Morgans Hotel Group Announces Complete Renovation of Morgans, the Original Boutique Hotel

Morgans to be Temporarily Closed During Renovation Period

NEW YORK -- Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) ("MHG") today announced that it will temporarily close Morgans, the original boutique hotel, on May 18, 2008 to undergo a complete renovation. The renovation will be led by internationally renowned designer Andree Putman, (photo top right) marking her return to update the iconic property.

Ms. Putman intends to pay homage to her original design of a "home away from home" while boldly propelling Morgans into the future to appeal to the contemporary guest. The renovations will include refurbishments of the lobby, guestrooms and penthouse. The "Living Room" will also be re-done and upgraded with a high-tech business center.

There are no changes planned for the property's signature restaurant, Asia de Cuba, which will remain open for the duration of the renovation. MHG expects to re-open the hotel in September 2008. (Morgans lobby, photo at right).

"Morgans, located in Manhattan's fashion district, is MHG's original property and is widely recognized as the first boutique hotel, offering guests both comfortable and artful accommodations with unparalleled service," said Fred Kleisner, (photo top left) President and Chief Executive Officer of MHG.

"Since its opening in 1984, Morgans has continued to attract a loyal following and remains a true New York City icon. We are pleased to work with the property's original designer to preserve the authenticity of the "urban home" concept of the hotel. We look forward to unveiling the renovations in the fall."

Hotel guests scheduled to stay at Morgans during this period will have an option of staying at either Royalton (located in midtown Manhattan) or Hudson (located blocks from Central Park).

MHG anticipates spending approximately $9.0 million on the renovation.

About Morgans Hotel Group

Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, Morgans, Royalton and Hudson in New York, Delano and The Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Clift in San Francisco, and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. MHG and an equity partner also own the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and related assets.

MHG has other property transactions in various stages of completion, including projects in Miami Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; SoHo, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Palm Springs, California. For more information please visit http://www.morganshotelgroup.com/.

CONTACT

Jennifer Foley

Public Relations Director

Phone: 212.277.4166

Email: jennifer.foley@morganshotelgroup.com

http://www.morganshotelgroup.com/

475 10th Ave. - New York, NY 10018

Phone: 212 277 4100

Fax: 212 277 4290

Impressive Rent Gains Attract National Investors to Puget Sound Office Market

SEATTLE, WA— Conditions in the Seattle office market will remain tight this year, though new construction will outpace demand growth modestly, leading to an uptick in vacancy, according to the 2008 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm. (Seattle skyline photo above)

Buoyed by the technology sector, office-using employment gains will measure well above the national rate again in 2008.

Also included in the report is the firm’s annual National Office Index (NOI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 43 office markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. Seattle moves up three places this year to No. 1.

“Bolstered by an active pool of investors and a positive economic and demographic outlook, buying activity will remain robust in 2008,” says Gregory S. Wendelken, regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Seattle office.

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the Seattle Office Research Report:

· Employers are expected to add 31,000 positions in the metro this year, a 1.7 percent increase.
· Delivery of new space will increase to 3.2 million square feet, boosting overall inventory 4.4 percent.
· Vacancy is forecast to end the year at 9.2 percent.
· Asking rents will advance to $31.71 per square foot, while effective rents climb to $28.29 per square foot, gains of 7.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
· Investor interest will likely increase for suburban office assets in areas such as the Northend/Snohomish submarket, where spillover leasing activity is expected to pick up this year due to tight conditions and high rents in the adjacent Central submarket.

In the 2008 NOI, Seattle moved up three places to secure the No. 1 spot, surpassing last year’s leader New York City, which slipped to No. 2. Boston moved up two spots to No. 3, while San Francisco jumped 12 places to the No. 4 position. Los Angeles slipped two spots, coming in at No. 5.

For a copy of Marcus & Millichap’s National Office Report and the complete NOI rankings, visit http://www.marcusmillichap.com/.

Pugent Sound skyline photo above)

CONTACT:
Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/

Four Points by Sheraton’s Chief Beer Officer Celebrates One Year in Office

Search is on for the First Ever Best Brews Summer Intern

In this handout photo provided by Four Points by Sheraton Hotels, the brand's first Chief Beer Officer Scott Kerkmans, center, shares a toast with Four Points Vice President Sandy Swider, right, and Starwood executive Hoyt Harper, left, after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 26, 2007, in New York. As Four Points' CBO Kerkmans will champion their new Best Brews program. (AP Photo/Four Points by Sheraton, Diane Bondareff)

WHITE PLAINS, NY--Corporate America was changed forever a year ago when Four Points by Sheraton appointed the world’s first-ever Chief Beer Officer (CBO), Scott Kerkmans. (photo above)

After a year in office the resident CBO has realized that a dream job can come with a nightmare work load. Scott is seeking a little sudsy help by kicking off a world wide search for a Best Brews Summer intern. The lucky lad or lass will assist the CBO with his Best Brews duties including beer tasting, trend research and brewery relations.

Kerkmans earned his coveted executive title by impressing the Four Points team and receiving over half of the 12,000 votes cast from around the world. Since taking his unique Chief Beer Officer post a year ago, Scott has expanded the Four Points Best Brews training program, started a blog, forged relationships with countless craft breweries, traveled to some of the largest beer festivals and educated guests on the world of beer through his blog at fourpoints.com/cbo.

“Scott really understands the value of simple pleasures including our Best Brews” said Sandy Swider, Vice President of Four Points by Sheraton. “We are excited to see how he will continue to expand the program”. Kerkmans has great plans for the Best Brews program including introducing new beer and food pairings and ways to continue making Four Points by Sheraton the best destination for beer aficionados everywhere.

The deadline for applicants is April 26th. Four finalists will be chosen and again the beer loving community will be called upon to help select the first ever Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews intern!

For additional information on Best Brews and Four Points by Sheraton, including room rates and availability, and the search for the Best Brews intern please visit www.fourpoints.com/cbo.

CONTACT:
Hwee-Peng Yeo
Director, Corporate Communications
Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Ltd
9 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City Tower 2
#24-02, Singapore 038989
Tel : +65 6335 4837; Cell : +65 9768 6087; +65 9248 0424
Fax : +65 6335 4820
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/;

http://www.starwoodpressclub.com/

Arbor Promotes Valerie Sganga to Vice President, Operations

UNIONDALE, NY (March 31, 2008) - Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC (“Arbor”) announced the promotion of Valerie Sganga (photo at right) to Vice President, Operations.

Ms. Sganga will manage the legal due diligence and closing of Fannie Mae and structured transactions as well as the coordination of warehouse fundings. In addition, she will be involved in various aspects of compliance with both Arbor Realty Trust and structured securitizations. She previously held the title of Assistant Vice President, Operations. She reports to Guy Milone, (photo at left below) General Counsel and Senior Vice President.

“Valerie has made a significant contribution to Arbor's successful and continuing effort to implement cutting-edge financing vehicles and structures to meet client needs and market demands,” said Mr. Milone.

Ms. Sganga joined Arbor in December 1999 as a Closing Coordinator and has held positions in both Capital Markets and the Legal department. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Cortland. She is located in Arbor’s headquarter office in Uniondale, NY and resides in Old Bethpage, NY.

CONTACT:
Ingrid Principe
Marketing Specialist
Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC 333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Suite 900
Uniondale, NY 11553 '516-506-4298
4516-542-2555
iprincipe@arbor.com
http://www.arbor.com/

Kelly Chamberlain Joins Southern Commercial Real Estate Advisors

ORLANDO, FL.(March 31, 2008) Southern Commercial Real Estate Advisors has hired Kelly Chamberlain (photo at right) as an associate. The firms’ principals William “Bo” Bradford CCIM, SIOR and Tom Mcfadden, SIOR, Orlando’s leading industrial team, began Southern Commercial in September of last year.

Chamberlain joins the team with an extensive background in marketing, public relations and commercial real estate research. Chamberlain was formally the marketing and research director for another commercial real estate company and is a graduate of Stetson University.

Southern Commercial Real Estate Advisors, LLC (d/b/a Southern Commercial) is a commercial real estate firm focusing on office and industrial properties in Florida, and in Central Florida in particular. William “Bo” Bradford, Jr., CCIM, SIOR and Tom McFadden, SIOR are founding principles of the company and have combined industry experience in excess of 38 years. Since founding their brokerage team in February of 2002, they have completed over 300 commercial real estate transactions valued at more than $230 million dollars. The company presently handles 5.2 million square feet of office and warehouse space.

Media Contact:

Celeste MacKenzie

Southern Commercial Real Estate Advisors
321-281-8503

20 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 605
cmackenzie@southercommercialre.com

Orlando, FL 32801

Arbor Closes $13,000,000 Fannie Mae DUS® Loan for The Meadows in Montgomery, AL

UNIONDALE, NY--Arbor Commercial Funding, LLC (“Arbor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, announced the recent funding of a $13,000,000 loan under the Fannie Mae DUS® product line to refinance the 200-unit complex known as The Meadows (photo at left) in Montgomery, AL.

The 10 year loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule and carries a note rate of 5.78 percent. The loan was originated by Ronen Abergel, (photo at right) Director, in Arbor’s full-service New York City, NY lending office. *DUS and 3MaxExpress are registered marks of Fannie Mae

“We committed to a rate in two weeks by executing an early rate lock agreement with the borrower. In addition, we closed in 29 days with an additional 5% increase in proceeds over initial screening,” said Abergel. “In light of the current volatility in the market, Arbor’s execution of this transaction exceeded the borrower’s expectations.”

CONTACT:

Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

333 Earle Ovington Blvd, Suite 900

Uniondale, NY 11553

http://www.arbor.com/

Ingrid Principe

Tel: (516) 506-4298

Expanding Technology Sector Fuels Demand for Office Space in San Jose

SAN JOSE, CA— After several years of restrained office construction, builders in the San Jose metro area are stepping up deliveries in response to a strengthening local economy and a resurgent technology sector, according to the 2008 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm.

High-tech employers, including Cisco, Qualcomm and Broadcom, have continued to expand their work forces in the metro, generating tenant demand for additional space.

Also included in the report is the firm’s annual National Office Index (NOI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 43 office markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. San Jose moves up 11 places this year to No. 13.

“Healthy revenue gains in the local office market will continue to command investors’ attention in 2008,” says Steven J. Seligman, regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Palo Alto office.

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the San Jose Office Research Report:

· Employment growth is forecast to reach 0.7 percent, or 6,600 jobs, this year.
· Office completions are expected to reach 1.3 million square feet.
· Vacancy is projected to finish the year at 13.5 percent.
· Asking rents are expected to increase 5.4 percent to $32.72 per square foot, while effective rents gain 5.7 percent to $29.02 per square foot.
· Investors may want to take note of incentives offered by the local government to attract employers to downtown San Jose.

In the 2008 NOI, Seattle moved up three places to secure the No. 1 spot, surpassing last year’s leader New York City, which slipped to No. 2. Boston moved up two spots to No. 3, while San Francisco jumped 12 places to the No. 4 position. Los Angeles slipped two spots, coming in at No. 5.

For a copy of Marcus & Millichap’s National Office Report and the complete NOI rankings, visit http://www.marcusmillichap.com/.

CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/

Low Business Costs Attract Corporations to San Antonio's Expanding Office Market

SAN ANTONIO, TX — San Antonio (downtown photo above) is transitioning from an often-overlooked secondary office market to a diversified metro with an increasing number of traditional back-office positions and major corporate operations, according to the 2008 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm.

San Antonio’s low business costs will support additional major corporate relocations to the area in the future, followed by support companies.

Also included in the report is the firm’s annual National Office Index (NOI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 43 office markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. San Antonio moves up three places this year to No. 22.

“The investor pool in San Antonio is expected to become more diversified this year,” says Bradley H. Bailey, regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s San Antonio office. “REITs will up their stakes in the metro, as will out-of-state investors looking for above-average yields in a stable growth market.”

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the San Antonio Office Research Report:

· Employers will create 19,400 new jobs in 2008, a 2.3 percent increase.
· Construction will remain relatively steady this year, with 970,000 square feet forecast to come online, a 3.7 percent increase to stock.
· Demand will outpace supply again this year, causing the metrowide vacancy rate to shed 30 basis points to finish 2008 at 13.7 percent.
· Asking rents are forecast to rise 3.7 percent to $19.57 per square foot, while effective rents advance 4.1 percent to $16.48 per square foot.
· Opportunities can be found northwest of the city center near the rapidly expanding Loop 1604, where demand is currently being generated by companies seeking to relocate closer to residential developments.

In the 2008 NOI, Seattle moved up three places to secure the No. 1 spot, surpassing last year’s leader New York City, which slipped to No. 2. Boston moved up two spots to No. 3, while San Francisco jumped 12 places to the No. 4 position. Los Angeles slipped two spots, coming in at No. 5. (photo of The Alamo landmark at right)

For a copy of Marcus & Millichap’s National Office Report and the complete NOI rankings, visit http://www.marcusmillichap.com/.

Press Contact:

Stacey Corso
Communications Department
(925) 953-1716

San Francisco Office Sector Rises to One of Top-Performing Markets Nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco office market is enjoying a strong resurgence that is expected to continue through 2008, according to the 2008 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm.

Tenant demand for office space is being driven by the expanding information sector, which is forecast to add another 800 jobs this year.

Also included in the report is the firm’s annual National Office Index (NOI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 43 office markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. San Francisco moves up 12 places this year to No. 4.

“Buyers may find properties with upside potential in the South of Market Area and Union Square submarkets,” says Jeffrey Mishkin, (photo at right) regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s San Francisco office. “Rents have risen rapidly in surrounding submarkets, including the Financial District and South Beach, and some tenants who are priced out of properties in these areas may move to less expensive regions nearby.”

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the San Francisco Office Research Report:

· Employers are expected to add 10,200 jobs this year, a 1 percent increase.
· Builders are forecast to deliver 1.4 million square feet or new office space this year.
· Vacancy is projected to end the year at 9.6 percent.
· Asking rents are forecast to increase 5.8 percent to $42.46 per square foot, while effective rents advance 5.9 percent to $36.52 per square foot.
· With heightened demand for top-tier space in San Francisco, investors may find success upgrading existing properties, as rents continue to rise faster than the national average and elevated land and development costs minimize the threat from overbuilding.

In the 2008 NOI, Seattle moved up three places to secure the No. 1 spot, surpassing last year’s leader New York City, which slipped to No. 2. Boston moved up two spots to No. 3. Los Angeles slipped two spots, coming in at No. 5.

For a copy of Marcus & Millichap’s National Office Report and the complete NOI rankings, visit http://www.marcusmillichap.com/.

CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/

Demand Strengthens for Suburban Office Assets in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, UT— Salt Lake City’s office market is expected to remain strong, underpinned by an increasingly tight downtown market that is forcing some demand into suburban areas, according to the 2008 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm.

The metro’s educated work force and affordability continue to attract businesses, and 2008 will mark another year of above-average employment growth.

Also included in the report is the firm’s annual National Office Index (NOI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 43 office markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. Salt Lake City moves up 10 places this year to No. 20.

“The Salt Lake City office investment market is expected to remain active throughout 2008, as the metro’s healthy economic growth continues to attract buyers,” says Adam P. Christofferson, (photo at right) regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Salt Lake City.

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the Salt Lake City Office Research Report:

· Employers are expected to add 17,000 positions in 2008, an increase of 2.6 percent.
· Nearly 750,000 square feet of space will come online in the market in 2008.
· Vacancy is projected to end the year at 12.5 percent.
· Asking rents are expected to advance 4.5 percent to $19.03 per square foot, while effective rents will rise 4.8 percent to $15.72 per square foot.
· Investors may want to consider properties in Salt Lake City’s CBD.

In the 2008 NOI, Seattle moved up three places to secure the No. 1 spot, surpassing last year’s leader New York City, which slipped to No. 2. Boston moved up two spots to No. 3, while San Francisco jumped 12 places to the No. 4 position. Los Angeles slipped two spots, coming in at No. 5.

For a copy of Marcus & Millichap’s National Office Report and the complete NOI rankings, visit www.MarcusMillichap.com.

CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/

Rome Cavalieri to Join the Prestigious Waldorf=Astoria Collection®

After Four Decades as Italy’s Leading Hotel, Rome Cavalieri (photo above) Becomes the First Hotel in Europe and the Sixth Globally to Join the Luxury Brand of Hilton Hotels Corporation

ROME--Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that the Rome Cavalieri Hilton, the preferred hotel for global travellers to the Eternal City and the hub for Rome’s society set, will become the first European property to join The Waldorf=Astoria Collection.

“For 45 years, the Rome Cavalieri hotel has been an intrinsic part of Rome’s social fabric and has astonished world travellers with its gracious hospitality, museum-standard collection of art and its grand hilltop setting offering unrivalled views over the Eternal City. This is a magnificent hotel and a pivotal addition to The Waldorf=Astoria Collection,” said Mr. Wolfgang M. Neumann, President for Hilton Hotels Europe.

Welcoming this, the sixth hotel in The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, Ian Carter, (photo at right) President of Global Operations, Hilton Hotels Corporation, said, “Selection for The Waldorf=Astoria Collection is exclusive and only landmark hotels with a reputation for superior service, original architecture or artistic and historical significance receive such designation. Rome Cavalieri meets our parameters and sets a very high reference point for the brand in Europe. The Rome Cavalieri is the perfect first hotel for The Waldorf=Astoria Collection in Europe, and we are excited to welcome it to our growing Collection.”

The Waldorf=Astoria Collection currently has four properties in the United States, comprising the inspiration for the brand, the legendary Waldorf=Astoria® in New York, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii, and La Quinta Resort & Club in Southern California. Only one other property has been designated internationally, the 46-suite Qasr al Sharq or “Palace of the Orient” which opened in Jeddah on June 1, 2006 and joined the collection in December, 2006.

Marcus & Millichap Lists 43-Room Hotel in Miami Beach, FL for $12.5M

MIAMI BEACH, FL– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has retained the exclusive listing for Leslie Hotel, (above photo) a 43-room hotel in Miami Beach.

The listing price of $12.5 million represents $290,698 per room. Mark Wohl, a senior associate and associate director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Hospitality Group in Miami, Jason Goldfarb, an associate in the firm’s Miami office, and Lawrence Usher, investment specialist also in the firm’s Miami office, are representing the seller.

“Leslie Hotel is an excellent value-add opportunity located on an infamous street in one of the most desirable cities in the world,” says Wohl.

Located at 1244 Ocean Drive, the hotel is situated on a 7,150-square foot lot, less than 15 minutes from the Miami International Airport and 30 minutes from the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Originally built in the South Beach Art Deco spirit of the 1930s, the hotel has undergone recent renovations.

CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/

Holliday Fenoglio Fowler's Recently Closed Transactions

PITTSBURGH, PA--Here are Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP's transactions closed in the last 90 days.


HFF operates out of 18 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry. HFF offers clients a fully integrated and national capital markets platform, including debt placement, investment sales, structured financed, private equity, note sales and note sale advisory services and commercial loan servicing.


For additional, information, please visit http://www.hfflp.com/.




SOURCE OF PHOTOS:

Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP
One Oxford Centre
301 Grant St., Suite 600,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Register For MBA's Reverse Mortgage Lending Conference

WASHINGTON, DC--The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) presents its 2008 Reverse Mortgage Lending Conference.

As an evolving loan product, reverse mortgages are offering baby boomers another option as part of their overall retirement and wealth management plan.

MBA's inaugural Reverse Mortgage Lending Conference provides a unique forum for real estate finance professionals to participate in advanced discussions about originator and equity investor interests in reverse mortgages.

The program also provides up-to-date information about new technologies being developed to help reverse mortgage lenders operate more efficiently. Members of the media are encouraged to attend panel sessions and roundtable discussions to gather the most up-to-date information on reverse mortgage real estate trends.

Special keynote speakers/panelists include:

· Rob E. Story, Jr., (photo at right) CMB, Vice Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association and President of Seattle Financial Group
· The Hon. Brian D. Montgomery, (photo top left) Assistant Secretary for Housing, Federal Housing Authority Commissioner, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
· Jeffrey S. Taylor, CMB, Vice President of Senior Products, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
· Margaret Burns, Director of Office of Single Family Program Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
· Justin Burch, Senior Marketing Analyst, Ginnie Mae
· Elaine Eaton, First Vice President of Operations, Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corporation
· Jay H. Meadows, Chief Executive Officer & President, Rapid Reporting Verification Company
· John Lunde, President, Reverse Market Insight, Inc.
· Patrick Fitzsimonds, Director of Reverse Mortgage Banking, UBS
· Harry A. Gardner (photo at right) Vice President of Industry Technology, Mortgage Bankers Association

Session topics include the latest developments in:

· Reverse Mortgages 101
· Improvements to the Reverse Mortgage Products by HUD, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae
· Counseling Update and Options for Consumers
· Mortgage Fraud: Common Schemes and How To Detect Them
· Education: The Key to a Successful Reverse Mortgage
· Reverse Mortgage Servicing
· Legislative and Regulatory Roundup
· Current Origination Issues for Reverse Mortgages in Securitizations

WHEN: April 10 - 11, 2008

WHERE: The Westin Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA

CONTACT: Press credentials must be approved in advance. To apply for press credentials, please contact:

Jason Vasquez
(202)557-2950jvasquez@mortgagebankers.org

For more information, please visit MBA's Reverse Mortgage Conference Web site at: http://events.mortgagebankers.org/rml2008/default.html.

Media Podcast: MBA Comments on Shifting Landscape of Tax Credit and Multifamily Markets

WASHINGTON, DC - - The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Senior Vice President of Multifamily and Governance, Cheryl Malloy (photo at right) examines the recent removal of GSE portfolio growth caps by OFHEO and provides assessment of the current issues facing tax credit programs.

Malloy also comments on the spillover from the single family residential market into the multifamily market, sheds light on the importance of GSE reform and pending legislation that could enhance the tax credit market.

The Podcast recording can be accessed by clicking HERE.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the real estate finance industry, an industry that employs more than 370,000 people in virtually every community in the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association works to ensure the continued strength of the nation's residential and commercial real estate markets; to expand homeownership and extend access to affordable housing to all Americans. MBA promotes fair and ethical lending practices and fosters professional excellence among real estate finance employees through a wide range of educational programs and a variety of publications. Its membership of over 2,400 companies includes all elements of real estate finance: mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, thrifts, Wall Street conduits, life insurance companies and others in the mortgage lending field.

For additional information, visit MBA's Web site: http://www.mbaa.org/.

CONTACT:

Jason Vasquez
(202) 557-2950
jvasquez@mortgagebankers.org

Marcus & Millichap Lists 96.65 Acres in Port Arthur, TX

(Photo above of Delta Queen moored in front of Port Arthur City Hall)

PORT ARTHUR, TX-– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has retained the exclusive listing for 96.65 acres of land in Port Arthur.

Sheri Carey and Jeffrey Fript, both investment specialists in the Houston office of Marcus & Millichap, are representing the seller, a Houston-based limited partnership.

“Port Arthur is experiencing rapid growth due to the expanding oil and gas industry, which dominates the local economy. An investor will have multiple options to capitalize on this growth since this property is ideally suited for a mixed-use development of retail and housing,” says Fript.

Located on Highway 69 between 60th and 67th streets, the property is comprised of four parcels, just one mile away from the primary retail intersection in Port Arthur, including the Central Mall. The property is adjacent to the new Port Arthur High School site and in close proximity to the newly opened Medical Center of Southeast Texas. (Photo at left is Port Arthur dock)

CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/