Portland, OR. - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D- Ore.) and Governor Ted Kulongoski via video today to announce the creation of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities within HUD. The creation of this office reflects elements of the Livable Communities Act that Merkley co-sponsored last year. more »

Tony Schwartz promised to help distressed homeowners, then illegally sold interests in homes

Salem, OR - February 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) issued a cease-and-desist order and assessed $250,000 in fines against Anthony “Tony” Schwartz and two businesses he controlled for selling interests in foreclosed homes he seized in a complex “foreclosure rescue” scheme. more »

PORTLAND, Ore. - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) — Lee Moore has been elected chair of the Housing Authority of Portland’s (HAP’s) Board of Commissioners for 2010, and Brian Lessler and Amie Pico have been appointed to the nine-member citizen commission. Lessler fills one of the two Gresham seats on the board, and Pico is the new resident commissioner. more »

Salem, OR - December 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The State Housing Council approved additional funding to housing developers throughout the state, boosting the number of affordable housing units statewide. more »

Salem, OR - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) today announced a funding opportunity for farmworker housing. The agency’s Farmworker Housing Tax Credit program for 2010 will make available $3,625,000 in 2010 tax credits ($7.25 million in eligible costs) to construct, acquire and/or rehabilitate housing for low- or very-low-income farmworkers. more »

Munich/London/Mainz - November 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank acting as Facility Agent and Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG (WestImmo) are pleased to announce that they have provided Arka Property Funds with a €48.5 million investment financing for Alfa Shopping Center in Olsztyn, Poland. Westimmo in addition provided a PLN 25.0 million VAT facility.The transaction was successfully arranged, underwritten and completed in a Club Deal structure on 17 November 2009. more »

PORTLAND, OR - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Senior United States District Judge Robert E. Jones today sentenced Lee Howlett, 46, of Portland, to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Howlett pled guilty in February 2009 to a single count of conspiring to make false statements to financial institutions. more »

Washington, DC - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today the Senate passed legislation that will increase funding for housing and supportive services for veterans. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley voted in favor of the measure which was passed as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. more »

Redmond, OR - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — With the continuing unprecedented need for housing assistance in Central Oregon, Housing Works will begin processing the first fifty Mainstream Voucher applicants from the current waiting list. Mainstream Vouchers are targeted at income eligible, non-elderly disabled households. more »

Salem, OR - November 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Nearly $70.5 million in combined grants, loans and tax credits to contractors throughout the state will help fund 444 units of affordable housing, providing hundreds of lower-income Oregonians a place to call home. more »

Washington, DC - November 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley signed on Tuesday as a co-sponsor of three bills to provide shelter and assistance to homeless veterans. The bills will authorize funding to expand housing and health services for low-income veterans.

“Our veterans put their lives on the line for our nation. It is outrageous that we would allow any of them to fall through the cracks this way,” said Merkley. “We must do more to eliminate homelessness among our veterans. Our service members stand up for America when on duty. America must stand up for our service members when they return home.” more »

Redmond, OR - October 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Housing Works announced today that Guardian Real Estate Services (Guardian) of Portland, Oregon, has been selected to manage its multi-million dollar housing portfolio in Central Oregon. Guardian will provide on-site management for Housing Works’ affordable workforce, family and senior communities in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Sisters. more »

PORTLAND, OR - October 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Oregon families facing foreclosure, seeking affordable rental housing, or hoping to buy their first home will have a greater opportunity to find housing, or keep the homes they have, because of $191,424 in housing counseling grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (see attached list). more »

Salem, OR - October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — In its ongoing effort to protect consumers from mortgage lending fraud, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) has revoked the license of Tigard-based Pacific Rim Mortgage, Inc. and issued a cease-and-desist order against its owner, Victoria Bigham. more »

Medford, OR - October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) – Oregonians concerned about losing their home to foreclosure can receive help Saturday, Oct. 17, at an event in Medford organized by several government agencies, nonprofits, and real estate organizations. more »