BOISE, ID - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Are you a first-time homebuyer? If so, you may be eligible for down payment assistance funds of up to $20,000 in conjunction with a mortgage loan from IdaMortgage, brought to you by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA), to purchase your new home. These down payment assistance funds are only available until Jan. 1, 2010, so you must act quickly to take advantage of this funding.

Washington, DC - November 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 3095, the Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009. The legislation increases the estate tax exemption to $5 million per person and reduces the top rate to 35% in equal increments over ten years.

Boise, ID - October 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Idaho Department of Finance has filed a complaint in Ada County District Court against Sheila Lea Jones. Jones, owner of Vitruvian Investment Group, solicited investors to pool their money for investment into a real estate fund managed by Jones. The fund purportedly invested in short-term construction and development loans, as well as conventional real estate transactions including both commercial and residential loans. The defendant allegedly raised over $3.7 million from at least 40 investors and offered annual returns of 8 percent to 10.5 percent. The State’s complaint alleges violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Idaho Securities Act and violations of the Idaho Financial Fraud Prevention Act. Vitruvian Investment Group filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in November 2008

Boise, ID - October 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Idaho Department of Finance announced today the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order against Meridian-based International Co-op LLC for engaging in unlicensed mortgage loan modification activities and for illegally charging distressed Idaho homeowners exorbitant upfront fees.

October 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The state of housing – both across the nation and in Idaho – will be discussed by experts, local leaders and housing industry professionals at the 2009 Idaho Conference on Housing. This conference, to be held Oct. 19-20 at the Doubletree Hotel Boise-Riverside, features national speakers who will bring the topic of housing full circle - from the national perspective to a look at the challenges faced by Idaho's housing market. Local speakers will also contribute expertise from their communities. More than 350 people are already registered, and there is still time to take part in the conference. Attendees can register online at www.2009housingconf.com. Registration is $125 per person for nonprofit attendees and $175 for all others.

October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gavin Gee, director of the Idaho Department of Finance, announced his department’s participation as a co-sponsor in the “2009 Idaho Conference on Housing,” scheduled for October 19th and 20th at the Doubletree Hotel in Boise, Idaho. This event is organized by Idaho Housing and Finance Association. The Idaho Conference on Housing entitled “Mapping the Future” is the state’s largest and most comprehensive housing conference that will encompass important issues facing Idaho’s housing industry and the challenges set forth in the current economic environment.

September 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Idaho Partners for Homebuyer Education, Inc. (IPHBE), welcomes Heather Harrison as Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education/Counseling Administrator. Harrison administrates the Finally Home!® classes held across the state in partnership with regional training partners, and the English and Spanish classes available online. Harrison will also coordinate the free statewide housing counseling program that Idaho Housing and Finance Association offers to Idahoans who have questions about meeting their mortgage payment, rental issues, reverse mortgage, or credit counseling before purchasing a home

Washington, DC - July 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A groundbreaking partnership to transfer unneeded housing units from the Mountain Home Air Force Base to members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes may soon be law, thanks to language added to a defense authorization bill. An amendment based on legislation written by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (S. 390), was included in the final passage of the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390). Crapo supported the authorization bill, which passed the Senate on a vote of 87 to 7.

Governor Otter Approves Law Implementing New Federally Required Standards. Boise, ID - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Department of Finance Director Gavin Gee announced that new federal standards governing the licensing and oversight of mortgage loan originators took effect in Idaho today, July 1, 2009.

Model Agreement Will Bring Relief to Homeowners. Boise, ID - June 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Gavin Gee, director of the Idaho Department of Finance, announced today a formal settlement agreement with Florida-based Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corporation (TBW) regarding “nontraditional” mortgage loans it made in 2006

BOISE, ID - June 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Residents of 19 Idaho counties can estimate their 2009 property taxes by visiting the Idaho State Tax Commission’s Web site at tax.idaho.gov. The Web site’s home page links to a calculator that allows taxpayers to estimate what they will owe.

BOISE, ID - May 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Homelessness. The word alone does little to explain how it affects individuals, families, and communities. Nearly 2,000 Idahoans – 24% under the age of 18 – were identified as homeless during the annual homeless Point-In-Time Count, conducted statewide on Jan. 28, 2009.

Boise, ID - May 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — An Ada County District Court Judge has entered a permanent injunction against a Boise man for accepting and negotiating residential mortgage loan applications without a license on behalf of Idaho borrowers.

BOISE, ID - May 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Property valuation notices are in the mail to Idaho homeowners. And one property tax expert is reminding homeowners that, whether their home values go up or down, their taxes won’t necessarily follow suit.

May 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Idaho Building Code Board, in compliance with the passage of H220 and H218a, will be accepting input from local government as to which parts of the 2009 code locals may want to exempt or change statewide.