Washington RealEstateRama

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former senior vice president and loan officer at Pierce Commercial Bank was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in the collapse of the bank, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. Shawn L. Portmann pleaded guilty September 18, 2012, to conspiracy to make false statements in loan applications and to make false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and one count of making a false statement in loan applications.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- If you’re looking to buy your first house in East King County, where housing prices are tough for the working class and middle class, there’s a program in King County that can help people back home in the 45th District.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, announced that a Property Tax Foreclosure Auction will be conducted on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 9 a.m. in the 6th Floor Hearing Room, Clark County Public Service Center Building, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, Washington. Lasher stated, “As of January 22, 2013, there are 33 properties subject for sale this year; however, this could change daily.” Interested persons may obtain a foreclosure property list from the Clark County Treasurer’s web site at w

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three Pierce County women who played important roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that crippled now defunct Pierce Commercial Bank were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. All three of the women worked for years with scheme leader Shawn Portmann, whose fraudulent loans resulted in losses of more than $10 million. Portmann will be sentenced later this month. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle will determine restitution later this year.

Washington, D.C. - January 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) applauded the Air Force’s decision today naming Fairchild Air Force Base as a candidate base to serve as one of the first “main operating bases” (MOB) to host the next-generation KC-46A refueling tankers. This is a huge win for Fairchild, which now moves on to the next round in the competition for these missions. As a next step, the Air Mobility Command will begin conducting site surveys at Fairchild and the other candidate bases. Next year, the Air Force will make its final basing decision for the first MOB

SEATTLE - December 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Light has significantly exceeded its energy conservation and renewable energy targets for the first compliance periods of Initiative 937 and is well on its way to meeting the state’s renewable energy targets through 2020

SEATTLE - December 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Mike McGinn and Councilmember Nick Licata today announced more than $19.5 million in capital funding for the construction of five new apartment buildings that will serve homeless individuals, low-income individuals graduating from high-service need housing, seniors, rent-burdened and homeless families and low-wage workers. The investment, primarily Seattle Housing Levy funds, will help create 302 new permanent apartments, including some set-aside to serve veterans. In addition, the funds will preserve 272 units of existing affordable housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD), made the following statement after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, released the 2012 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR). The report showed a 7.2 percent decline in veterans homelessness since 2011 and a 17.2 decline since 2009. However, the report also details a 1.4 percent increase among persons in families.

Vancouver, WA - December 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Board of County Commissioners today approved a balanced budget for 2013 and 2014 following public hearings that began Monday, as required by law.

SEATTLE - November 22, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Light is looking for three commercial office buildings to test an innovative energy conservation concept known as “pay-for-performance” in a three-year pilot program the utility believes will be the only one of its kind in the country.

Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, stated that second-half property taxes are due on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. “If you have not received your 2012 second-half tax statement or have lost it, you can visit our website at www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or contact the Treasurer’s Office at (360) 397-2252 for a duplicate statement.” Taxpayers may also receive their 2012 tax statement electronically by signing up with our free-to-use third-party vendor at www.doxo.com/clarkcounty. Once enrolled, taxpayers can pay their property taxes by electronic check at no charge.

SEATTLE, WA - October 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Mayor McGinn announced an innovative approach to helping commercial electric utility customers achieve energy savings. The Mayor announced a three- year pilot project that will test an energy conservation concept known as "pay for performance."

OLYMPIA - October 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Consumer Services Division of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) announced today they have filed 40 Statements of Charges against businesses preying on Washington homeowners facing foreclosure. None of the companies or individuals charged with offering these so-called mortgage rescue services are licensed with DFI, a requirement that provides essential consumer protections. In addition, none of the attorneys charged are licensed with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) to practice law in the state

Vancouver, WA - October 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Clark County manages household hazardous waste programs that have collected more than 35 million pounds of waste. You can help increase that total at a special collection event this Saturday.

Seattle - October 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Seattle City Council voted today (5-0) to approve rental housing inspection legislation, improving living conditions for Seattle's more than approximately 269,000 renters occupying 147,000 rental units. Council Bill 117569 provides a multi-faceted approach to addressing Seattle's sub-standard housing through a registration and inspection program.

Seattle - October 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, October 1, the Seattle City Council will cast the final vote on Council Bill 117569, rental housing registration and inspection legislation, a program that has been discussed since early 2010.

SEATTLE, WA - September 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor McGinn today announced new investments in human services as part of his 2013-14 Proposed Budget, including an expansion of a City program providing child care to low- and moderate-income families and increased assistance to homeless families with children. McGinn's budget also includes an increase in funding for human services providers to cover the costs of inflation.

SEATTLE, WA - September 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Seattle City Council passed legislation yesterday to revise the reporting requirements for buildings covered under the City’s pioneering Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Ordinance in order to strengthen the program and make it easier for owners of non-residential and multifamily residential properties to comply. Benchmarking energy use helps building owners determine the total amount of energy that their buildings use, which can help them track and control costs and prioritize energy and money-saving upgrades.

September 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, announced that second-half 2012 property tax statements have been mailed. Property tax statements include property tax levy amounts, special assessments, and certain fees. There were 66,609 statements mailed. “Taxpayers whose statements are not paid through a mortgage company and have not received their statement within ten days should visit our web site at www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or call the Treasurer’s Office at (360) 397-2252.” Taxpayers are responsible for paying their second-half property taxes by Wednesday, October 31, in order to avoid interest and penalties.”

SEATTLE, WA - September 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Light issued a request for proposals today for up to 150,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy or renewable energy credits per year, beginning in 2020.