With the medias laser-like focus on the Obama-Republican tax deal, heres a story thats underreported: the Obama Administrations coddling of the Big Banks and simultaneous neglect of homeowners facing foreclosure.
via The Nation.
Oct 10
A Postville landlord has filed discrimination lawsuits against the city, the city clerk and two council members, alleging that their actions devastated his business.
Oct 04
A federal jury convicted a veteran Chicago building inspector on Thursday of taking thousands of dollars in bribes to overlook code violations.
via chicagotribune.com.
Sep 15
Resident Steven Banasick told Scottdale council members this week that he intends to file a declaratory judgment suit with the state Attorney General’s office against the borough.
Frustrated with what he claimed was selective prosecution in regards to inspection violations issued by the borough’s code enforcement officer, Banasick said the suit is to ask the Attorney General’s office to intercede with civil rights violations and common law violations in the borough’s adopted ordinances.
via Tribune-Review.
Sep 15
Home prices fell in 36 states in July, nearly twice the number in May and the highest since last November when national home prices were declining,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic.
Sep 14
Home buyers can once again purchase a home using FHA financing with a zero down payment.Previous zero down payment FHA loan programs were funded by seller contributions funneled through a nonprofit group which then donated the down payment to the purchaser. These seller-financed down payment programs were terminated in 2008 after the FHA experienced default rates three times higher than when buyers made a cash down payment.
viaSeeking Alpha.
Sep 05
The Omaha Housing Authority is using a stricter inspection code for low-income housing than allowed under federal standards, a landlord suing the agency said Wednesday.
John Malone Sr. said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development hasn’t approved OHA’s use of a stricter code, which the city has used to exclude his rental properties from Section 8 housing.
Malone filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against OHA in October on behalf of the federal government. It was unsealed Tuesday.
According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, OHA submitted false documents to the federal government and received at least $250,000 because of the misrepresentations. It also says OHA retaliated against Malone by denying low-income housing contracts for three of his properties, among other things.
via Omaha.com.
Sep 03
Members of Congress from both parties have taken notice, and the Senate is scheduled to vote Sept. 14 on two amendments to an unrelated bill: One would eliminate the 1099 provision; the other would exempt businesses with fewer than 25 employees, raise the reporting threshold to purchases above $5,000, and exclude those made with a credit card. A 60-vote majority would be required in both cases.
via-washingtonpost.
