Monday, April 19, 2010

Realtor Action Center

Realtor Action Alert

Dear ShirLee,
Thank you for taking action recently on our Call for Action regarding the continuation of the National Flood Insurance Program and the continuation of the 502 Rural Housing Program.
Because of you and thousands of other members who supported the REALTOR® Party in taking action, the House and Senate last night passed an extension of the flood insurance program through May, 31 2010. The lapse in flood insurance resulted in many delayed and even canceled transactions. While awaiting Congressional action (which did come), NAR worked with federal agencies, GSEs and bank regulators to clarify what lenders and insurers may and may not do to help work through the program's expiration. Be assured that NAR will work closely with key members of Congress to ensure the program is reauthorized and extended prior to the May 31 deadline.
Regarding 502 Rural Housing, the NAR CFA raised the visibility of this issue in Congress and spurred momentum on the legislation. NAR expects Congress to consider legislation to restore the rural housing 502 single family mortgage insurance program. The legislation will increase the upfront guarantee for the program, which will allow the loan program to be self-sustaining and placed on a more viable financial foundation. NAR will continue to work with the Senate to craft a companion to the House bill that will ensure the long-term viability of this critical program.
We appreciate your commitment and involvement on these important REALTOR® Party issues and trust your continued support will follow in the months ahead on other NAR Calls for Action.
Sincerely,
NAR Government Affairs and Community & Political Affairs Divisions

Friday, April 2, 2010

ShirLee of Principal Realty Group, SLC, UT Earns NAR Short Sale and Foreclosure Certification

ShirLee McGarry of Salt Lake City, UT,
Earns NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification
Buyers and Sellers Benefit from REALTOR® Expertise in Distressed Sales

Salt City, State, January 28, 2010— ShirLee McGarry with Principal Realty Group, has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, REALTORS are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR.org or call 1-877-510-7855.

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Success - Free-Press-Release.com

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Realtors, time to work together for the best interest of our industry and clients

The REALTOR® Party

The REALTOR® Party: An energized movement of real estate professionals fighting to keep the dream of homeownership alive for this country.

Now more than ever, it is critical for REALTORS® across America to come together and speak with one voice about the stability a sound and dynamic real estate market brings to this country of ours. From city hall to the state house to the U.S. Capitol, our elected officials are making decisions that have a huge impact on the bottom line of REALTORS® and their customers. Through the support of people like you, the REALTOR® Party will continue to be there representing your interests.

Quite frankly, politics is business when you consider the types of changes that are now being contemplated by mayors, governors and Members of Congress across the country:

* What would happen to the real estate market in your community if the mortgage deduction was eliminated from the tax code?
* What would happen if your customers were unable to afford the property insurance they needed to qualify for a mortgage?
* How would the overhaul of health care impact the insurance coverage of the hundreds of the thousands of self-employed REALTORS® across the country?

Partisan politics must be a thing of the past. Our allies in local, state and federal government span the political spectrum — and we need to work with each one of them to make sure they continue to support the interests of the real estate profession. In fact, the REALTOR® party has been a leader in building the bipartisan relationships necessary on both sides of the aisle in jurisdictions in every state. We need to build on that success and your involvement now can help make that happen.

The time is now to come together and fight for the interests of homeowners and the real estate profession. Join the REALTOR® Party today.


I support the REALTOR Party goals and values and join with other REALTORS around the country working together in the best interest of our industry and our customers. I will:

* Vote for candidates at the local, state, and national levels who support the REALTOR Party and make the right decisions for my profession and my customers.

* Act when called upon to support the REALTOR Party at the local, state, and national level. I recognize the importance of REALTORS speaking with one voice, therefore I will participate in Calls for Action, and if a broker, I will join the Broker Involvement Program.

* Give to the REALTOR Political Action Committee (RPAC), and help RPAC build the bipartisan relationships necessary at all levels of government to ensure a sound and dynamic real estate market.

Signed:
ShirLee McGarry

I am also a contributing member of RPAC
WHY POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT?
Since 1969 RPAC has been promoting the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. During the last federal election cycle alone, RPAC contributed over $12 million to pro-REALTOR® candidates to Congress, making it the number one trade association political action committee in the nation.
Why has RPAC been successful? In America the exercise of good government has its foundation in the participation of its citizens in politics. By definition of the work you do, REALTORS® are contributors to the American dream- home ownership. REALTORS® make it possible for people to bring value to their communities, their lives, to schools and to the future. Increasingly REALTORS® are facing forces from many directions that threaten their ability to help bring about the American dream for more people. Increasing health care premiums, the economy, property tax burdens, rent controls, impact fees and the taking of private property for the public domain are only a quick handful of issues that somewhere, everyday REALTORS® confront.
IF NOT YOU, WHO?That is why it is vitally important that REALTORS® be politically active: to take on the responsibility of protecting the values and rights we hold dear. If not REALTORS®, then who? No one knows a community better than a REALTOR®. It would be difficult to believe that a local no-growth group would represent your real estate business interests, or that those employed by the local government know best how much and where to spend the tax dollar better than you do. REALTORS® are the experts on their communities. REALTORS® know the lay of the land, the families, the best schools, the neighborhoods, and the leaders. With REALTORS® in virtually every community in the nation, you are in a strong position to be on the front line as either a proponent or a defender.
Failure to be involved politically can and likely will result in someone else filling the vacuum left by you. That may sound okay at first; because we are sure someone else will do the job and see things as we do. That is until one discovers that the voices being heard may be contrary to wise business planning and a threat to property owners and their rights. If you as a REALTOR® do not speak out, get involved, and help shape your community, someone else will. It is a good bet that they won't be supportive of your position.
On the national level, we give our money to those in Congress who both understand and support REALTOR® issues. We look to build the future by putting RPAC dollars in places that will help advance the interests of Real Estate professionals. RPAC is the only political group in the country organized for REALTORS®, run by REALTORS® and exists solely to further issues important to REALTORS®.