Washington homeowners facing foreclosure can now access brochures about homeownership counseling and mediation services in 11 languages. The Washington State Legislature established the Foreclosure Fairness Act and the Mediation Program in 2011. The program, overseen by the Department of Commerce, is designed to help homeowners and their lenders explore possible alternatives to foreclosure and reach a resolution when possible.

Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, announced that new this year, the annual Property Tax Foreclosure Auction will be held online via an Internet-based foreclosure auction provider called “bid4assets” .

The City of Tacoma Planning Commission is seeking public comment on proposed land use regulations concerning a Temporary Homeless Camps Permitting Process. The proposal would amend the Tacoma Municipal Code, Chapter 13.05 Land Use Permit Procedures and Chapter 13.06 Zoning, to add regulations for a permit review process for temporary homeless camps run by religious organizations.

Today, in a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary George Sheldon, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Housing Subcommittee, urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strongly consider a new federal grant application from YouthCare’s James W. Ray Orion Center in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Officials at the Orion Center learned in October of 2013 that the facility’s existing federal grant – totaling nearly $1 million – would not be renewed for 2014, meaning the center, one of only two in King County tailored for youth and young adults, would be forced to turn away those without a place to sleep and cut outreach services beginning next month

State Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-23rd, Poulsbo) has been tapped by her colleagues to chair the House committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs. The panel is charged with considering issues relating to, among other things, community development, veteran-related legislation, tourism and the government-to-government relationship of the state and Indian tribes. The committee also considers bills relating to housing, including the accessibility and affordability of housing, state assistance to low-income housing, housing authorities, and the Housing Finance Commission.

OLYMPIA - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Division of Consumer Services is pleased to announce a multi-state loan servicing settlement with Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, state Attorneys General and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

SEATTLE - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ocwen Financial Corporation of Atlanta, Georgia, and its subsidiary, Ocwen Loan Servicing, have agreed to a joint state-federal settlement with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, 48 additional states and the District of Columbia, and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- This winter is the perfect time for Tacoma residents to start thinking about gardening. Or, more specifically, about rain gardens. The City of Tacoma has launched a pilot incentive program to help homeowners design and install rain gardens. Residents throughout Tacoma may request soil testing and design assistance now, so they’re ready to plant this spring

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle has adopted a Resource Conservation Management Plan (RCMP) that outlines how the City will reduce energy use in City-owned buildings 20% by 2020. A 20% energy use reduction by 2020 (compared to the 2008 baseline) would also result in utility cost savings of roughly $2.75 million per year after reaching the reduction goal.

SEATTLE - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Mike McGinn and Office of Housing Director Rick Hooper have announced over $27 million in affordable housing investments, funded primarily from the Seattle Housing Levy. The 2013 funding awards are provided to housing organizations in Seattle who will build or preserve 432 quality rental units that are rent-restricted for at least 50 years.

SEATTLE - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution today relating to principle mortgage reduction and foreclosure. The resolution establishes a City of Seattle Interdepartmental Team, or IDT, which will evaluate whether principal reduction and other foreclosure prevention programs effectively provide assistance to low- income homeowners.

OAK HARBOR, Wash. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- When the homeowners in the 59-site mobile-home park formerly known as Thunderbird gathered to give thanks last week, they had something new to add to the list: They now owned the land under their homes as well

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- When a portfolio of nine privately owned Section 8-assisted housing complexes located in five counties scattered across Washington state was offered for sale last spring, the King County Housing Authority spearheaded a collaborative effort to purchase it. The housing authorities of Bremerton, Grays Harbor County, Yakima, and Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee participated in assuring the preservation of a total of 337 homes within the various communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act, legislation that would remove unique, significant barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth. Among other things, the legislation would require colleges and universities to improve outreach, resources, and policies for homeless and at risk youth, including housing options

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Tacoma and King County Office of Civil Rights received additional funding for more comprehensive fair housing education and outreach efforts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Tacoma and King County Office of Civil Rights received additional funding for more comprehensive fair housing education and outreach efforts.

Vancouver, WA - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pete Munroe, program manager for Clark County’s Housing and Community Development Program, was honored with the Roy D. Hoover Award last week by the National Association for County Community and Economic Development.

White Center - October 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The final 87 low-income apartments at Seola Gardens in White Center have opened, bringing to 177 the total number of apartment homes at this new mixed-income, master-planned community. All site development including utilities, roads, trails, playgrounds, fences, and community gardens has been completed. Construction and sales of single-family homes is well underway. The remodeled Head Start center has reopened and the community center, with after-school, job assistance and ESL programs, is alive with activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer, stated that second-half property taxes are due on Thursday, October 31, 2013. “If you have not received your 2013 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 397-2252 for a duplicate statement.” Taxpayers may also receive their 2013 tax statement electronically by signing up with our free-to-use third-party vendor at www.doxo.com/clarkcounty. Once enrolled, they can pay their property taxes by electronic check at no charge

SEATTLE - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Housing Finance Commission has honored former Washington state Governor Mike Lowry with a lifetime achievement award for his work on behalf of homeownership for farmworkers