Colorado RealEstateRama

DENVER - September 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties are open to help survivors with property damage and other setbacks from Colorado’s severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the county and local Disaster Assistance Centers.

DENVER - September 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three additional counties are now eligible for individual disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Udall, who has fought to strengthen federal consumer-protection laws, warned Coloradans to beware of consumer scams in the wake of the ongoing tragic flooding. Udall said consumers should be especially wary of home-repair scams, insurance fraud and charity scams, which are all likely to surface after this natural disaster.

DENVER - September 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fort Lyon reopened today as home to a new collaborative and innovative project that will help end veteran homelessness, reduce chronic homelessness throughout the state and adds jobs in Bent County.

DENVER - August 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joseph A. Smith, Jr., Monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement, issued his final report today regarding the total amount of consumer relief granted by the five banks that are parties to the settlement. The banks disclosed that from March 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 they have extended $51.33 billion in total relief to 643,726 borrowers nationwide. These figures include principal forgiveness that is granted to allow customers to reach a loan modification that lowers their mortgage payments or loan forgiveness that is needed to allow a homeowner to get a short sale.

DENVER - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced that his office and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have reached a settlement with Russell and Catherine Dalbey of Boulder for allegedly defrauding consumers with promises of making money by brokering seller-financed promissory notes or privately held mortgage loans. The two are now banned from telemarketing, selling business opportunities and producing or distributing infomercials.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in a letter today to reimburse financing fees charged for VA-backed home loans to veterans who lost their homes in the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires. Udall sent the letter after learning of a constituent who paid thousands of dollars in non-reimbursable fees for a VA-backed home refinance loan only to lose his home a few months later in the Black Forest Fire. Under current policy, he and other VA beneficiaries may be required to pay additional fees when using a VA loan to purchase a replacement home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, House Financial Services Committee Republicans rushed through passing a radical a housing finance plan (PATH ACT) that could force homeowners into risky and exotic mortgages, gut protections for homebuyers, and end the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee called this measure a "Path to Nowhere" and voted against the measure in committee. The Republican plan would significantly raise the price of homeownership while at the same time eliminate many affordable housing programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the House Natural Resources Committee approved by unanimous consent H.R. 2337, the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act, in a full committee markup. The bill was introduced by Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) in June and Senators Udall and Bennet introduced companion legislation, S. 1305, in the Senate last week. This bill seeks to convey 40 acres of the Lake Hill property in the White River National Forest to Summit County, Colorado. Summit County plans to use the site for affordable housing and proceeds from the sale would go to Region 2 of the U.S. Forest Service for much-needed capital improvement and maintenance of Forest Service facilities.

Washington, DC - July 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) today testified before the House Natural Resources Committee, during a hearing on H.R. 2337, the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act, which Congressman Polis introduced last month. This bill seeks to convey 40 acres of the Lake Hill property in the White River National Forest to Summit County, Colorado. Summit County plans to use the site for affordable housing and proceeds from the sale would go to Region 2 of the U.S. Forest Service for much-needed capital improvement and maintenance of Forest Service facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senators Mark Udall, who chairs the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, and Michael Bennet introduced legislation today to convey 40 acres of federal administrative land from the U.S. Forest Service Dillon Ranger District to Summit County. The legislation, which Udall conducted a public-comment period on starting in May, would help the county provide much-needed affordable housing in Summit County while supporting a new Dillon Ranger District administrative building nearby.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet congratulated two housing agencies in Colorado for winning almost $400,000 in competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) was awarded a $372,528 Housing Counseling Grant and the Northeast Denver Housing Center won a $19,643 grant.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged Coloradans following the one-year anniversary of the High Park Fire — the second most destructive wildfire in Colorado history — to prepare for future wildfires

DENVER - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Colorado borrowers who submitted a valid foreclosure payment claim through the National Mortgage Settlement will receive a check this month for an average of $1,480. To date, the total cash payments for mortgage servicing abuse are Colorado is $32,882,672. This relief is in addition to $405.3 million already provided to more than 7,000 borrowers for principal reductions, mortgage modifications and other forms of relief.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mark Udall, who chairs the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, today asked the public to weigh in on a proposal to convey 40 acres of federal administrative land from the U.S. Forest Service Dillon Ranger District to Summit County. The legislation would help the county provide much-needed affordable housing in Summit County while supporting a new Dillon Ranger District administrative building nearby. Congressman Jared Polis announced this week that he will introduce companion legislation - the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act - in June in the U.S. House of Representatives.