Mortgage

HUD, Justice Department Agree to Ease Use of False Claims Act

October 30, 2019

WASHINGTON—U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and U.S. Attorney General William Barr issued a Memorandum of Understanding on Oct. 28 between the two agencies that sets what the two agencies say is “prudential guidance on the appropriate use of the False Claims Act for violations by Federal Housing Administration lenders. “This agreement clearly…

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Peekskill Issues Open Call to Private Investors for DRI Funding

October 30, 2019

PEEKSKKILL—The City of Peekskill, which in August of this year was awarded a $10-million grant through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative to revitalize its downtown district, issued an open call for privately sponsored project proposals to be considered for DRI funding. City officials say the purpose of the open call is to hear from members…

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Bunge Global HQ Available for Sublease

October 17, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—Bunge Limited’s corporate headquarters at 50 Main St. here has been put on the market for sublease. The firm announced in August its intent to move its corporate headquarters to St. Louis, MO. The company expects to complete its headquarters move by the end of the second quarter 2020. CBRE has been named by…

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County of Rockland Removed from State's Fiscal Stress List

October 17, 2019

NEW CITY—New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recently released the 2018 Fiscal Stress Monitoring System report, which did not include Rockland County. “In 2013, the County of Rockland had a score of 86.7% and was listed as New York State’s most fiscally stressed local government. Not being included in the 2018 report with a score…

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Locations Close to Public Transit Boost Residential, Commercial Real Estate Values

October 16, 2019

WASHINGTON—Neighborhoods located within a half-mile of public transit services outperformed those in areas farther from public transit based on a number of factors, according to a report released on Oct. 14th by the American Public Transportation Association and the National Association of Realtors. “The Real Estate Mantra – Locate Near Public Transportation” highlighted the critical…

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Ratings Agency Says GSE Reform Could Take Years to Implement

September 11, 2019

WASHINGTON—A host of housing and finance organizations have expressed support for the plans submitted by the Trump Administration, specifically the Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, earlier this month to reform the housing finance system and the Government-Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Treasury Housing Reform Plan consists…

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Westchester to Present Minority/Women-Owned Businesses (MWBEs) Conference on Sept. 25

August 28, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Town of Yorktown and the Yorktown Small Business Association has announced conXpo North, a conference where Minority/Women-Owned Businesses (MWBEs), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOBs) and Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBEs) can attend informative workshops, connect with county departments, and network with local businesses.…

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NAR Applauds Long-Awaited FHA Condo Rule

August 19, 2019

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Realtors recently commended the Department of Housing and Urban Development for finalizing new Federal Housing Administration condominium loan policies. The changes, many of which NAR had championed for more than a decade, should yield thousands of new homeownership opportunities and help alleviate affordability restraints impacting markets across the country. “We are…

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Country Bank to be Acquired by OceanFirst Bank for $102 Million

August 14, 2019

NEW YORK—Country Bank, which began operations in 1988 and later relocated its headquarters to New York City, will be merged into OceanFirst Bank in a deal valued at $102.2 million. Toms River, NJ-based OceanFirst Financial Corp., parent company of OceanFirst Bank announced its intent to merge with Country Bank Holding Company, Inc., parent company of…

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MBA Tracks Real Estate Lending Trends in New Report

July 10, 2019

WASHINGTON—The Mortgage Bankers Association's first quarter of 2019 Commercial/Multifamily DataBook was released earlier this month. The quarterly report summarizes major trends that developed during the first three months of the year. "Low interest rates and strong property values continue to make commercial real estate an attractive market for borrowers," said Jamie Woodwell, MBA's vice president…

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Strategic Capital Secures $70M Loan for River Club at Hudson Park

July 10, 2019

YONKERS—Global commercial real estate advisory firm Newmark Knight Frank announced on July 2 it had arranged a $70-million fixed-rate loan for the financing of the River Club at Hudson Park in Yonkers on behalf of Strategic Capital, the investment arm of China Construction America. The Newmark Knight Frank team was led by Dustin Stolly and…

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A.S.A.P. Mortgage Expands Presence into Dutchess County

June 27, 2019

FISHKILL—A.S.A.P. Mortgage reports it has recently opened a new branch location in Fishkill. The firm’s sixth office further expands its coverage into Dutchess County and the upper Hudson Valley region. “We are very excited to now serve the lending needs of homebuyers in Dutchess County,” says A.S.A.P. Mortgage founder and CEO Irene Amato, “especially as…

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In Memoriam: George Lawrence

June 26, 2019

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the passing of a real estate executive who has had a lasting impact on Westchester’s real estate industry—George Lawrence. Lawrence of Vero Beach, FL peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the age of 81. He was born on Aug. 9,…

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Wells Fargo to Sell Eastdil Secured in Management Buyout Deal

June 11, 2019

NEW YORK—Wells Fargo & Co. announced on June 11 it had reached an agreement to sell Eastdil Secured, its private real estate investment banking division, in a management buyout transaction. The sales agreement follows Eastdil’s management-led recapitalization, in partnership with Guggenheim Investments, on behalf of certain institutional clients, and Temasek, a global investment company headquartered…

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$160M Rehab and Refi of Bronx Mitchell-Lama Completed

May 30, 2019

NEW YORK—State officials announced on May 29 the completion of the $160-million rehabilitation and refinancing of the Michelangelo Apartments, a 494-unit Mitchell-Lama affordable housing development in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Michelangelo Apartments was originally built in 1975 and contains four towers with 80 studios, 126 one-bedroom, 191 two-bedroom, 77 three-bedroom and 20 four-bedroom…

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Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

May 16, 2019

WASHINGTON—Mortgage applications increased 2.7% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 3, 2019. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the…

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RE/MAX Distinguished Homes Opens New Office

May 14, 2019

RE/MAX Distinguished Homes & Properties celebrated the grand opening of its new location in Tuckahoe at 273 Columbus Ave. on May 8th. Eric Stein, and Al Posillico, Broker/Owners, along with the Mayor of Tuckahoe Greg Luisi, co-president of the Eastchester Tuckahoe Chamber of Commerce Juan Gonzalez, Miriam Janusz, executive director of the Eastchester Tuckahoe Chamber…

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Houlihan Parnes Brokers Refinancing Of Newburgh Commercial Properties

May 10, 2019

NEWBURGH—Houlihan Partners Realtors reports that it recently arranged financing for two buildings at 700 and 900 Corporate Blvd. in Newburgh. Steve McCulloch of the White Plains-based commercial real estate and investment firm, worked on behalf of a private partnership in the transaction. The buildings total 72,000 square feet of flex space and are located within…

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