COLUMBUS, OH - March 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved over $19.3 million in funding for seven affordable housing developments. Approximately $11.5 million of funds approved were provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). more »

WASHINGTON D.C. - March 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced eight new neighborhood development grants totaling $2,584,000. The funds, awarded by NeighborWorks America, will promote and preserve affordable housing for residents of Ohio. more »

Cleveland, OH - March 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — CABOR will join REALTORR organizations across the country to celebrate the first-ever REALTORR Nationwide Open House weekend on April 10 and 11, 2010. According to Chairman of the Board of Directors for CABOR, George J. Pofok, CCIM, SIOR, the purpose of the countrywide campaign is to increase awareness of the benefits of buying a home, give sellers an opportunity to increase exposure of their home for sale and spread the word about the expanded first-time homebuyer tax credit, which ends April 30, 2010. more »

COLUMBUS, OH - March 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited Columbus Housing Partnership’s housing advisory center today to outline the need for additional federal foreclosure funds for Ohio. Brown outlined his efforts to bring more foreclosure assistance to Ohio - including efforts to improve the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and ensure that Ohio is included in future awards from the Help for the Hardest-Hit Housing Markets (4HM) program. more »

Washington, D.C. - March 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH13) joined Ohio Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH11) and Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH15), as well as Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Kendrick Meek (D-FL) to introduce H.R. 4635–a measure to combat foreclosures.  Ohio has been particularly impacted by the foreclosure crisis and projections indicate no signs of change. In Ohio’s 13th Congressional District alone, 17,555 homes are projected to be foreclosed upon over the next four years.  This legislation will require lenders of Federal loans or guarantees to enter into mediation with homeowners prior to placing the property in foreclosure or a sheriff’s sale. more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH11) collaborated with fellow Ohioans, Representatives Betty Sutton (D-OH13) and Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH15), and Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA35) and Kendrick Meek (D-FL17) to introduce H.R. 4635–a measure to combat foreclosures. more »

Washington, DC - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH), with 11 other Members of the Ohio delegation, have sent a letter to President Obama demanding that the administration reassess the criteria used to develop the $1.5 billion “innovation fund” to provide grants to “the states that are the hardest hit by this housing crisis.” more »

Washington, DC - February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Mike. Turner today announced the release of a report offering an analysis and policy considerations to the national foreclosure crisis.  The policy considerations are based on the testimony of local and federal panelists.  The report, “The Impact of the Housing Crisis on Local Communities and the Federal Response,” was compiled as a follow-up to a housing forum Rep. Turner convened in coordination with the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition.   more »

COLUMBUS, OH - February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved over $4 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds to be issued in an effort to preserve a 150-unit development located near downtown Warren in Trumball county. The project will also benefit from $1,500,000 in funding from OHFA’s Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP) and $1,500,000 in the form of an equity bridge loan. more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today called on President Obama to expand his recently-announced foreclosure assistance program to Ohio. Brown pointed to Ohio’s record number of foreclosure filings in 2009 and the staggering statistic that nearly 16 percent of Ohio mortgage holders are in or near foreclosure. more »

Washington, DC - February 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement after an announcement by the White House to provide $1.5 billion to five states for foreclosure prevention: more »

Cincinnati, OH - February 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Treasury announced that it will partner with U.S. Bank to offer the Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-LINK) program to help Ohioans save money as they make their homes more energy efficient. Ohio homeowners are eligible to receive a 3 percent interest rate-reduction on qualifying bank loans for five years. They may also qualify for up to $1500 in federal tax credits and additional rebates. more »

COLUMBUS, OH - February 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, today announced that Habitat for Humanity of Ohio and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio will receive grants totaling $337,500 through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund Discretionary Grant Program, administered by the Department’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships. more »

February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — CABOR, one of the largest REALTOR® associations in the state (CABOR) is partnering NHSGC and CHN, two of the largest community development corporations in Northeast Ohio, to combat foreclosures. On February 26, 2010, CABOR will host a “Foreclosure Intervention Luncheon” to provide REALTORS with tools and resources to help them to open a dialogue with their clients, friends and family about the sensitive but relevant topic of foreclosure. more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the Obama Administration today regarding high foreclosure rates in Ohio and the need to improve foreclosure mitigation efforts that help Americans stay in their homes. Brown pointed to the need to improve the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) so that it helps more Ohio families avoid foreclosure by allowing them to refinance their mortgages and achieve lower monthly payments. more »