Washington, DC – January 25, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Today Congressman Sensenbrenner’s legislation, H.R. 1433 the Private Property Rights Protection Act passed the House Judiciary Committee with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 23-5. more »

State Weatherization Program Helps a Record Number of Wisconsin Families Save Money, Reduce Energy Use

January 10, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu hosted a conference call today with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to announce that Wisconsin has surpassed its aggressive energy efficiency goal established with the U.S. Department of Energy for funding under the 2009 stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Through the weatherization program, the state has helped a total of more than 30,500 Wisconsin families improve the energy efficiency of their homes over the last three years, saving the average household more than $400 a year on its energy utility bills. more »

Restrictive Photo ID Requirement Would Disenfranchise Thousands of Homeless and Poor Persons

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – December 13, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Wisconsin today filed a federal lawsuit charging that Wisconsin’s voter ID law is unconstitutional and will deprive citizens of their basic right to vote. The lawsuit is the only active federal challenge against a photo ID law, the most common type of legislation that is part of a nationwide attack on the right to vote. more »

La Crosse property manager encouraged whites to apply while telling blacks no apartments were available

WASHINGTON, DC – September 23, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has charged a La Crosse, Wisconsin landlord with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to rent an apartment to an African American couple because of their race.  HUD brings the charge on behalf of the couple, alleging that Geneva Terrace, Inc. and Victoria Gerrard, the owner of Geneva Terrace Apartments, and property manager Nicolai Quinn refused to show an apartment to the complainants. Additionally, they falsely represented to the couple and other black applicants that no units were available, while informing white applicants of available units and encouraging them to apply. more »

EUGENE, OR – September 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce Milwaukee Realtor Michael Whittaker of Whittaker & Associates has become the latest real estate professional to adopt a custom IDX solution for his website. As a member of the Metro Milwaukee MLS, Whittaker has long had access to the detailed listings present on the online database. Now, his clients can experience the same levels of accessibility by utilizing the IDX-synced features which seamlessly integrate listing data onto the website Whittaker supports. more »

EUGENE, OR – September 12, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce IDX Broker has been integrated onto the website of Broker Paul Smith of American Realty World. Northwest Wisconsin MLS (NWWMLS) listings are now seamlessly integrated onto Smith’s search page, making thousands of detailed property listings instantly available for home seekers and potential clients. With his customized IDX solution, Smith now hosts one of the most dynamic and informative real estate websites and searches for Wisconsin buyers. more »

La Crosse County property manager allegedly refused to rent to single mother

WASHINGTON, DC – September 8, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging a La Crosse County, Wisconsin landlord with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to rent a house to a single mother because there was no adult male to live with her. HUD brings the charge on behalf of the single woman, claiming that the owner of the property, Dovenberg Investments, LLC and property manager Darlene Dovenberg refused to rent a house in rural Bangor to the woman because she, among other things, did not have a man “to shovel the snow.” more »

Irvine, CA – August 2, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Faris Lee Investments, the nation’s largest retail investment advisory firm, has completed the $6.6 million sale of a NNN leased, single-tenant, 30,000 square foot property occupied by Best Buy located at 7021 120th Ave. in Kenosha, WI. Built in 2008 as a new smaller, prototype store for Best Buy, the property is situated on 3.88 acre and is located at two major thoroughfares at I-94 and Highway 50. The property is part of a regional shopping center surrounded by retail, dining and hotels. more »

SUAMICO, WI – June 21, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Brown County resident Kent Davis has been ordered to restore wetland areas on commercial property in the Village of Suamico, and to pay $50,000 in forfeitures, assessments, fees and costs for violating state wetland protection and storm water management laws for construction sites. more »

KENOSHA, WI – May 31, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announces that his office has obtained a judgment against Jerry L. Wanty in Kenosha County, the owner and operator of the Colonial View Apartments at 337-339 Holy Hill Road, Town of Randall, Kenosha County. Mr. Wanty owns and operates the apartments, including a community water system serving at least 25 people living in 16 apartments. more »