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A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a real estate company, a realtor, and his accountant for participating in a long-running conspiracy to defraud companies, including financial institutions, in connection with foreclosed properties in the Minneapolis area and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken praised the Senate's passage of a bill he supports to help protect members of the armed forces from foreclosure. The bill, which cleared the Senate on Thursday evening, would safeguard active-duty servicemembers from losing their homes for one year following the completion of service.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2015 (H.R. 1354) today. The bill ensures expired federal protections for renters living in foreclosed properties are renewed.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Member of the House Financial Services Committee and Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement after President Obama announced his intent to nominate Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which supervises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks

WASHINGTON, DC - July 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Minnesota and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to severe storms and flooding last month.

Golden Valley, MN - September 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to sell more franchises nationwide, Renters Warehouse hires Bill Stecker, former Franchise Sales Consultant from RE/MAX who was the #1 RE/MAX Franchise Sales Consultant in North America in 2008, and #2 in 2009 & 2010.

November 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson today filed lawsuits against two out-of-state companies that charged Minnesota homeowners up to $3,500 in unlawful fees to help them renegotiate their home mortgages. In both cases, the companies used the threat of prevalent mortgage modification assistance scams to convince homeowners to pay money to their companies. In the midst of the ongoing housing crisis, the Attorney General warned citizens not to pay advance fees to firms for mortgage help

WASHINGTON, DC - October 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to 21 counties in Minnesota and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and flooding last month.

Washington, DC - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01) and Rep. John Boozman (AR-3) introduced bipartisan legislation to help prevent veterans with VA home loans from becoming homeless due to foreclosure. The legislation mandates that the VA notify its homelessness case managers within seven days of a VA home loan going into default and that the case manager assigned put in place a plan to prevent the veteran from subsequently becoming homeless due to the foreclosure.The Veterans’ Homelessness Prevention and Early Warning Act of 2010 preemptively addresses homelessness amongst Americans veterans. VA-backed home loans, like the larger housing industry, have seen a steady increase in the foreclosure rate over the last three years. In 2007, 8,113 foreclosures of VA loans were completed. In 2009, that number had risen to 15,145

Minneapolis, MN - September 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison announced today that the City of Minneapolis has won an additional $2.7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties in neighborhoods impacted by foreclosure, as part of the third round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP3) funds

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

SAINT PAUL, MN - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — As foreclosures and their consequences continue to spread across the state and the nation, the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) has teamed up with the Minnesota Home Ownership Center to provide credit unions access to a certified network of foreclosure counselors to help struggling members.

Minnesota Legislators and Attorney General also propose legislation to tighten laws and stop new breed of mortgage modification companies that prey on homeowners in trouble

Comprehensive housing legislation includes veterans foreclosure relief provision    Washington, D.C. - July 31, 2008 - (RealEstateRama) — Senator Norm Coleman today announced final Senate passage...