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Representative Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee and senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today introduced an amendment to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 that would restructure annual cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress as a housing stipend to reflect the challenges of maintaining a second home in the 5th most expensive real estate market in the country

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Alexandria has mailed bills for the first half 2013 real estate tax and refuse fee to all property owners and/or mortgage companies. Although the residential refuse fee was decreased to $328 in the FY 2014 Approved Budget, the FY 2013 fee of $336 remains in effect for the first half 2013 real estate tax billing, so a refuse fee of $168 will be shown on the bills for properties subject to the fee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Robert Hurt today released the below statement following the Financial Services Committee hearing examining regulatory impediments to private capital investments and a sustainable housing finance system

NORFOLK, VA - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- David Burrus, Jr., age 39, a former Virginia Beach resident now living in Burns, Tenneesee, pleaded guilty today in Norfolk federal court to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud in conjunction with mortgage loans he obtained from 2005 through 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today sent a letter to the heads of the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging them to take action to improve consumer credit reporting. Recent CFPB and FTC reports found that 20 percent of consumers could identify at least one error in a credit report issued by one of the three major credit reporting agencies and that more than five percent of consumers found significant errors. These mistakes could force consumers to pay more for insurance and loans, and could impact their access to security clearance

CHARLESTON, WV - August 23, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former West Virginia licensed real estate appraiser was sentenced today to one year and six months in federal prison for aiding and abetting wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin. Mark E. Greenlee, 50, of Charleston, previously pleaded guilty in September 2011. Greenlee admitted that he prepared a false and fraudulent appraisal in 2006 in furtherance of a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme perpetrated by Deborah L. Joyce and others in the Stonegate subdivision in Hurricane, Putnam County, West Virginia

CHARLESTON, WV - August 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Utah man was sentenced today to two years and three months in federal prison on charges connected to a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme involving properties at a Hurricane, West Virginia subdivision, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Michael S. Hurd, 37, of Salt Lake City, Utah, previously pleaded guilty in November 2011 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The defendant also previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud arising out of his involvement in a similar fraud scheme in Modesto, California

WASHINGTON, DC - June 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Howard R. Shmuckler, 68, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced yesterday to 90 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for running a fraudulent mortgage-rescue business that received substantial fees but actually modified clients' mortgages in only a few cases. The court ordered that this sentence be served consecutive to a 75 month federal sentence Shmuckler received on April 5, 2012, in Washington, D.C., involving a counterfeit check scheme.

April 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- There has never been a better time to purchase a home in West Virginia. The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is providing qualifying families a 30-year fixed rate loan at 3.25%. Down payment and closing cost assistance loans are also available for those who qualify.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - December 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Victoria L. Allen, 57, of Chesapeake, Va., pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, stemming from a mortgage fraud orchestrated by Allen and several other conspirators, including a mortgage broker, title company owner, accountant and local business owner.