Real Estate articles

Someone Has to Wear the Green Tights
Which brings up a growing trend in the world that has found its feet in South Africa. Green Buildings. If ever there was a way of scoring points with the community, government and those with not only green fingers but whose superhero sports green underwear - the environmentalist, this is it. IF you're a land lord don't knock, because something in it for you.

Helpful Terms for Understanding Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate is typically handled by real estate professionals, although if you're receiving commercial real estate services, some of the language your broker uses may sound foreign. Here's a guide to learning some of the common terms and phrases.

Cities Continue the Affordable Housing Push
The economic downturn and housing bust created a nearly overwhelming need for affordable housing. Not only have millions lost their jobs, but millions more have seen their income drop sharply and are having a harder time making ends meet. Despite the increased need, housing developers still struggle to get approval for low-income housing units.

Correcting Affordable Housing Misinformation
All across the country, affordable housing developers face the same questions and concerns when seeking approval for new projects. City and county leaders see the need for low-income housing, but residents push back, fearing decreased property values, higher crime rates and overcrowding. No matter how persistent developers and housing advocates are in trying to dispel these myths, they never go away.

Extending the New Markets Tax Credits
The New Markets Tax Credit Program began in 2000 as a way to encourage investment in distressed or low-income communities. Under the program, both businesses and individual investors receive tax credits (about 39 percent of the total amount invested) in exchange for investing in Community Development Entities (CDEs). Since it began, the program has awarded over $29 billion in tax credits. Proponents want the program to continue, but until recently, its future was uncertain.

New LADBS Policy Increases Plan Check Time Extension Limits
The City of Los Angeles adopted new building codes as well as a "Green" code on January 1, 2011. In order to accommodate projects that may have been submitted prior to the adoption of these new codes but were put on hold due to the economic downturn, the City of LA tripled (3x) the time frame allowed for extending your projects in plan check.

Nelum Pokuna - The Lotus Pond
Sri Lanka always had a huge number of playwrights and stage drama actors and actresses. What they brought in front of us always took us into the very imaginary worlds and emotions of the writer without any difficulty. The performing arts sector always had the shortage of a well equipped and well "technically fortified" theatre for their practices, rehearsals, and for grand scale occasions which required the service of state of the art sound systems, advanced lighting systems and a considerable amount of seating facilities.

IRS Redistributes LIHTCs
Believe it or not, despite the high demand for affordable housing, some Federal funding that's available for housing construction goes unused every year. On an annual basis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assesses housing needs and allocates tax credits and other funding to local and state governments based on its assessment. Some of the awards are returned unused, and are made available for redistribution.

Concrete Crusher Machines: Yesterday and Today
A brief history of concrete crusher machines. Where the technology started, and where it is today.

Reducing Inefficiencies at HUD
As incomes and tax revenues decline, and Congress continues its push to reduce spending, government departments are being forced to find ways of doing more with less. Efficiency reigns supreme. Though some processes are difficult to pair down, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently began experimenting with a creative way to simplify some of its application processes.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Minneapolis
The medical and pharmaceutical industries are among the few industries that continue to manufacture domestically rather than overseas. Complexity of product, stringent quality requirements, certification and documentation requirements are some of the reasons that companies choose to keep manufacturing in the US. Medical Device OEMS need to have maximum assurance that their supplier is conforming to exact product specifications and standards.

HUD Proposes New HOME Rules
Since it began in 1992, the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) has helped over 1 million families gain access to affordable housing. Through the program, state and local governments are awarded grants that can then be used to buy, build, or rehabilitate housing for low-income residents. The funding is often used in conjunction with private-sector money to fully leverage every federal dollar. For the last two years, HUD has been reviewing HOME's compliance rules, and now it is suggesting some changes.