Just back from meeting their state legislators in Sacramento early this month, SILVAR’s leadership team is in Washington, D.C. this week, joining more than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests from across the nation at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo May 13-18. They are meeting with regulators, lawmakers and industry leaders to address critical real estate issues affecting individuals, communities, and the nation.

At a general meeting on Wednesday morning, NAR CEO Dale Stinton told REALTORS® current NAR membership is at 990,000 and that it should exceed one million soon. There are 1,400 local associations; 1,100 have 300 members or less.

During their meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill REALTORS® are urging action toward preserving the mission and purpose of the Federal Housing Administration’s single-family mortgage program, encouraging the return of private capital to mortgage markets, restructuring government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to guarantee affordable mortgage financing is available to creditworthy consumers in all types of markets, and maintaining current tax policies for homeownership and real estate investment. They also are participating in sessions with a number of government officials and industry experts, including representatives from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Fannie Mae, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Reserve Board and Freddie Mac.

“The NAR Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo is an enormous gathering of REALTORS® from every state in the country. We are here to remind our country’s elected officials that home ownership has value for all families,” said SILVAR President Carolyn Miller.

SILVAR members are meeting with Anna Eshoo, U.S. Representative for California’s 18th congressional district, which includes parts of San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties; Jackie Speier, U.S. Representative for California’s 14th congressional district , which consists of portions of San Mateo County and San Francisco; and Mike Honda, U.S. Representative for California’s 17th congressional district, which includes western San Jose and Silicon Valley.

Accompanying Miller in Washington are SILVAR President-elect Dave Tonna, NAR Director John Tripp, Past President Suzanne Yost, board director David Barca, Jeff Barnett, Carole Feldstein, SILVAR PAC Chair Barbara Williams, Government Affairs Director Jessica Epstein and Executive Officer Paul Cardus

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