Housing Affordability Indices Reach Records in First Quarter
WASHINGTON, DC - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing affordability conditions for all buyers reached a milestone in the first quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Realtor® Magazine Wins Multiple Awards for Media Innovation
WASHINGTON, DC - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtor® Magazine, an online and print publication of the National Association of Realtors®, has received three awards for Media Innovation from the Association Media & Publishing EXCEL Awards. The EXCEL Awards honor the best and brightest in association media and publishing.
Xceligent Acquires Commercial Data Platform from NAR’s Second Century Ventures
WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors®, has sold ePropertyData (ePD) to Xceligent to create a competitive national alternative in commercial real estate information.
Tight Lending Standards Hindering Commercial Real Estate Recovery
WASHINGTON, DC - May 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although commercial real estate markets showed signs of recovery in 2011, commercial lending standards have tightened in the past year for small businesses and scuttled a major portion of contracted transactions for smaller properties, according to the National Association of Realtors® annual Commercial Real Estate 2012 Lending Survey.
Realtor® Associations Advance Housing Opportunities through Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® has awarded grants totaling more than $60,000 to 19 state and local Realtor® associations through the Housing Opportunity Program. The HOP grants program is a national effort designed to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in communities across the nation.
Realtors® Recognize Innovative Ideas from School of the Future Design Competition Winners
WASHINGTON, DC - April 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six teams of middle school students participating in the annual School of the Future Design Competition were in Washington, D.C., this week displaying their plans to design environmentally responsive schools that enhance learning and engage the surrounding community. The competition encourages students from all over the world to work in teams to plan and design a school that will improve the learning environment and the facility’s energy efficiency, as well as be sensitive to the environment. This year’s winners were announced last night during an event held at the National Association of Realtors® building.
March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering
WASHINGTON, DC - April 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend Provides Opportunities for Buyers and Sellers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 25, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Potential home buyers rely on open houses to help them find the home of their dreams. This weekend buyers can have a greater chance of doing just that during Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend, which is organized by state and local Realtor® associations across the country. This Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, Realtors® from coast to coast will host thousands of open houses while engaging consumers on the benefits of homeownership and bringing buyers and sellers together.
NAR, U.S. Treasury, Bring Short Sale Assistance to Illinois Homeowners
WASHINGTON, DC - April 23, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® is joining forces once again with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to offer aid to homeowners who are struggling to keep their homes and avoid foreclosure and to help Realtors® better assist clients through the short sale process.
Existing-Home Sales Decline in March but Inventory Down, Prices Stabilizing
WASHINGTON, DC - April 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales were down in March but continue to outpace year-ago levels, while inventory tightened and home prices are showing further signs of stabilizing, according to the
Realtors® Praise FHFA for Issuing Short Sale Approval Guidance
WASHINGTON, DC - April 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® applauds the Federal Housing Finance Agency for issuing new guidance requiring servicers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to speed responses to short sale requests.
Realtors® Call for Broad Qualified Mortgage Definition to Help Consumers and Housing Market
WASHINGTON, DC - April 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A narrow definition of the impending Ability to Repay regulation could harm consumers and the housing market recovery, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Homeownership Makes Tax Time Less Taxing
Washington, DC - April 11, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the April 17 tax deadline one week away, many individuals and families still have time to take advantage of the valuable tax benefits homeownership affords. The National Association of Realtors® consumer website, HouseLogic.com, can help.
Realtors® Raise Fair Housing Awareness in Local Communities
Washington, DC - April 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, the National Association of Realtors® will join the nation in honoring Fair Housing Month this April.
Strong Investment Home Sales Demonstrate Limited Need for Bulk REO Sales Program, Say Realtors®
Washington, DC - March 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Investment home purchases represented nearly one-third of all existing-home sales last year, according to a National Association of Realtors® report on second homes released today. This robust investment activity underscores the importance of limiting the government’s use of real estate owned (REO) bulk sales, as NAR recommended in a letter sent to regulators this week.
Investment and Vacation Home Sales Surge in 2011
Washington, DC - March 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- WASHINGTON (March 29, 2012) – Sales of investment and vacation homes* jumped in 2011, with the combined market share rising to the highest level since 2005, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
February Existing-Home Sales Slip But Up Strongly From a Year Ago
Washington, DC - March 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- February existing-home sales declined from an upwardly revised January pace but are well above a year ago, while the median price posted a slight gain, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales were up in the Midwest and South, offset by declines in the Northeast and West.
Pending Home Sales Ease in February but Solidly Higher Than a Year Ago
Washington, DC - March 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales were down slightly in February but remain notably above the pattern in the first half of last year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
February Existing-Home Sales Slip But Up Strongly From a Year Ago
Washington, DC - March 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- February existing-home sales declined from an upwardly revised January pace but are well above a year ago, while the median price posted a slight gain, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales were up in the Midwest and South, offset by declines in the Northeast and West.
Realtors® Praise FHFA for Banning Private Transfer Fees
Washington, DC - March 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Moe Veissi: “As the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, NAR applauds the Federal Housing Finance Agency for issuing a final rule to restrict Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks from investing in mortgages encumbered by private transfer fee covenants