Growing energy consumption by plug-in devices in Minnesota homes
ST. PAUL, MN - June 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Saving money on energy may be easier than Minnesotans think. A new study commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Office of Energy Security (OES) found that five minutes spent changing a simple computer setting could save the average Minnesota family $120 per year on its electricity bill. The savings can be achieved simply by putting a computer to sleep when inactive.
IDX Broker Software Simplifies the Home Search Process for Real Estate Professionals and Minneapolis...
EUGENE, OR - May 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. brings its time-saving technology to Blaine, Minnesota Realtor Kris Lindahl and the successful team at Edina Realty's website. The solutions offered to agents and brokers through a customizable IDX solution give them the unique opportunity to simplify their professional website, while delivering their clients with an easy-to-use and extensive database of featured properties. Lindahl's partnership with Northstar MLS (Northstar) helps to combine thousands of area listings with the homes Lindahl represents, to give home seekers an expansive list of homes to explore.
The IDX Broker iPhone App lets Minnesota real estate agent, John Anselmo, stay current...
EUGENE, OR - May 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- John Anselmo of Minnesota decided that IDX, Inc was the perfect IDX provider to display the vast and expanding area of the Twin Cities. By incorporating the dynamic map search, Anselmo was able to optimize the ability of potential home buyers to search by many specific locations available in the Twin Cities area. This IDX feature also allows Anselmo’s website visitors to compare houses in the same neighborhood, thus increasing their knowledge of the local area and current home sales prices.
Bachmann Amendment Promotes Government Accountability and Fiscal Integrity
Washington, D.C. - May 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06) took to the House floor in support of her amendment to H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010. Rep. Bachmann’s amendment passed unanimously by voice vote with strong Democratic support leading up to the vote. Her amendment requires the Inspector General of the Department of Energy to submit a report to Congress measuring the amount of waste, fraud, and abuse occurring in programs created by H.R. 5019 and recommendations to prevent them from occurring again.
Fridley Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Eight Mortgage Lenders of $1.9 Million
May 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A 49-year-old Fridley man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis to defrauding eight mortgage lenders of $1.9 million. Appearing before United States District Court Judge David S. Doty earlier today, Taleb Mohamed Wazwaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud through the use of interstate wires. Wazwaz was charged via an Information on April 19, 2010.
Second Person Indicted in Scam to Bilk Mortgage Brokers out of Millions
April 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Troy David Chaika, age 43, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis for conspiring with others to bilk mortgage lenders out of more than $43 million by making materially false representations and concealing material information. The indictment, originally filed in U.S. District Court on April 12, was unsealed today following Chaika’s initial appearance in federal court. Specific charges include seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud
Three Indicted for $3.1 Million Mortgage Fraud Scam
April 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two Prior Lake men and a man from California were charged in a federal indictment unsealed today in the District of Minnesota. The indictment, originally filed with the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on April 21, 2010, alleges that Beau Wesley Gensmer, age 28, and Christopher Glenn Kennedy, age 30, both of Prior Lake, along with Cameron Roland Baird, age 29, of Los Altos, California, orchestrated a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders out of $3.1 million by causing mortgage loans to be funded based on false information. Specifically, each defendant was charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, and two counts of engaging in a monetary transaction derived from unlawful activity.
Congressman Ellison Introduces Additional Mortgage Protection Legislation; Would Preserve and Extend Nonprofit Housing Services
Washington, D.C - April 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced the Flexible Licensing Compliance for Nonprofit Housing Employees Act of 2010. This legislation would extend the time nonprofit housing employees have to comply with mortgage loan origination licensing requirements set forth in the Secure and Fair Enforcement Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 ("SAFE Act") to January 1, 2011.
Ellison Receives Housing Leadership Award From National Low Income Housing Coalition
Washington, D.C. - April 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-5th Congressional District) recently received the 2010 Edward W. Brooke III Housing Leadership Award from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) for advancing the cause of affordable housing.
DNR reminds homeowners to complete open burning activities now
March 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the quickly receding snow cover exposing last year’s leaves and other dead vegetation, yard clean-up isn’t far behind. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds homeowners that spring is fire season, and to think safety first when disposing of yard waste
DEED Awards Small Cities Grants
ST. PAUL, MN - February 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded nine grants totaling more than $3.6 million to help pay for improvements for housing and infrastructure in Greater Minnesota.
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity To Hold Twin Cities Hearing
Washington, D.C. - January 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) will join Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity at a Subcommittee field hearing entitled, “The Impact of the Foreclosure Crisis on Public and Affordable Housing in the Twin Cities.” The hearing will examine the foreclosure crisis and its negative impact on the affordable rental housing market
Statewide grantees provide services to stop, prevent homelessness
December 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has distributed nearly $11 million of federal funds to 31 organizations in Minnesota working to help individuals, families and unaccompanied youth find, secure and stay in affordable housing.
Two Defendants Indicted for Price-Flipping 35 Homes in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
December 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal indictment was unsealed today against a Minnesota pair for allegedly orchestrating a mortgage fraud scheme in which they stole more than $2.5 million from lenders nationally by obtaining fraudulent loans for the purchase of 35 homes in the Twin Cities. The indictment charges Zack Zafer Dyab, 45, of Golden Valley, and Julia Alexander Rozhansky, 45, of Minnetonka, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of mortgage fraud through use of interstate wires, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property.
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Bilking More Than $7 Million from Mortgage Lenders
December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A 27-year-old Webster man pleaded guilty today in federal court to bilking more than $7 million from at least 15 real estate mortgage lending companies between 2005 and 2008. Appearing before United States District Court Judge Richard Kyle in St. Paul, Dustin LaFavre pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this crime. LaFavre was charged on November 5, 2009