Michael Jensen, of REMAX Spirit Lake & The Okobojis in Spirit Lake, Iowa has adopted the innovative IDX Broker software from IDX, Inc. to create a simplified online property search. Spirit Lake MLS (SLMLS) listings are seamlessly integrated onto the website Jensen supports, giving his clients and countless other home seekers a thorough and complete list of properties to begin their real estate search with. Never before has such a unique tool been so widely accessible, especially in the online real estate world.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) today joined Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust in Cedar Rapids and area lenders and Realtors to urge participation in the Home in Paradise Contest, a statewide social media contest, and to announce a new Take Credit! mortgage credit certificate program. Both initiatives share the goal of continuing the upward trend in Cedar Rapids area home sales, which are currently 5% percent above this time last year according to the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors®.

I come to the floor of the Senate today to speak about one of my favorite topics—transparency. It’s no secret that I’ve worked to bring greater transparency and accountability to all parts of the federal government.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors today announced awards of nearly $100 million to build or rehabilitate nearly 1,300 units of affordable housing in 23 counties throughout the state. The awards were granted from the federal Housing Tax Credit program and the HOME program

The Branstad/Reynolds Administration today announced the completion of a comprehensive statewide housing study, which includes an analysis of Iowa’s current housing stock and the results of public forums on housing needs. The study also includes detailed regional housing conditions and demographic trends for use by local housing and planning officials. The study was commissioned by the Iowa Finance Authority and completed by RDG Planning & Design and Gruen Gruen + Associates. The full study is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov

Sabre Industries, Inc. held a ribbon cutting ceremony today for their new Iowa industrial complex in Sioux City’s Southbridge Business Park. A multi-phase expansion project, this new 150 acre site provides Sabre with the ability to locate all Sioux City operations on one campus.

DES MOINES - January 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Projects” will help cities, watershed organizations, landowners and others address local water quality problems. A total of $15 million will be available per year for watershed protection practices such as stream buffers, wetland restoration and green infrastructure

Des Moines - January 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today awarded $900,776 in grants to twenty-seven organizations to assist homeless and domestic violence shelters with costs associated with providing essential services, emergency shelter operations and homelessness prevention services. The funding is made available through the Shelter Assistance Fund program

DES MOINES - January 08, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds were accompanied by Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison today to announce that eligible Iowans can now buy a home and reduce their federal income tax liability by up to $2,000 a year for the life of their mortgage. The Take Credit! Mortgage Credit Certificate program is available as of January 1, 2013 and approximately 1,000 Iowa home buyers may benefit from the program. The program is administered by the Iowa Finance Authority, (IFA).

DES MOINES, IA - December 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently announced awards of more than $10 million to preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, La Porte City and Logan. The awards were made from the federal Housing Tax Credit and HOME programs and Iowa Finance Authority’s Multifamily Loan program in partnership with USDA Rural Development.

DES MOINES - December 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a total of more than $5.4 million in grants to 25 Local Housing Trust Funds to move local affordable housing projects forward. The grants will aid in the development and preservation of nearly 2,000 affordable housing units throughout the state.

Des Moines, IA - November 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today approved a $50,000 grant to the Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa to assist in the construction of an affordable home for a family in Nevada. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program. The program provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today urged key fellow senators to help ensure the appropriate spending of tax dollars after housing authority scandals across the country have revealed wasted funding and abuse of the public trust in a vacuum of oversight.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) today announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $511,146 to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Greater Des Moines to help serve homeless Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC - August 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced today the launch of the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement’s first public service announcement (PSA) television ad titled “Homeowner Help.” The PSA, which can be viewed at www.hud.gov and www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com, is designed to educate homeowners about the resources available to them through the mortgage servicing settlement.