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VHC News Clips, volume 2009-28 (January 14, 2010)
F.C. Council Votes Preliminary Approval for Senior Affordable Housing Project
Falls Church News Press, January 12
(RECAP: The Falls Church City Council, four hours and 42 minutes after convening Monday night, gave a 6-1 preliminary approval for special exceptions permitting the development of a 66-unit senior affordable housing project at 350 S. Washington St .)Housing Project Funds Expected
Southwest Virginia Today, January 12
(RECAP: Wytheville's public housing shortage could improve if funding for a proposed 24-unit apartment complex is approved. Funding from federal and state grants is expected to be announced within 90 days.)New Housing Development Opens in Wytheville
WSLS10, January 12
(RECAP: News release from Congressman Rick Boucher's office: “The new High Meadows Town Homes fill a great need in our community—the need for high quality, affordable rental housing. The new town homes have been built with the assistance of a federal guaranteed loan of $2,125,000 provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Rural Development.)Recession Impact: Housing
GoDanRiver.com, January 11
(RECAP: Danville , like other downstate areas, saw and continues to see increased foreclosure activity or serious delinquencies on mortgages because of high unemployment, said Barry Merchant, policy analyst for Virginia Housing Development Authority.)HUD White Paper Outlines Current Rental Market Trends
from National Low Income Housing Coalition's Memo to Members, January 11
(RECAP: Increased rental vacancy rates nationwide have not translated into greater availability of homes affordable to low income households and the assisted stock in particular has remained tight, according to a HUD working paper on the U.S. rental housing market. The paper also finds strong evidence of a trend towards households moving in together to save on housing costs.)Fannie Mae Adopts New REO Policy
RISMedia.com, January 11
(RECAP: In an effort to expedite REO sales, Fannie Mae has adopted a new policy. As part of this policy, Fannie Mae may accept offers to purchase homes it has repossessed without notifying loan servicers, and loan servicers may be required to reimburse Fannie Mae for a loss if it turns out the original mortgage on the home did not meet its eligibility or underwriting requirements.)Sustainability Task Force Members Prep for First Meeting
Sun Gazette, January 11
(RECAP: Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette will chair the county government's new task force on reducing Arlington 's “environmental footprint.” As the community Energy and Sustainability Task Force prepares to start work later in the week, several members expressed hope that the effort will be pragmatic and will help the broader community plug in to the sentiment of sustainability. The task force will hold its first meeting on Jan. 15.)A New 'AURA': Organization Set to Revitalize Abandoned, Foreclosed Properties
TheTownTalk.com, January 11
(RECAP: AURA will be a nonprofit agency consulting with Alexandria 's Office of Community Development to help revitalize urban communities and provide home ownership to low- to moderate-income families.)The Haven Set to Begin Helping Homeless
NBC29.com, January 10
(RECAP: A project to help Charlottesville 's homeless get back on their feet is about to open its doors downtown. The Haven on East Market Street is scheduled to open January 18.)Fredericksburg Housing Prices: Median Price of Houses in Fredericksburg Rises for First Time in Three Years
Fredericksburg Star, January 9
(RECAP: The Fredericksburg-area median housing price rose 2 percent in December from the same month in 2008, the first time that's happened in more than three years.)Local Home Sales Plunge; Prices Rebound Slightly
The Virginian-Pilot, January 9
(RECAP: Home sales in South Hampton Roads fell steeply in December, according to a report released Friday.)After 6-year Wait, Protection from Bad Credit Reports
The Washington Post, January 9
(RECAP: For mortgage applicants and home purchasers, it has been a six-year wait, but the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve finally have come out with important consumer credit protection rules first required by Congress in 2003.)Business Digest: Mortgage Delinquencies Up at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
The Washington Post, January 9
(RECAP: Delinquent home loans at government-controlled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac surged 20 percent from July through September, according to a new report by the companies' regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency.)Homeless on the Peninsula Brave the Cold as Best They Can
Daily Press, January 8
(RECAP: The winter weather is a dangerous time to be out on the streets for the homeless.)Homelessness and the Iron Range
Northland's News Center , January 8
(RECAP: The staff at Virginia 's Housing and Redevelopment Authority is forced to turn away 96 percent of people in need because of a lack of housing.)Assisted-Living Facilities a Popular Option for Virginians
Richmond-Times Dispatch, January 8
(RECAP: A study out this week in the journal Health Affairs ranked Virginia second in the nation in the number of assisted-living units per older resident. The growth has been driven by demand for supportive senior housing.)Fed Plan to Stop Buying Mortgages Feeds Recovery Worries
The Wall Street Journal, January 8
(RECAP: The Federal Reserve's pledge to stop buying mortgages by the end of March is sparking fears among home builders, mortgage investors and even some Fed officials that mortgage rates could rise and knock the fragile housing recovery off course.)Walk Away From Your Mortgage!
New York Times, January 7
(RECAP: Is it irresponsible to strategically default on a mortgage? Businesses – in particular Wall Street banks – make such calculations routinely.)Fed Bought $12 billion Net in Agency MBS in Latest Week
Reuters, January 7
(RECAP: The purchases brought the U.S. central bank's purchase of mortgage bonds guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae to roughly $1.123 trillion since January of 2009.)Henrico-Based Prospect Homes to Return Properties to Lenders
Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 7
(RECAP: Prospect Homes of Richmond Inc. will give 95 lots, houses and partially built houses back to three lenders.)Council OKs Rezoning for Housing for Elderly: The New Apartments in Christiansburg Aim to Provide Affordable Housing for People 62 and Older .
The Roanoke Times, January 7
(RECAP: The town council unanimously approved a rezoning request that will allow for the development of about 37 single-family homes and some apartments for senior citizens.)FHA Boosting Home Loan Limits in Lynchburg Area
The News & Advance, January 5
(RECAP: A federal mortgage insurer has raised the ceiling on the size of a home loan people can get in the Lynchburg area, but local real estate agents say the change is unlikely to move many homes off the market.)News Clips Archives
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