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RealEstateRama News
Realtors® Rise to New Heights to Tackle Real Estate Issues
SAN FRANCISCO - November 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home prices are rising and foreclosures and short sales are falling, all signs that housing markets are on their way to recovery. However, uncertainties and market challenges remain for the nation’s residential and commercial real estate markets, and Realtors® are committed to addressing those challenges as they gather Nov. 8-11 in San Francisco for the
NAR Launches Priority Registration List for New .Realtor Top-Level Domain
SAN FRANCISCO - November 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- During the 2013 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco today, the National Association of Realtors® launched a member awareness campaign and priority registration for the .Realtor top-level domain, as an alternative to the familiar and commonly used .com or .org domains.
Most Metro Areas Show Strong Annual Home-Price Growth
WASHINGTON - November 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The majority of metropolitan areas in the third quarter experienced robust year-over-year price gains, with the national median price showing the strongest annual growth in nearly eight years, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®.
Home Buyers and Sellers Survey Shows Lingering Impact of Tight Credit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Although the housing market has shown a healthy recovery over the past two years, unnecessarily restrictive mortgage lending standards are preventing some financially qualified buyers from reaching their dreams, especially singles and first-time buyers, according to an annual study released today.
Realtors® Report Americans Prefer to Live in Mixed-Use, Walkable Communities
WASHINGTON - November 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Choosing a community is one of the most important factors for consumers as they consider buying home, and research by the National Association of Realtors® has consistently revealed that Americans prefer walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and shorter commutes.
Realtors® to Regulators: Aligning QRM with QM Assures Safe, Sound Mortgage Lending
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Revised rules proposed by federal regulators will help ensure rigorous and effective underwriting while also providing creditworthy homebuyers with access to safe mortgage financing, according to the National Association of Realtors®
Realtors® Applaud Bipartisan Legislation to Delay Flood Insurance Rate Increases
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- “The bipartisan ‘Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act’ introduced today in the Senate by Sens. Robert Mendendez, D-N.J.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; and Mary Landrieu, D-La., and in the House by Reps. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will help millions of homeowners who are facing sudden and extreme increases in flood insurance premiums, which are an unintended consequence of legislation to reform the National Flood Insurance Program
Realtors® Advocate Housing Finance System Overhaul That Protects Taxpayers and Access to Credit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As lawmakers debate how best to reform the secondary mortgage finance market, they must ensure that any new system retains access to safe, secure and affordable sources of mortgage capital for creditworthy consumers in all market conditions or risk a major disruption to the economy, warned the National Association of Realtors® today in testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Then and Now: A Decade of Technology in Real Estate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- More buyers than ever are taking advantage of the latest technology and online tools to search for a place to call home. As a result, Realtors® are leveraging new technologies to better assist their more tech savvy clients. A 10-year history of the National Association of Realtors® annual Member Profile shows Realtors®’ evolving use of technology, the Internet and social media and the essential role that technology plays in the real estate transaction.
Existing-Home Sales Down in September but Prices Rise
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- After hitting the highest level in nearly four years, existing-home sales declined in September, but limited inventory conditions continued to pressure home prices in much of the country, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Realtors® Warn Congress Default Could Have Severe Impact on Housing Market
WASHINGTON - October 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Defaulting on the nation’s federal debt could be disastrous for the U.S. economy and catastrophic for the housing recovery, cautioned the National Association of Realtors® today in testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Home Buyers Value Environmentally Friendly Features
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners frequently see their heating bills rise as fall begins and the weather cools. For this reason, homes with energy efficient and environmentally friendly features are often a priority to prospective buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors®’ 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, nearly nine out of 10 recent home buyers said that heating and cooling costs were somewhat or very important when considering a home for purchase.
Pending Home Sales Decline in August
WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales slowed in August, with tight inventory conditions, higher interest rates, rising home prices and continuing restrictive mortgage credit impacting the market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Realtors® Respond to President Obama’s Speech on Fifth Anniversary of Financial Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- “In his speech today, President Obama reflected on the five years since the financial meltdown and on the housing market’s steady return from the epoch of underwater mortgages, foreclosures and frozen credit. With NAR’s support, the administration enacted key policies to stabilize the market, recover home values, ensure access to affordable credit, and most importantly, renew faith in the value of homeownership.
Realtors® Help Support U.S. Troops with New Military Relocation Professional Certification
WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® have always been invested in helping military service professionals find housing solutions that best meet their needs and allow them to take full advantage of their military benefits. Now Realtors® can enhance the services they provide for those who have served our country through the National Association of Realtors
Realtors® Applaud Senate Hearings on Housing Finance Reform
WASHINGTON - September 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Gary Thomas
Study of Real Estate Firms Shows both Optimism and Challenges
WASHINGTON, DC - September 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Most real estate firms are small, independent businesses that specialize in residential brokerage, with 69 percent of all firms expecting profitability to increase over the next year, according to the 2013 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Real Estate Firms
Statement From NAR President Gary Thomas on Qualified Residential Mortgage Rule
WASHINGTON, DC - August 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Gary Thomas
July Pending Home Sales Slip
WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales were down in July, with higher mortgage interest rates slowing the market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Realtor® Award Finalists Selected for Commitment to Improving Communities
WASHINGTON, DC - August 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Realtors® are integral to successful communities, supporting causes large and small and volunteering their time to help improve the lives of those who call those communities home. The National Association of Realtors® recognized 10 Realtors® today as finalists for REALTOR® Magazine’s 2013 Good Neighbor Awards.