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Real estate information company Metropolitan Regional Information Systems of Rockville reported that the number of homes sold in the Mid-Atlantic region increased by 7 percent in May compared to April.

The MRIS monthly report suggests that "a move toward stabilization could be occurring," in the residential real estate sector, despite the end of the government tax credit incentive on new home purchases on April 30. Average days on market in May decreased by 6 percent compared to April, falling from an average of 83 days to an average of 78 days in the region., while the average sold price increased nearly 3 percent.

Statewide, in Baltimore total units sold increased by 10 percent and average days on market decreased by 20 percent compared to April. In Washington County, total units sold increased by 28 percent from April and the average sold price increased by 13 percent.

For complete information, go to www.mris.com.

Africa Trade Office, Prince George's sign MOU

The Africa Trade Office in Largo, Prince George's County Economic Development Corp. and the U.S. Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville will announce a formal partnership Monday. The partnership will help develop new solutions to agricultural, climate and environmental challenges in world markets, particularly Africa, and also promote research of agricultural products, according to PGEDC information..

All three organizations expect the partnership to aide in bringing jobs to Maryland, assisting developing nations in African and encouraging international trade.The agreement will initially focus on ongoing Agricultural Research Services work that may assist Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Malawi and Ethiopia.

"This agreement brings together the scientific expertise of ARS with skills developed by Prince George's County for developing job growth to address the needs of African nations as they develop and improve on the agricultural products that are so essential to their economies," Joseph Spence, director of the ARS Beltsville Area, said in a statement.

"It is also designed to stimulate economic growth by identifying opportunities for Maryland businesses to capitalize on ARS research that addresses Africa's agricultural challenges along with U.S. concerns," he said.

State foreclosures grow, increase tops nation's

Maryland foreclosures continued to grow last month, as the state filed foreclosures on 5,852 homes, according to RealtyTrac, a foreclosure research company in Irvine, Calif.

About one of every 399 homes in the state face foreclosure. This amount represents a 65.36 percent increase from the same time in 2009 and a 7.46 increase from April.

The nation, as a whole, fared better with only a .45 percent increase from May 2009 and a 3.27 percent decrease from April. About 322,920 homes or one out of every 400 homes filed for foreclosure in the country.

Cadillac Ranch opens, provides 100 jobs

Developer Greenberg Gibbons of Owings Mills, opened the Cadillac Ranch restaurant Thursday in Annapolis Towne Centre. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant, which offers American cuisine, provides jobs for 100 workers, according to Greenberg Gibbons information.

Cadillac Ranch will be located between 24-Hour Fitness and Ziki Japanese Steakhouse, on the second level of Annapolis Towne Centre — the two million-square-foot, mixed use development by Greenberg Gibbons that includes retailers as well as restaurants along with Class A office space, luxury condos and apartments.

Attorney general shutters nursing education company

State Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced this week that his Consumer Protection Division entered into a Consent Order with MalMilVentures LLC in conjunction with the Associated National Medical Academy of Baltimore to have the academy refund approximately $177,000 to consumers, according to a statement.

CPD officials allege that the ANMA offered training programs to prospective nurses despite not being approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. ANMA is also accused of making numerous misrepresentations and material omissions to consumers, CPS officials said in the statement. ANMA officials denied the allegations.

Greenbelt firm gets contractfor up to $300M

Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies of Greenbelt has received a Department of the Interior contract worth a maximum of $300 million.

The Technical Support Services Contract lasts five years and supports the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Solo Cup to close Owings Mills facility

Solo Cup Co. of Lake Forest, Ill., announced this week plans to close its manufacturing facility in Owings Mills, resulting in the elimination of 540 full-time positions.

The closure is due to improved production efficiency at its 10 other North American plants, Solo officials said in a statement. The company also plans to close its manufacturing facilities in North Andover, Mass. and Springfield, Mo., idling 360 and 340 employees respectively.

The Owings Mills facility is expected to close in mid-2012, according to Solo information.

Mother, son indictedin hospital fraud case

A former executive at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center and her son were indicted by a federal grand jury in Baltimore for mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property as part of a scheme to defraud the Glen Burnie hospital of more than $380,000, prosecutors said in a statement.

Margie L. Milisitz, 58, of Severna Park and John Milisitz, 37, of Carlsbad, Calif., were arrested June 3 in San Diego.

According to the 18-count indictment, Margie Milisitz was the hospital's telecommunications manager and, from May 2005 to January 2008, created false invoices with her son, charging the hospital for equipment it never received. She told the hospital finance staff, however, that the equipment was received.

The Milisitzes face up to 20 years in prison on each count of mail fraud and 10 years in prison on each of 16 counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.