You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)’ tag.
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has issued a nationwide Call for Action, urging members to contact their Members of Congress in both houses and bring the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370 and S. 1610) to the floor for immediate consideration and a vote in each chamber. This legislation aims to fix some of the unintended consequences from the implementation of the 2012 Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.
REALTORS® and homeowners across the country are reporting significant increases in annual premium rates as a result of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rate changes that took effect on October 1. This is raising concerns among consumers and REALTORS® about decreased property values and a stalled housing market recovery. This drastic increase in flood insurance premiums for coverage under the NFIP is negatively impacting transactions and the nation’s real estate recovery.
REALTORS® need to ensure that this is a priority for Congress and is brought up for vote immediately. Congress has very few working days left of this session, so it is imperative that members answer this Call for Action. Tell Congress we support the “Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.”
NAR is asking Congress for a four-year time-out to fully correct some of the implementation problems that will threaten real estate transactions where flood insurance is required to obtain a mortgage. Tell Congress to delay changes to the NFIP and that we support the “Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act”.
April 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act, which strives to to ensure equal housing opportunity for all. Each year REALTORS® join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and rest of the nation in recognizing April as Fair Housing Month.
REALTORS® play a vital role in ensuring fair housing for all and strive to make homeownership accessible to everyone. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) works to help create an environment where everyone can choose where they want to live and not be discriminated against as they seek to achieve the American dream of homeownership.
Carolyn Miller, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, whose members are also members of NAR, says REALTORS® abide by a Code of Ethics that states REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services and shall not be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation.
“REALTORS® want all buyers and sellers to enjoy the benefits of a housing market free from discrimination,” says Miller.
On April 26, SILVAR is promoting Fair Housing Month by offering At Home With Diversity®, a course that teaches REALTORS® and other business professionals how to work effectively within a multicultural market. The full-day course addresses topics like diversity, fair housing and business planning development. For more information about At Home With Diversity®, call SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.
“Knowing how to work effectively with diverse populations can help you build business success in today’s multicultural real estate market,” adds Miller.
Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. They cannot instruct their real estate agent to convey any limitations in a sale or rental.
Buyers or renters have the right to expect housing will be available to them without discrimination, including:
• housing in their price range made available without discrimination.
• equal professional service.
• the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices.
• no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing.
• no discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing.
• reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities.
• non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling.
• freedom from harassment or intimidation for exercising their fair housing rights.
Buyers or renters who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing within one year of the alleged discrimination.
HUD recently launched a new mobile application for iPhone and iPad that provides the public information about their housing rights and responsibilities. The app also provides information about the fair housing complaint process, and allows the public to access HUD’s toll-free discrimination hotline and link to HUD’s fair housing website: http://www.hud.gov/fairhousing
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® would like to pass this warning from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR is alerting members about a website of suspicious origin, which is misusing the REALTOR® trademark in what seems to be an attempt to get money from real estate practitioners.
The site, Realtor-complaints.com, supposedly publishes consumer complaints about real estate agents. However, an investigation by the New Jersey Association of REALTORS® showed a string of complaints against its members, all using similar phrasing, which leads to suspicion that the complaints are not legitimate. Moreover, when agents who have been the subject of a complaint attempt to make contact, the site offers them the “opportunity” to pay to have the complaint and have their name removed from the site.
NAR legal staff checked the WHOIS record for the site and discovered it is hosted on servers located in the Seychelles. NAR found that the site was recorded as having been initially registered on January 1, 2013, making the site’s claim of having been around since 2002 very suspect.
NAR has received a number of calls from members who have been informed via email that their name is listed at the site. NAR attorneys are investigating and, if necessary, will take steps to have the site shut down.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 