NAR

WASHINGTON, DC - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new rule from the Federal Trade Commission that aims to protect home owners from mortgage relief scams may impact real estate professionals who represent clients involved in short sale transactions. Several hundred Realtors® learned more about the new rule and its impact on their business at the “Risk Management and License Law Forum” during the Realtors® 2011 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C. today.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® strive to preserve and expand housing opportunities in communities across the country, and the National Association of Realtors® supported many of these efforts through the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants. NAR issued a final report, “Tackling Workforce Housing State by State,” on the grant program results today at the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® is modifying its popular Green Designation program to focus on residential real estate practice. “NAR research has consistently shown that there is a considerable and growing market for green buildings, and many of today’s consumers want homes and communities that are more resource efficient and sensitive to the larger environment,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “NAR’s Green Designation helps Realtors® meet that consumer demand for green building practices. These revisions will help Realtors® continue to bring value to buyers and sellers who value eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes.”

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The pendulum on mortgage credit has swung too far in the other direction after the recent housing downturn and is putting an unnecessary burden on creditworthy consumers, impeding the economic and housing market recoveries. That’s what a panel of industry experts told several thousand Realtors® gathered at a special symposium, Ensuring Mortgage Availability for Creditworthy Homebuyers, during the Realtors® 2011 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., here through May 14.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Reforms to America’s housing finance market must ensure a reliable source of affordable mortgage lending for creditworthy consumers. That’s according to Realtors® and other industry insiders who examined the federal government’s future role in the secondary mortgage market at the “Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac: Obama Options and Beyond” session during the National Association of Realtors® 2011 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, here through May 14.

Washington, DC - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Now is the time for Realtors® to come to the aid of their industry, on behalf of the nation’s 75 million home owners, aspiring home owners, real estate investors, and the nation’s economy. That was the message delivered today during “59 and ½ Minutes: A Member-Director Forum” during the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.

Washington, DC - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales continued to recover in the first quarter with gains recorded in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while 22 percent of the available metropolitan areas saw prices rise from a year ago, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors®.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® from across the country are meeting with legislators, public policy makers and industry leaders this week to address pressing concerns and issues that affect home owners, aspiring home owners and real estate investors everywhere as the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo begins.

Washington, DC - May 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Commercial members of the National Association of Realtors® will have greater access to commercial information exchange data through a new mobile application by ePropertyData.

Washington, DC - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- March saw another increase in pending home sales, with contract activity rising unevenly in six of the past nine months, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Washington, DC - April 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing-home sales rose in March, continuing an uneven recovery that began after sales bottomed last July, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Washington, DC - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® now have access to an errors and omissions insurance program from the National Association of Realtors®’ newest REALTOR Benefits® Partner, Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc.

Washington, DC - April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® welcomed middle school students from across the country this week to participate in the annual School of Future Design Competition. The competition encourages students to work in teams to plan and design a school that will improve the learning environment and the facility’s energy efficiency, be sensitive to the environment, and is integral to the surrounding community. This year’s winners were announced last night during an event held at NAR’s D.C. offices.

Washington, DC - April 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new bill to improve the process for approving short sales may soon bring relief to distressed home owners who are unable to keep their homes and hope to avoid foreclosure. The bill, introduced in the U.S. House yesterday and strongly supported by the National Association of Realtors®, would impose a deadline of 45 days on lenders to respond to short sale requests.

Washington, DC - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Americans favor walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, with 56 percent of respondents preferring smart growth neighborhoods over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation. That’s according to a recent study, the Community Preference Survey, by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Washington, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® will join Americans across the country as they honor Fair Housing Month this April. As the leading advocate for home ownership, NAR strongly supports the Fair Housing Act and believes that anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream.

Washington, DC - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of REALTORS® today urged Congress to move cautiously when reforming government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Washington, DC - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The market share of vacation- and investment-home sales1 held steady in 2010, although the sales volume declined with the overall market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Washington, DC - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- High down payment requirements being proposed by federal regulatory agencies as part of the upcoming rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will unnecessarily burden homebuyers and significantly impede the economic and housing recovery, according to the National Association of Realtors®

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Realtors®’ businesses grow, so do their needs for quality office supply products. Now OfficeMax and the National Association of Realtors® are proud to offer discounts to NAR members on office supplies and services through the REALTOR Benefits® Program.

Washington, DC - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --Pending home sales increased in February but with notable regional variations, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Portland, OR - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- After several stops throughout the country this month, the Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour will stop in Portland on Saturday, March 26, outside the Portland Better Living Home Garden & Lifestyle Show. Hosted by the National Association of REALTORS®, the bus tour will give consumers the chance to speak with NAR leaders and local officials about how shifting priorities and public policies in Washington could affect home ownership in Portland

Washington, DC - March 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- WASHINGTON (March 21, 2011) – Existing-home sales fell in February following three straight monthly increases, according to the National Association of REALTORS

Washington, DC - March 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour hosted by the National Association of Realtors® makes a stop this week outside the Denver Home Show on Saturday, March 19. NAR leaders and invited local officials will be on hand to hear from consumers and speak with them about how shifting priorities and public policies in Washington could affect home ownership here in Denver

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- “Owning a home offers myriad benefits throughout the year, but some of the financial advantages of home ownership are most apparent at tax time,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “As many of today’s hard-working American families are feeling a financial squeeze, the tax benefits that can come from owning a home can be a welcome relief.”

Washington, DC - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congress needs to strengthen and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for the long term to prevent undermining the fragile real estate market recovery, the National Association of Realtors® said in testimony today before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.

Washington, DC - March 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour kicks off this weekend in Chicago outside of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show on Saturday, March 5. Chicagoans can speak with NAR leaders and invited local officials about the housing issues that matter to them, as well as learn about how public policy developments in Washington could affect their ability to buy, sell and own a home

Washington, DC - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Throughout this month, consumers across the country can engage Realtors®, local officials, and their neighbors on an issue that literally hits close to home – home ownership – as the National Association of Realtors® kicks off a month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour in cities across the nation.

Washington, DC - February 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® is currently accepting applications for the 12th annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards. The awards recognize Realtors® for their dedication to volunteer service

Washington, DC - February 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales eased moderately in January for the second straight month, but remain 20.6 percent above the cyclical low last June, according to the National Association of Realtors