want to buy are strategically chosen and cutting the traditional 75-to-85 day process it takes to re-sell foreclosed properties in half. NSP also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance. HUD seeks to protect future homebuyers by requiring States and local grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under this program receive homeownership counseling and obtain a mortgage loan from a lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices.

In determining the allocations announced today, HUD, as it did with NSP1, followed key indicators for the distribution formula outlined by Congress. HUD is using the latest data to implement the Congressional formula. The formula weighs several factors to match funding to need in the 20 percent most distressed neighborhoods as determined based on the number and percentage of home foreclosures, the number and percentage of homes financed by a subprime mortgage related loan, and the number and percentage of homes in delinquency. To estimate the level of need down exactly what to the neighborhood level, HUD uses a model that takes into account causes of foreclosures and delinquencies, which include housing price declines from peak levels, and increases in unemployment, and rate of high cost and highly leveraged loans. HUD also considers vacancy problems in neighborhoods with severe foreclosure related problems.

In addition to a third round of NSP funding, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act creates a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to be administered by HUD. This loan program will provide up to 24 months in mortgage assistance to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition. HUD will announce additional details, including the targeted areas and other program specifics when the program is officially launched in the coming weeks.

About HUD

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.


Georgia	Atlanta	$4,906,758
	Augusta-Richmond County	$1,161,297
	Carroll County/Villa Rica City	$1,190,390
	Clayton County	$3,796,167
	Cobb County	$2,415,784
	Columbus-Muscogee Co	$1,128,174
	Dekalb County	$5,233,105
	Douglas County	$1,628,471
	Fulton County	$3,094,885
	State Of Georgia	$18,679,977
	Gwinnett County	$2,065,581
	Henry County	$1,217,736
	Macon	$1,503,897
	Paulding County	$1,372,214
	Savannah	$1,027,553
	Georgia Total	$50,421,988

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LPS' July Mortgage Monitor Report: Foreclosure Starts Increase; Late-Stage Delinquencies Lead Rise

2010-09-02T10:08:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The July Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE:LPS) shows that foreclosure starts are on the rise, with seriously delinquent loans - those six or more months delinquent - dominating new foreclosure actions.

The increase in foreclosure starts is consistent with the Department of Treasury's latest report that approximately half of all Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) trial modifications resulted in cancellation, though 45.4 percent of those have resulted in alternative (non-HAMP) modifications.

Delinquent and foreclosure inventories continue to stabilize but have yet to show annual declines. Continuing the trend from June, agency prime loans have seen the greatest month-over-month increase in foreclosure inventory and the second highest percentage increase since January 2009. Only non-agency jumbo prime loans have experienced a greater increase during the same period, but the month-over-month results indicate that this inventory has begun to decline.

The report also shows that approximately 895,000 loans that were current at the beginning of January are at least 60 days delinquent or in foreclosure as of the end of July - a month-over-month increase of 120,000 loans. Cure rates remain steady overall, but seriously delinquent cures have declined significantly, by approximately 25 percent, which is consistent with the decline in permanent modifications established during the month of July.

Other key results from LPS' latest Mortgage Monitor report include:

           Total U.S. loan delinquency
           rate:                           9.33 percent
           Total U.S. foreclosure
           inventory rate:                 3.75 percent
           Total U.S. non-current* loan
           rate:                           13.08 percent
           States with most non-current*    Florida, Nevada, Mississippi,
           loans:                           Georgia, Arizona
           States with the fewest non-      North Dakota, South Dakota,
           current* loans:                  Alaska, Wyoming, Montana

  *Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a
   percent of active loans in that state.
  Note: Totals based on LPS Applied Analytics' loan-level database of
   mortgage assets.

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Number of Foreclosures in August, 2010 Still Falling

2010-09-02T08:48:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Foreclosure Deals, an online leader in the foreclosed homes for sale listings and information industry, announced today that foreclosures increased by 4% nationwide during July and still have fall in the month of August. The month's total of 325,225 homes represents a 10% decrease from foreclosure totals in June 2009, and indicate that the trend of rising bank repossessions is continuing well into the summer.

Using statistics drawn from the Foreclosure Deals database of foreclosure properties, the company revealed that bank repossessions, also known as REO properties, totaled 94,500 during July with a drop of less than 1% in the month of August, nearly matching the single-month record. Bank repossessions represent the final stage of the foreclosure process, but are still sold for discounts as bank owned homes. Notices of default, which mark a new foreclosure, were up 1% in July, but down over 28% from July of 2009.

The trend of increasing bank repossessions and fewer Notice of Default has been the case for several months, but experts are careful to point out that it does not signal that the foreclosure market is flagging.

"Foreclosure totals are up over 300,000 for the month of August, and that's a huge number," remarked James Foxx, a business analyst with Foreclosure Deals. "A lot of bank repos are occurring because they're finally clearing out the huge log of properties that have been in foreclosure limbo due to moratoriums, loan negotiations and similar delays. Notices of default are down, but a lot of that has to do with foreclosure prevention programs. So we're cutting down on new foreclosures, but there are still plenty of bank-owned homes out there, keeping the foreclosure inventory high."

The top 5 states for foreclosure totals, California, Florida, Michigan, Illinois and Arizona, all saw foreclosures increase during August by at least 7%, except for California, which saw its totals decrease slightly by 3.1%. Illinois saw a staggering monthly increase of 33% mainly in Chicago.

The states with the highest rates of foreclosure however, Arizona, Florida and Nevada, all saw a dramatic decrease in foreclosures from August of 2009. Other states saw their foreclosure rate increase dramatically during the same time period, including Michigan, up 128%; Illinois, up 35%; Maryland, up 35%; and Georgia, up 13%.

"A lot of buyers are reporting great deals on bank repossessions," notes Foxx. "Banks are looking to get rid of that surplus inventory, and prices have been very competitive."

Foreclosure Deals is a leading source for detailed foreclosure listings, news and information for buyers and investors. For more information on foreclosures or to browse listings in your area, visit www.ForeclosureDeals.com.

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Couples Race to Atlanta Open Houses to Win Hidden $20,000 Down Payment Prize

2010-08-30T13:19:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- HomeFinder.com (http://www.homefinder.com/), a popular home search site, today announced the upcoming HomeFinder.com Race for the Home event inviting Atlanta home buyers and sellers to participate in a one day, challenge-filled, location-based game on Saturday, September 25. HomeFinder.com, together with Prudential Georgia Realty and Google Ventures backed gaming company, SCVNGR, will offer a grand prize of $20,000 during a real estate-inspired version of "The Amazing Race." The home buyers who score the most points by successfully completing challenges in Atlanta open houses will win the $20,000 grand prize. The HomeFinder.com Race for the Home will also help to raise funds for breast cancer awareness through the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Greater Atlanta Foundation.

Atlanta homebuyers and sellers are all welcome to sign up! Any couple or team of two can participate and all ages 18 or over are welcome. Participants can register today at www.raceforthehome.com and tell their story why they should be chosen to play for the chance to WIN the $20,000 cash grand prize sponsored by Prudential Georgia Realty, SunTrust Mortgage and Weissman, Norwack, Curry & Wilco P.C. The spots are limited and registration will end on Friday, September 24th.

The HomeFinder.com Race for the Home will involve special challenges at featured listings from top Atlanta real estate broker Prudential Georgia Realty. Players will be tasked with individual challenges around each listing to accumulate points throughout the game. The team with the most points will earn bragging rights as well as $20,000, which can be used for a down payment for their dream home.

"Real estate is one of the most customer-driven industries," said Tim Fagan, president and CEO of HomeFinder.com. "We're thrilled to host this unique opportunity to not only serve our home buying audience by helping them find their dream homes, but also to connect them with one of our top local Atlanta partners, Prudential Georgia Realty, in a dynamic new way. The current housing market poses its challenges, but finding and buying your home is still a fun, fulfilling experience, and we're excited to bring that spirit to this action-packed event."

"In the last three years, our company has made significant investments to build a powerful marketing and technology infrastructure. While others have cut costs to survive the real estate downturn, these innovations have served our agents and clients well. During this period, we have grown market share more than any large brokerage. Today, our company is #1 in units sales, #1 in buyers and #1 in listing inventory for the Metro Atlanta and North Georgia markets," said Prudential Georgia Realty President and CEO Dan Forsman. "We're excited to team up with HomeFinder.com and SCVNGR to bring the Race for the Home event to Atlanta. SCVNGR brings a cool and fun mobile technology solution. More importantly, it will showcase our open houses and produce more results for our clients. Our company has also made a strategic commitment to position our listings as Featured Properties on HomeFinder.com. This exposure on such a high profile national Web site is an important part of this event and will drive substantial traffic to our listings."

Thanks to SCVNGR's cutting-edge mobile social technology, playing is easy and free in this high tech house hunt. All of the challenges will be delivered via text message right to a player's cell phone. SCVNGR's mobile platform is compatible with any cell phone, model and carrier.

Mark your calendars. The HomeFinder.com Race for the Home in Atlanta kicks off September 25 at Piedmont Park (Oak Hill) at 9 a.m. with an after party immediately following at Max Lager's at 2 p.m. For more info and to register for your chance to play, visit www.raceforthehome.com.

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HUD Shares Plans for New Reverse Mortgage Option

2010-08-27T11:02:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced today that it intends to make modifications to its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) product, a reverse mortgage loan insured by the federal government, to make it more attractive and cost effective for older home owners seeking to tap their home equity to cover living expenses and health care costs, according to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.

A HECM is a reverse mortgage that is insured by the FHA. It is designed to enable elderly homeowners (62 years or older) to borrow against the equity in their home without having to make monthly payments as is required with a traditional "forward" mortgage or home equity loan. Under a reverse mortgage, funds are advanced to the borrower and interest accrues, but the outstanding balance is not due until the last borrower leaves the home, sells or passes away. If the balance due upon settlement of the loan exceeds the value of the home, the FHA insurance covers the difference. HECM borrowers may draw down funds as a lump sum at loan origination, establish a line of credit or request fixed monthly payments for as long as they continue to live in the home. The FHA insurance guarantees HECM borrowers that the funds they expect to access from a reverse mortgage will be available to them, no matter what might happen to the lender from which they've obtained the loan.

HECMs are now primarily used by seniors to cover a monthly gap between income and living expenses, to pay for health care, cover home repair and maintenance costs, or to avoid foreclosures. Despite the obvious value of this financial product to America's senior population, the most frequently heard complaint among people who did not take a reverse mortgage has been that the upfront costs were high. So HUD has responded by creating a variant on the standard HECM product that substantially lowers those costs.

In a telephone briefing to prepare industry participants for upcoming changes to the HECM program, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary Vicky Bott shared the Department's plans to implement a new variant of the product, referred to as the "HECM Saver," that will provide seniors with a reverse mortgage option that significantly lowers upfront costs by virtually eliminating the upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium that is required under the standard HECM option. Bott also reported accompanying changes intended for the existing HECM product, now referred to as a "HECM Standard." The introduction of the HECM Saver and changes to the HECM Standard are expected to be effective shortly after the new federal fiscal year begins this October.

The primary difference between the two HECM options will be in the cost of the upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) and the amount of the funds, or "principal limit," available to borrowers. The upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium is charged by the Federal Housing Administration to support its insurance fund. Under the HECM Standard option, the upfront MIP will remain at 2% of the value of the property (or 2% of the maximum FHA loan limit of $625,500, if the property has a value greater than that.) HECM Saver will have an upfront MIP of only .01% of the property's value, significantly reducing upfront costs.

This cost saving in upfront fees is able to be achieved because the amount of money available to a borrower, an amount known as the "principal limit," under a HECM Saver will be reduced, substantially lowering the risk to the FHA insurance fund. Borrowers will receive approximately 10% to 18% less under the HECM saver option, than they would under the HECM Standard option.

These changes, Bott explained, are "enhancements to make the program sustainable."

"We applaud HUD for undertaking the analysis required and re-engineering the HECM program to create options that will make it a viable solution for more older homeowners," said Peter Bell, President of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. "The upfront mortgage insurance premium has been a deterrent to some prospective borrowers, particularly those needing less than the full amount available under the traditional HECM Standard program. This new variation, the HECM Saver, presents a sensitive response to their needs."

This new change comes about as HUD is also in the process of implementing a new, updated Counseling Protocol for prospective reverse mortgage borrowers, which takes effect on September 11, 2010. All prospective HECM borrowers are required to attend an individualized counseling session with an exam-qualified reverse mortgage counselor employed by a HUD-approved independent counseling agency prior to formally applying for a HECM reverse mortgage. Under the new Counseling Protocol, which governs what is to take place during a counseling session, the client and counselor will utilize a new Financial Interview Tool to assess whether or not the homeowner should be able to sustain themselves in their home and meet their financial obligation after obtaining the HECM. Additionally, an online tool, BenefitsCheckup.org, will be utilized to identify other sources of assistance that might help homeowners meet their needs.

"The revised counseling protocols, new HECM options and other enhanced consumer protections that are being implemented by HUD, housing counselors and reverse mortgage lenders who are members of NRMLA, should help homeowners understand that they can borrow with confidence, if they are considering a reverse mortgage," according to Bell.

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HUD Southeast Warns of Fraudulent Housing Voucher Sales

2010-08-21T11:55:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Southeast Regional Administrator Edward Jennings, Jr. warns that fraudulent efforts to sell housing vouchers in Atlanta are being reported. Housing vouchers are not for sale but rather are issued locally by public housing agencies (PHA). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

“Individuals, families and veterans need to be on the alert to this scam and ensure that they do not pay for these fraudulent housing vouchers,” said, Jennings. “Housing vouchers are issued by public housing authorities and if someone should attempt to sell you a voucher please contact US HUD Office of the Inspector General immediately at 1-800-347-3735.

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA.

VA Reaches Out to Homeowners Affected by Gulf Oil Crisis

2010-08-21T08:20:00.000-04:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veterans in the Gulf States impacted by the recent oil spill may qualify for delayed mortgage payments if their mortgages are already guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“We must assist these Veterans in this difficult time, just as they have supported us in their sacrifice to the Nation.”

“We are strongly urging mortgage companies to extend every possible forbearance to Veterans whose livelihoods have been affected by the oil spill crisis,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

Shinseki noted that several mortgage companies have already announced plans to waive late payment charges and suspend negative reporting to credit bureaus on affected borrowers. VA is asking all mortgage companies to follow this example.

“Through no fault of their own, many of our Veterans are out of work and are struggling to earn an income,” the Secretary added. “We must assist these Veterans in this difficult time, just as they have supported us in their sacrifice to the Nation.”

VA has information on its website, www.homeloans.va.gov, that provides basic guidance for Veterans affected by a major disaster. Veterans in need of mortgage counseling may also contact their nearest VA regional loan center at 1-877-827-3702 for help and information, regardless of whether or not they have a VA home loan.

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U.S. Census Bureau Releases Detailed Information on Nation's Housing; Monthly Housing Costs Reach $1,000 for Homeowners

2010-08-19T16:54:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The nation's homeowners paid a median of $1,000 in monthly housing costs in 2009, compared with $808 for renters, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, renters usually paid a higher percentage of their household income on these costs than did owners (31 percent compared with 20 percent).

These new figures come from the 2009 American Housing Survey, the definitive source of information on the quality of housing in the United States. Statistics are provided for apartments, single-family homes, manufactured housing, new construction and vacant housing units.

Issued jointly every two years by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, this survey provides detailed information on the characteristics of the nation's housing stock.

A wide range of specific topics is covered, such as the presence of air conditioning, crowding, housing costs, special living services offered to older residents, safety equipment present, type of heating fuel used, satisfaction with the neighborhood, cost of utilities and size of the home. The survey also covers the demographic characteristics of the housing units' occupants.

"So many of these measures are really unique to this survey," notes Tamara Cole, chief of the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey Branch. "Together they provide a comprehensive view of the quality of the nation's housing stock. This survey is also a longitudinal one, meaning it follows the same unit over time. For example, you can track the remodeling done to a specific unit from one survey to the next."

The 2009 survey indicates that respondents are generally quite content with where they live: about 70 percent rate their homes an 8, 9, or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 28 percent giving them the "best" rating of 10. Residents of new construction tend to rate their homes even more highly: 84 percent gave them between an 8 and 10, and 45 percent gave a perfect 10 rating. Likewise, more than two-thirds of residents (68 percent) rated their neighborhood highly with 25 percent giving it a "best" rating. People living in newly built homes rate their neighborhoods especially highly: 75 percent (rated highly) and 35 percent (rated best), respectively. (See Graphs 1 and 2.)

Other highlights for the nearly 112 million occupied housing units:
-- The median year housing units were built was in 1974, with
owner-occupied units being slightly newer (median of 1975 compared
with 1971 for renter-occupied units).
-- The median purchase price of homes was $107,500; for a newly
constructed home, it was $240,000.
-- Thirty-two percent of owner-occupied units were owned free and clear,
66 percent had a regular and/or home equity mortgage and 2 percent had
only a line-of-credit.
-- The most important consideration for recent movers in choosing their
homes was financial (28 percent), followed by room layout/design (15
percent) and size of home (10 percent). Furthermore, the most common
reasons recent movers had for choosing their neighborhoods were
convenience to job (20 percent), convenience to friends or relatives
(14 percent), look/design of neighborhood (10 percent) and the house
itself (10 percent).
-- About two-thirds (64 percent) of the units used a warm-air furnace for
heating; 12 percent used an electric heat pump; and 11 percent used a
steam or hot water system. The latter is increasingly falling out of
use as only 2 percent of new units use this system.
-- About half of homes (48 percent) had a separate dining room and three
in 10 (30 percent) reported two or more living rooms or recreation
rooms. About one-third (35 percent) had a usable fireplace.
-- About two-thirds of housing units (65 percent) had central air
conditioning and another 21 percent had window units; for new units,
the percentage with central air conditioning was even higher (89
percent).
-- About nine in 10 units (93 percent) reported the presence of a smoke
detector. Additionally, 36 percent reported having a working carbon
monoxide detector, 45 percent purchased or recharged a fire
extinguisher in the last two years and 5 percent had a sprinkler
system.
-- Most homes had three or more bedrooms (64 percent), with the
percentage even higher in new homes (80 percent). Additionally, about
half of homes (51 percent) had two or more bathrooms, with the
percentage even higher (89 percent) in new homes.
-- Ten percent of communities had secured entrances, with the likelihood
somewhat higher (15 percent) in new communities.

Data from this survey are available at the national and regional level, and for inside and outside metropolitan statistical areas, and urban and rural areas.

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Homeowner Confidence in Real Estate Market Dips; 1 in 3 Think Worst Is Yet to Come, While 38% Think Local Home Values Have Reached Bottom

2010-08-19T11:39:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Homeowners(i) are more pessimistic about the short-term future of home values in their local market than they have been in the past three quarters, according to the Zillow second quarter Homeowner Confidence Survey(ii). One-third (33 percent) believe home values in their local housing market have not yet reached a bottom, while 38 percent believe they have already reached a bottom.

More than one-quarter (28 percent) of U.S. homeowners said home values in their local real estate market will decrease in the next six months, up from 20 percent in the first quarter. Additionally, less than one-third (30 percent) believe home values in their local market will increase, down from 42 percent in the first quarter.

Despite the increasing pessimism, a large number of homeowners anxiously await the opportunity to sell. Five percent of U.S. homeowners say they are very likely to put their home on the market in the next six months if they see signs of a real estate market turnaround. This translates into 3.8 million homes with the potential to come into the market(iii). By comparison, 5.2 million existing homes were sold in all of 2009(iv).

Looking backward, homeowners also became slightly more pessimistic about the performance of their own homes' values in the past year. Less than a quarter (24 percent) of homeowners said their home had increased in value in the past year, compared to 27 percent in the first quarter. In reality, 34 percent of homes increased in value in the second quarter, according to the Zillow Q2 Real Estate Market Reports.

"As homeowners have been so inundated recently with news of declining home sales post-tax credit, it's no surprise that they would become more pessimistic about the future of home values," said Dr. Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.com®. "Homeowners have become much more responsive to current market conditions than they were just two years ago, when a more typical reaction was denial.

"Given this sentiment, we're surprised so many homeowners believe their market has already bottomed. Although our Q2 reports indicated signs of stabilization in 30 percent of markets we cover, we're concerned that this was at least partly due to the homebuyer tax credits. We're already seeing payback for the credits in the form of declining home sales, and this trend will push up inventory levels and exert downward pressure on home values. Add in the inventory from the millions of sidelined sellers and we'll take more steps back. Our forecast remains largely unchanged: We're in for an L-shaped recovery that will likely keep annualized home value appreciation very low for the next three to five years."

Homeowner Perception by Region
  ------------------------------

  Homeowner Perception of Home Value       US Q2
   Change in Past Year by Region           2010    Northeast  Midwest
  ----------------------------------      ------   ---------  -------
  My Home's Value Has Decreased                49%        40%        50%
  ----------------------------------          ---        ---        ---
  My Home's Value Has Stayed the Same          27%        37%        30%
  -----------------------------------         ---        ---        ---
  My Home's Value Has Increased                24%        23%        20%
  -----------------------------               ---        ---        ---
  Market Reality: Homes Reporting Year-
   over-Year Value Changes in Q2,
   according to Zillow
  -------------------------------------
  Actual Percent of Homes that Decreased       61%        53%        70%
  --------------------------------------      ---        ---        ---
  Actual Percent of Homes that Stayed the
   Same (+/-1%)                                 7%         9%         7%
  ---------------------------------------     ---        ---        ---
  Actual Percent of Homes that Increased       32%        38%        23%
  --------------------------------------      ---        ---        ---
  Q2 2010 Home Value Misperception
   Index(v)                                    -2         -5          4
  --------------------------------            ---        ---        ---
  Q1 2010 Home Value Misperception Index        5         -2          4
  --------------------------------------      ---        ---        ---
  Q2 2009 Home Value Misperception Index       13         10         10
  --------------------------------------      ---        ---        ---
  Homeowner Perception of Local Market
   Value in Next Six Months
  ------------------------------------
  Home Values In Local Market Will
   Decrease                                    28%        24%        32%
  --------------------------------            ---        ---        ---
  Home Values In Local Market Will Stay
   the Same                                    42%        45%        46%
  -------------------------------------       ---        ---        ---
  Home Values In Local Market Will
   Increase                                    30%        31%        22%
  --------------------------------            ---        ---        ---
  Homeowner Appreciation Expectations
   over the Next 12 Months
  -----------------------------------
  How Much Own Home's Value will Increase       6%        10%        10%
  (Median number based on homeowners who
   expect their home to increase in value
   in next 12 months)                         ---        ---        ---
  ---------------------------------------
  How Much Own Home's Value will Decrease      10%        10%        20%
  (Median number based on homeowners who
   expect their home to decrease in value
   in next 12 months)                         ---        ---        ---
  ---------------------------------------
  Homeowner Perception of the Timing of
   the Real Estate Market Bottom
  -------------------------------------
  The Housing Market Has Already Hit
   Bottom                                      38%        39%        36%
  ----------------------------------          ---        ---        ---
  The Housing Market Has Not Yet Reached
   Bottom                                      33%        35%        32%
  --------------------------------------      ---        ---        ---
  I Don't Know When the Housing Market
   Will Reach Bottom                           29%        26%        32%
  ------------------------------------        ---        ---        ---





  Homeowner Perception of Home Value Change in
   Past Year by Region                           South   West
  --------------------------------------------   -----   ----
  My Home's Value Has Decreased                      47%     65%
  -----------------------------                     ---     ---
  My Home's Value Has Stayed the Same                25%     15%
  -----------------------------------               ---     ---
  My Home's Value Has Increased                      28%     20%
  -----------------------------                     ---     ---
  Market Reality: Homes Reporting Year-over-
   Year Value Changes in Q2, according to
   Zillow
  ------------------------------------------
  Actual Percent of Homes that Decreased             65%     58%
  --------------------------------------            ---     ---
  Actual Percent of Homes that Stayed the Same
   (+/-1%)                                            7%      7%
  --------------------------------------------      ---     ---
  Actual Percent of Homes that Increased             28%     35%
  --------------------------------------            ---     ---
  Q2 2010 Home Value Misperception Index(v)           8     -15
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---
  Q1 2010 Home Value Misperception Index             14     -12
  --------------------------------------            ---     ---
  Q2 2009 Home Value Misperception Index             18       7
  --------------------------------------            ---     ---
  Homeowner Perception of Local Market Value in
   Next Six Months
  ---------------------------------------------
  Home Values In Local Market Will Decrease          28%     26%
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---
  Home Values In Local Market Will Stay the
   Same                                              41%     36%
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---
  Home Values In Local Market Will Increase          31%     38%
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---
  Homeowner Appreciation Expectations over the
   Next 12 Months
  --------------------------------------------
  How Much Own Home's Value will Increase             5%     10%
  (Median number based on homeowners who expect
   their home to increase in value in next 12
   months)                                          ---     ---
  ---------------------------------------------
  How Much Own Home's Value will Decrease            10%     10%
  (Median number based on homeowners who expect
   their home to decrease in value in next 12
   months)                                          ---     ---
  ---------------------------------------------
  Homeowner Perception of the Timing of the
   Real Estate Market Bottom
  -----------------------------------------
  The Housing Market Has Already Hit Bottom          37%     40%
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---
  The Housing Market Has Not Yet Reached Bottom      33%     32%
  ---------------------------------------------     ---     ---
  I Don't Know When the Housing Market Will
   Reach Bottom                                      30%     29%
  -----------------------------------------         ---     ---

  (NOTE: Column percentages may not total 100 percent due to rounding)

Long-term home value expectations vary by region

Looking further into the future, the majority of homeowners believe their own homes' values will either increase (27 percent) or stay the same (35 percent) in the next 12 months, while 12 percent expect a decrease and 26 percent don't know.

Of those who expect their home's value to increase, the median expectation is a rise of 6 percent, although that varies by geography. Northeastern and Western homeowners who expect an increase anticipate a median rise of 10 percent, while Southern and Midwestern homeowners expect a median increase of 5 percent. Those who expect their home's value to decrease in the next year anticipate a median decrease of 10 percent.

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LendingTree.com Weekly Mortgage Rate Pulse Reports Rates Fall to New Lows

2010-08-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

LendingTree lowest rates for Georgia - 3.88% (4.01% APR)

/PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates fell to new lows this week, according to the LendingTree Weekly Mortgage Rate Pulse, a snapshot of the lowest and average mortgage rates available within the LendingTree network of lenders.

On August 17, lenders on the LendingTree network offered mortgage rates as low as 4.00 percent (4.13% APR) for a 30-year fixed mortgage, 3.5 percent (3.85% APR) for a 15-year fixed mortgage and 2.875 percent (3.41% APR) for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). Rates fell one eighth of a point week-over-week for all product types.

Average home loan rates offered by lenders on the LendingTree network were 4.52 percent (4.70% APR) for 30-year fixed mortgages, 4.14 percent (4.43% APR) for 15-year fixed mortgages and 3.48 percent (3.72% APR) for 5/1 ARMs.

"The current rate spread has widened to 108 basis points or 1.08%, approaching the high of 111 basis points we reached at the end of July," said Cameron Findlay, Chief Economist of LendingTree.com. "For perspective, the median spread this year has been 74 basis points. So consumers in the market for a home loan should really be doing their homework to ensure they're getting the best possible deal before locking in a rate. Spreads this wide provide an opportunity for borrowers to take control by using sites like LendingTree.com to negotiate with multiple lenders."

Below is a state-by-state comparison of mortgage data including a snapshot of the lowest 30-year fixed rates offered by lenders on the LendingTree network, average loan-to-value ratio and percentage of consumers with negative equity.

Additional refinance mortgage rates are available at http://www.lendingtree.com/mortgage-loans/rates/.

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Fannie Mae Clarifies Undisclosed Liabilities Policy

2010-08-13T15:48:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) today issued Selling Guide Announcement SEL-2010-11, which clarifies that lenders are not required to obtain a second credit report just before loan closing. Rather, Fannie Mae is reminding lenders to have processes in place to facilitate borrower disclosure of changes in financial circumstances throughout the origination process.

"This is an important update, because every mortgage loan delivered to Fannie Mae has to be underwritten to establish that the borrower is able to repay the debt," said Deborah Slade-Horsey, Vice President for Single-Family Risk Policy. "Our primary objectives are to support borrowers' ability to sustain homeownership and to strike a reasonable balance between requirements that may reduce loan repurchases and requirements that might over-burden lenders' origination processes."

The updated policy reminds lenders that Fannie Mae expects them to have processes in place to facilitate borrower disclosure of changes in financial circumstances throughout the origination process. It also provides an expanded debt-to-income (DTI) ratio tolerance that will lead to fewer loans having to be re-underwritten.

Lenders will only be required to re-underwrite a loan after the initial underwriting decision has been made if the borrower discloses or the lender discovers changes that cause the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to exceed 45% or to increase by 3 percentage points or more.

Fannie Mae exists to expand affordable housing and bring global capital to local communities in order to serve the U.S. housing market. Fannie Mae has a federal charter and operates in America's secondary mortgage market to enhance the liquidity of the mortgage market by providing funds to mortgage bankers and other lenders so that they may lend to home buyers. Our job is to help those who house America.

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