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NAR Updates
January 2010
NAR: Public Policy Survey In this Special Edition of the President’s Podcast 2010 NAR President Vicki Cox Golder and Chief Lobbyist Jerry Giovaniello explain how NAR determines its public policy priorities and what Congress will likely tackle in 2010. View podcast here: www.realtor.org/about_nar/presidents_report/_podcast_archive/coxgolder_policysurvey_20091218
NAR 2009 Legislative
Accomplishments
Federal Tax Credit for Home Buyers Extended and Expanded. The tax credit will be extended through April 30,
from the GSEs, among other things, NAR called for a 12-month moratorium on April 20, 2009. NAR later extended the time of the moratorium to 18 months. Staff from both GSEs met with the Appraisal Committee at NAR’s 2009 Midyear Meetings. The conversation focused on the implementation of HVCC. NAR has created several education documents for members that can be found with other resources at www.realtor.org/hvcc.
Conforming Loan Limits Extended Through 2010.
RESPA Reform. Provisions of HUD’s final RESPA rule went into effect on January 16, 2009 after NAR successfully urged HUD to make significant changes to the proposed rule that will benefit real estate brokers and agents, including: elimination of the “closing script”; creation of a 30-day cure period; and improved uniform formatting of GFE/HUD-1. For more information, please visit: www.realtor.org/respa
Home Valuation Code of Conduct. Citing a lack of guidance
To review the complete list of NAR’s 2009 Legislative & Regulatory Accomplishments, please visit: www.realtor.org/government_affairs/reg_leg_accomplishments
2010, with a 6-day extension if a binding contract is in place prior to the deadline. First-time home buyers will continue to receive a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners will receive a credit of up to $6,500.
The limits will be $417,000 for most areas in the U.S. and $729,750 for high-cost areas, including many in California.
MLSListings Inc. Updates
New Customized MLSListings, Inc. Holiday Schedule offices will be CLOSED on the following dates: MLS Toolbar Now Available MLSListings’ January 1, 2010: After hours Call Center support begins on Thursday, With the new customized MLSListings toolbar,
you’re always in touch with what’s happening at MLSListings and the real estate industry. Delivered directly to your own computer, the new toolbar will get you immediate access to MLSListings search, mlslistings.com, Facebook, YouTube, Association website, Twitter RSS feeds from NAR and CAR, and links to other pertinent real estate sites from one location. Additionally, we plan to use this new tool to communicate messages directly to you. To install the MLSListings toolbar on your computer, please use the following link: mlslistingsinc.ourtoolbar.com/ Get connected today and discover how easy it is to stay in touch with MLSListings.
November 2009 Clarus Market Reports Now Available
December 31st at 6:00 pm and continues until Monday, January 2, 2010 at 8 a.m.
Economic & Market Watch Report (3rd Quarter 2009) Now Available This quarterly NAR-produced report – showing local sales data, economic and housing forecasts, and labor market analysis by county level within the MLSListings coverage area – is now available at: mlslistings.com/Uploads/10/88/11088/Gallery/MLSListingsQ32009.pdf
The November 2009 Clarus Market report is now available at: www.clarusresource.com/marketdata/MLSListings/index.html