Energy bill passed by House raises concerns
Energy bill passed by House raises concerns
|
Federal agency would oversee mortgage terms
Federal agency would oversee mortgage terms
|
NAR: Market needs Fannie and Freddie
NAR: Market needs Fannie and Freddie
|
Realtors support mortgage lending reform
NAR President Charles McMillan testified before Congress yesterday that the mortgage lending system needs reform to restore consumer confidence and the housing market. He said that the recently introduced “Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009” contains many reforms that NAR wants, but he also cautioned against overregulation.
|
Rental proponents oppose help for homebuyers
WASHINGTON – Nov. 20, 2008 – Organizations representing the rental side of the real estate market are lobbying against proposals for homebuyer assistance.
|
NAR opposes full privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
WASHINGTON – Nov. 12, 2008 – To insure that there is sufficient capital to support mortgage lending to qualified borrowers, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has adopted principles that recommend continued government involvement in the secondary mortgage market.
|
Florida CFO Sink launches ‘Florida Housing Help’ web site
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nov. 10, 2008 – To provide immediate assistance to Florida homeowners searching for federal housing assistance, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and her Financial Action Team (FACT Team) announced the launch of “Florida Housing Help,” a new Web feature at www.MyFloridaCFO.com.
|
New law gives first-time buyers $7,500 tax credit
WASHINGTON – Aug. 1, 2008 – Tell first-time homebuyers it’s time to commit: A provision of the recently-passed federal housing recovery bill gives first-time buyers an interest-free loan of up to $7,500 in the form of an income tax credit.
|
Are you a real estate professional? Maybe not, says IRS
WASHINGTON – July 18, 2008 – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is taking a closer look at income tax statements submitted by individuals claiming to be real estate professionals, given that the agency has released new guidelines regarding this tax status.
|
FHA extends financing for immediate purchase of foreclosed homes
WASHINGTON – June 16, 2008 – In an effort to stabilize declining home values in certain neighborhoods, the Bush Administration today announced a temporary policy that will extend government-backed mortgage insurance and allow for the immediate sale of vacant foreclosed properties.
|
NAR and the U.S. Dept. of Justice reach agreement on MLS Web displays
CHICAGO – May 27, 2008 – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has reached a favorable settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), resolving litigation regarding how listings from multiple listing services (MLSs) are displayed on brokers’ virtual office Web sites. The proposed final order, to be filed with the federal district court in Chicago today, validates NAR’s longstanding Internet Data Exchange (IDX) policy and strengthens the rule governing participation in MLSs.
|
Florida files lawsuit against developer for violating “do not call” law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – May 13, 2008 – Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced that he has taken legal action against a Sarasota County company for violating Florida’s “Do Not Call” law.
|
FHASecure to expand its pricing structure
WASHINGTON – May 12, 2008 – The Bush Administration issued final guidance that will permit HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to assist more homeowners struggling to keep up with their high-cost subprime adjustable rate mortgages. The FHA will implement the flexible premium pricing structure beginning July 14, 2008.
|
US House passes massive homeowner rescue plan, defying Bush veto threat
WASHINGTON – May 9, 2008 – The House on Thursday passed a massive homeowner rescue plan to provide cheaper, government-backed mortgages to half a million debt-ridden borrowers and bolster an economy crippled by the housing crisis.
|
Major provisions of housing rescue package
Major provisions of housing rescue bills in the House aimed at heading off foreclosures, preventing neighborhood blight and stabilizing the market:
|
HUD official says RESPA reform can't wait
WASHINGTON – March 18, 2008 – The public comment period on HUD's proposed revisions to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) ends May 13, but more than a half dozen trade groups representing the mortgage industry insist that more time is needed to review the nearly 300-page document.
|
FHA draws more interest amid crunch
NEW YORK – March 13, 2008 – More mortgage lenders and brokers are trying to obtain Federal Housing Administration licenses to issue FHA loans, as borrowers show more interest in products backed by the agency. The FHA has received 287,000 refinancing applications and has closed on 117,000 mortgages since September.
|
The U.S. Congress moves to boost housing
WASHINGTON – Feb. 20, 2008 – Congress is eyeing more incentives as ways to address problems in the housing market – a growing issue in this contentious election year.
|
Crist appoints affordable housing commissioners
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Feb. 19, 2008 – Gov. Crist appointed six new members to Florida’s Affordable Housing Study Commission, which makes public policy recommendations to the governor and Legislature to “promote the production, preservation and maintenance of safe, decent affordable housing for all Floridians.”
|
FAR President urges Congress to develop a national disaster policy
PALM BEACH, Fla. – Feb. 11, 2008 —Florida Association of Realtors’® (FAR) 2008 President Chuck Bonfiglio is speaking to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations today at a special field hearing at the Palm Beach County Commission chambers.
|
NAR: Stimulus package must include loan limit increase
NAR: Stimulus package must include loan limit increase
|
This land is my land, this land ain’t your land
PANAMAN CITY, Fla. – Jan. 8, 2008 – A cautionary tale from Colorado should be a wake-up call for Florida property owners – and spur them to embrace the maxim of “use it or lose it.”
|
STATUS QUO
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) has announced that the conforming loan limit will remain at its current level of $417,000 in 2008.
|
Mixed results for October existing-home sales, says NAR
WASHINGTON – Nov. 28, 2007 – Single-family existing-home sales were stable in October while the condo sector was down, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Lingering effects of the credit crunch were a drag on sales but the mortgage situation has improved significantly.
|
DOJ launches Web site promoting real estate competition
WASHINGTON – Oct. 11, 2007 – The real estate business is competitive – too competitive, some Realtors say.
|
Realtors encourage Senate to expand flood insurance program
WASHINGTON – Oct. 3, 2007 – Speaking before the Senate Banking Committee yesterday, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) expressed support for reforming and expanding the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP helps protect homeowners, renters and commercial property owners from losses sustained from flooding.
|
Fed chair to Congress: Stay out of the mortgage crisis
WASHINGTON – Sept. 24, 2007 – Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke asked Congress Thursday to limit its response to the mortgage crisis, saying that federal agencies are handling it.
|
House pushing plan to expand FHA’s role in mortgages and housing grants
WASHINGTON – Sept. 18, 2007 – Looking to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, the Democratic-controlled House wants to insure mortgages and provide affordable housing grants well beyond limits favored by the Bush administration.
|
Home woes seen aiding repeat try at RESPA fix
WASHINGTON – Sept. 17, 2007 – The housing downturn and turmoil in the subprime mortgage market have prompted HUD to re-focus on reforming the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), with initial results expected by early next year.
|
Saving ‘Save our homes’
A Florida circuit judge tossed out a challenge to Florida’s popular Save Our Homes (SOH) amendment on Monday, but the plaintiff’s lawyer says the fight will continue. Three residents of Alabama who own second homes in Florida are challenging SOH, saying it unfairly shifts the property tax burden to non-homesteaded owners and businesses, which is unconstitutional under U.S. law.
|
Terrorism insurance bill protects commercial real estate market
WASHINGTON – Aug. 3, 2007 – Reauthorization of the federal government’s terrorism risk insurance program will help maintain a strong commercial real estate market and the health of the nation’s economy, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).
|
Big real estate joins the fight over tax hike
WASHINGTON – July 30, 2007 – The House Ways and Means Committee is considering a bill that would dramatically boost the tax rate on companies that forge partnerships; and while the legislation is geared toward private equity firms and hedge funds, real estate firms that partner with investors to finance property acquisitions will be impacted as well.
|
Still in the flight
An amendment in a spending bill being considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee would prevent the U.S. Treasury Department from issuing a final rule allowing banks to engage in real estate brokerage activities.
|
Proposal would create a national affordable housing trust fund
June 29, 2007 – Florida has affordable housing trust funds, but a bill introduced yesterday in the U.S. Congress would take it to the next level – creating a national affordable housing trust fund.
|
HUD calls on cities to ease restrictions on workforce housing
According to HUD, unnecessary regulations are pricing housing out of the reach of millions of working families. HUD called on local governments to cut excessive regulations that drive up housing costs, and 11 communities in Florida so far have agreed to reexamine their regulations.
|
70% believe America is not prepared for a natural disaster
WASHINGTON – May 16, 2007 – America is not prepared for a catastrophic natural disaster, and Congress must take action now. That was the message delivered during the Insurance Availability in Disaster-Prone Areas session at the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo today.
|
HUD hosts housing summit to address problems
WASHINGTON – May 15, 2007 – How can the U.S. minimize the impact from risky loans, predatory lending and other current real estate problems? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) yesterday hosted a Homeownership Summit with leading stakeholders in the housing community to discuss the impact of risky, high-priced loans, departmental actions against predatory lending and how modernizing the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will provide a safer alternative to exotic mortgages.
|
HUD: $1.8 billion for affordable housing and first-time owners
ST. LOUIS – May 9, 2007 – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced that thousands of U.S. communities will share almost $1.8 billion to promote HUD’s affordable housing and first-time homebuyer programs.
|
NAR: Higher lending standards can curb abusive practices
WASHINGTON – May 8, 2007 – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) is calling on bank regulators to adopt higher lending standards while giving lenders more flexibility in determining whether homebuyers can afford to meet their loan obligations.
|
Passage of FHA reform bill would help homeowners and homebuyers, says NAR
WASHINGTON – May 7, 2007 – The U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Thursday passed legislation allowing the Federal Housing Administration to offer borrowers a safer alternative to risky mortgage products and to help many homeowners facing foreclosure.
|
Injunction entered against Minnesota caller
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – April 19, 2007 – A Minnesota federal court has entered an injunction against Ryan Swanberg, who had threatened real estate brokerages across the country, including some in Florida, with litigation for not complying with his request for their company “Do Not Call” policy within five days of the request. The injunction prohibits Swanberg from “citing or relying upon the do-not-call laws or regulations as grounds upon which to make demands, seek payment of money or the compromise of any claims whatsoever.”
|
At-risk homeowners have ‘exit strategy’ if FHA modernized
WASHINGTON – April 18, 2007 – In testimony before a U.S. House committee yesterday, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials said that a modernization of HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lending program would help many homeowners who find they can no longer afford their subprime ARM mortgage payments.
|
Flood insurance reform’s future uncertain
WASHINGTON – April 11, 2007 – The flood insurance reform bill that House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced in March could clear his panel and the full House this year, but momentum on legislation in the Senate is up in the air.
|
A free gift
A free gift
|
Congress urged to develop national natural disaster policy
WASHINGTON – March 28, 2007 – The National Association of Realtors (NAR) called upon Congress to establish a comprehensive natural disaster policy that includes disaster preparedness and encourages personal responsibility.
|
NAR supports senators’ call for natural disaster legislation
WASHINGTON – March 22, 2007 – National Association of Realtors® (NAR) President Pat Vredevoogd Combs yesterday sent a letter to Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), pledging NAR’s help in crafting a national natural disaster plan that would include accessible and affordable insurance, improved preparedness and planning for recovery efforts.
|
Banks out of real estate
Banks out of real estate
|
FHA reform could provide safer mortgages
WASHINGTON – March 16, 2007 – The country needs a strong, viable Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that delivers housing policies that ensure federal housing programs meet their mission responsibly and efficiently, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) stated yesterday in a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. |
© 2009 Florida Realtors®