Archives

VANCOUVER, WA - October 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Vancouver-based exterior home remodeler that allegedly built up sales by misleading customers agrees to comply with state consumer protection laws. Northwest First Choice settled claims brought by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

October 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, stated that second-half 2010 property taxes are due on Monday, November 1, because October 31 falls on a Sunday this year. “If you have not received your 2010 second-half tax statement or have lost it, you can visit our web site at www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or call 397-2252 for a duplicate statement.”

SEATTLE, DC - October 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released its 2009 Seattle Metropolitan Area Housing Survey, the most comprehensive analysis of the area's housing stock since the Department's last substantive assessment in 2004. HUD estimates that there were nearly 1.5 million housing units in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties in 2009, more than 15 percent of which were constructed since 2000 (see attached data).

SEATTLE, WA - October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that his office has uncovered evidence that suggests foreclosure trustees are ignoring consumer protection laws in Washington, adding a new layer to a stack of problems reported in the mortgage-servicing industry. He sent letters today to 52 trustees outlining his concerns and calling on them to suspend any questionable foreclosures in the state.

SEATTLE, WA - October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and Scott Jarvis, director of the state Department of Financial Institutions, announced that they have joined attorneys general and banking regulators nationwide in forming a multistate group to investigate whether mortgage servicers have improperly submitted affidavits or other documents related to foreclosure in their states

OLYMPIA, WA - October 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank that provides loan modifications for residents in Washington and seven other states who obtained problematic mortgages from Wachovia Bank and Golden West Corp., which did business as World Savings Bank.

Olympia, WA - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Division of Securities obtained a Preliminary Injunction in King County Superior Court against the Seattle-based Chesterfield Mortgage Investors, Inc. (CMI). A receiver, Mel R. Codd, was appointed for CMI.

OLYMPIA, WA - August 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following concerted efforts to prevent unnecessary foreclosures, the Washington Attorney General’s Office and a group of other state attorneys general and banking regulators say they’ve seen improvements in programs designed to help homeowners.

OLYMPIA, WA - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is pleased to announce the successful implementation of the new mortgage licensing requirements as required by the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (the “S.A.F.E. Act”).

Washington, D.C. - July 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) included major funding in the Fiscal Year 2011 Senate Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill to help families in Washington state and across the country who are suffering in the current foreclosure crisis

WASHINGTON, DC - July 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owner, management company and former manager of Summerhill Place Apartments, a 268-unit apartment complex in Renton, Wash.,

Washington, D.C. - June 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the announcement made by NeighborWorks America that over $500,000 will be awarded to three Washington state community-based organizations to rehabilitate affordable housing.

OLYMPIA, WA - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) issued a Statement Charges, Notice of Intent To Enter an Order to Cease and Desist and Notice Of Intent To Impose Fines And Recover Costs against a Seattle-based real estate development company

COLUMBIA, MD - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) have partnered to create the Washington Green Communities Retrofit Loan Fund, a $2 million financing pool available to owners of multifamily affordable housing properties in the state of Washington.

Seattle, WA - June 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Redfin today released new data on the King County real estate market showing that the median price of a single-family home increased 2.5% from April to May, and 2.5% year over year as well. Redfin attributes the increase in median price in part to the federal tax credit, which required buyers to be under contract on a home sale by April 30. Other metrics were weak: sales volume for King County was mixed from April to May and competition among home-buyers declined, even though the number of houses for sale dropped 5.4%

Seattle, WA - June 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Seattle City Council today approved (7-0, Rasmussen and O'Brien disqualified) legislation to better protect renters from sub-standard rental housing conditions.

Seattle, WA - April 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- ROBERT ERNEST BRANDT, 42, a former Kirkland attorney and escrow officer, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle yesterday of conspiracy and four counts of wire fraud.

SEATTLE, WA - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- - Mayor Mike McGinn has named Rick Hooper as the new interim director of the city's Office of Housing, citing Hooper's 30 years of experience with the city and his success implementing the Seattle Housing Levy.

OLYMPIA, WA - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is pleased to announce a new resource for Washington consumers seeking licensing information on mortgage lenders.

OLYMPIA, WA - January 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Securities Division obtained a Consent Order from King County resident Michael Robert Mastro today.