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2010 Federal Legislative Accomplishments

Throughout 2010, NAR made significant progress educating Congress and the Obama Administration that a stable and sustainable housing market is the primary building block for any economic recovery. NAR had a series of successes in the regulatory and legislative fields, some of which are highlighted below.

As we look ahead to 2011, NAR will [...]

Real Estate Finance Forum – The Year in Review

Scott Short

All I can say is WOW! This year has not been boring. Game changing events happened almost every month.

We started out the year with total confusion in the mortgage industry due to the new Good Faith Estimate (aka: GFE 2010). It took most mortgage professionals at least a month or two to understand the new form and the impact it would have on the consumers and themselves.

Consumers received overinflated GFEs to protect the loan officer from underdisclosing everyone’s fees in the transaction. If certain fees were underdisclosed, the loan officer would have to pay for it out of his/her pocket. One of the mysteries with the new GFE 2010 is that there is no place on the GFE 2010 to sign. There is a separate form for signatures. Now where is the consumer benefit from this change?

While struggling with the new GFE 2010, HUD/FHA released a waiver that they will allow “less than 90-day flips” to be financed with FHA loans (another program with a ton of misinterpretation).

Oh, did I forget to mention that HUD/FHA decided January 1, 2010 to adopt HVCC (Home Value Code of Conduct) practices for all their FHA loans. The industry thought HUD would have seen the “train wreck” Fannie and Freddie created with HVCC and steered away. But in the spirit of follow the leader, HUD jumped in with both feet. Can you say complexity, when you have HUD’s version of HVCC and the new appraisal requirements for the “less than 90-day flips?” This is just another reason the industry slowed down even more at the beginning of the year.

Continue reading: Real Estate Finance Forum – The Year in Review

Your Membership, Your Way - July 2010

SAVING YOU TIME

June sales report in 2:56 minutes. That’s all the time you need to view C.A.R.’s “June Market Update” presented by C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. Find this video on the home page of car.org, where you can hyperlink to it, upload it to your Web site, or e-mail it to your clients.

If you prefer the printed word, find C.A.R.’s “June Sales and Price Report” at http://www.car.org/newsstand/newsreleases/junereport/. Here, you’ll find additional information, including charts and graphs, regional data, and the Unsold Inventory Index by price point, that are not available in the above video.

Learn Smartphone tips and tricks on the fly at Mobile Jolt! These two 60-minute sessions at CALFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2010 will serve up java and apps. Bring your phone; we’ll supply the caffeine. For only $10 per workshop, you can join us for hands-on instruction and an introduction to the latest and greatest apps for your Smartphone (http://expo.car.org/workshops.html).

Tweet and Friend HAFA: Join C.A.R’s Certified HAFA Specialist community on Facebook and Twitter to learn from and share insights with HAFA expert Ray Mathoda and other REALTORS®. Participation is free. Join the Facebook Fan Page (Certified HAFA Specialist [CHS] at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Certified-HAFA-Specialist-CHS/108110262571299?ref=sgm or follow on Twitter (CHS_HAFA Specialist at http://twitter.com/HAFASpecialist). Learn more about C.A.R.’s HAFA Certification program(http://www.hafacertification.com/).

Continue reading: Your Membership, Your Way – July 2010

REALTORS® May File Confidential Appraiser Complaints

REALTORS® and their clients who encounter unlawful or unprofessional conduct by an appraiser may file a confidential complaint with California’s Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA). Since implementation of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) in May 2009, REALTORS® have reported many challenges and difficulties with appraisals, such as low appraisals, inexperienced appraisers, out-of-area appraisers unfamiliar with a local neighborhood, and problems with Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). Appraisers are regulated by the OREA, and starting January 1, 2010, a new law directs the OREA to develop a registration process and other regulations to oversee AMCs as well.

A complaint of appraiser’s misconduct may be filed with the OREA. The complaint may be made confidentially, but proper prosecution may ultimately require the complainant’s testimony in a legal proceeding.

Continue reading: REALTORS® May File Confidential Appraiser Complaints

2009 NAR Public Policy Accomplishments

For 2009, NAR’s primary public policy goal was to focus on efforts that stimulate, stabilize and strengthen real estate markets across the nation while also protecting the business interests of members. As we near the end of 2009, NAR has made significant progress on both the legislative and regulatory fronts. The successes highlighted below represent a small portion of the activity conducted on behalf of REALTORS® in 2009.

As we look ahead to 2010, NAR will continue to advocate policy initiatives that benefit REALTORS® and consumers in the residential and commercial real estate industry.

Protecting REALTORS®’ Business Interest and Activities
Banks in Real Estate – After 8 years of continuous struggle to convince Congress that real estate is not financial in nature and banks should not be allowed in the real estate brokerage business, NAR achieved its objective. On March 11, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 1105, was signed into law, and with it a declaration that, going forward, neither real estate brokerage or real estate management can be classified as a financial activity.

Home Valuation Code of Conduct – Citing a lack of guidance from the GSEs, among other things, NAR is calling for an 18 month moratorium. Staff from both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac met with the Appraisal Committee at NAR’s 2009 Midyear Meetings. The conversation focused on the implementation of HVCC. With the Code set to expire in November 2010, NAR supports an amendment to H.R. 3126 that will effectively sunset HVCC.

Continue reading: 2009 NAR Public Policy Accomplishments

HVCC Update!

On October 22, 2009, HR 3126, the “Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2009,” passed the House Financial Services Committee with an amendment that will ultimately sunset the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC). The amendment was offered by Representative Gary Miller (D-CA). During the debate Mr. Miller and Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair, Paul Kanjorski [...]