Yearly Archives: 2012

PROVIDENCE - December 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Environmental Management has acquired four acres of land in Westerly that will enable the creation of an excellent fishing and boating access site on the Pawcatuck River

WARWICK, R.I. - December 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In-person help is available in Westerly to help homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes that were affected by Hurricane Sandy with applications for low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA disaster recovery loans are the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery.

WARWICK, R.I. - December 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is not limited only to homeowners. Renters, too, may qualify.

PROVIDENCE - December 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Department of Environmental Management is offering guidance to property owners who need to repair or replace onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) that are located in close proximity to eroding shorelines. In certain areas of the south shore, Sandy caused coastal erosion which may have undermined structures and exposed components of these systems. OWTS repair in these highly vulnerable Critical Erosion Areas, as designated by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), typically requires a permit from DEM and an assent from CRMC.

November 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin has joined a national effort by state and territorial attorneys general to urge Congress to extend tax relief for consumers who have mortgage debt canceled or forgiven because of financial hardship or a decline in housing values.

November 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today reported on the progress made by the five mortgage service providers (Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorganChase, and Wells Fargo) at the center of the National Mortgage Settlement. According to the information provided by the five mortgage service providers, 1,019 Rhode Island homeowners have received financial relief, valued at $73,165,044. In addition, another 896 Rhode Island homeowners are in the process of receiving financial relief, including first lien modifications and refinancing

WASHINGTON, DC - November 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Rhode Island and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Sandy.

November 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Many homes and businesses sustained water damage from Hurricane Sandy. Cleanup of flooding should start as soon as it is safe to do so. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) reminds all Rhode Islanders of the following safety precautions to take

November 1, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hurricanes can threaten an individual's sense of control and feelings of safety, and they can affect many aspects of our lives. In addition to property damage and other losses, events like Hurricane Sandy can result in significant emotional distress. The toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA).

September 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Kilmartin announced that approximately 5,500 Rhode Island residents who lost their primary residence due to an improper foreclosure process between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 should expect to receive notice by mail with important information about how to file a claim for funds under the $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement. Those borrowers who are eligible had mortgages serviced by Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. They are the nation's five largest mortgage servicers which agreed to the settlement with the federal government and attorneys general for 49 states and the District of Columbia.

September 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- To assist low and middle income families facing foreclosure, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin today announced a two-year, $1.57 million grant to Rhode Island Legal Services (RILS) to fund the Foreclosure Prevention Project.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - September 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo today announced Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division will be reuniting 37 cities and towns with just over $72,000. The amounts of municipal unclaimed property range from around $21,000 for Pawtucket to $40 for Scituate

WASHINGTON, DC - September 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed’s plan to help protect the financial well-being of thousands of U.S. troops and their families gained momentum this week when it received bipartisan approval from a key Senate panel. Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs unanimously passed Reed’s legislation to expand mortgage and foreclosure protections for military families as part of the Servicemembers’ Protection Act.

September 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Peter Kilmartin announced that Todd Lauzon (DOB: 3/23/73), with a last known address of 30 Munroe Street, Woonsocket, pleaded guilty yesterday to 30 counts of embezzlement in an pre-paid funeral services scheme. Superior Court Associate Justice Netti C. Vogel sentenced Lauzon to 20 years, with four to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, for each count, sentences to run concurrent. In addition, Lauzon was ordered to repay restitution in excess of $137,000 to his victims

August 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the first progress report issued by the National Mortgage Settlement Monitor Joseph P. Smith, which discloses the five settling mortgage service providers have granted $10.56 billion in consumer relief to borrowers between March 1 and June 30, 2012 nationally, with 355 Rhode Island homeowners receiving $26.7 million in relief, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin noted the settlement has provided significant relief to Rhode Island homeowners.