NAR Steps Up Ethics Enforcement
NAR’s Board of Directors voted at its May 19 meeting in Washington to allow local REALTOR® associations to impose stiffer consequences on practitioners who break the association’s ethics rules. In addition, board voted to raise annual dues by $30, to $150; updated the association’s MLS policies; and supported indexing the federal cap on state and local tax deductions for inflation, among other decisions. The board also elected Charles Oppler as NAR first vice president, Vince Malta as president-elect, and John Flor as treasurer. Read more for details on the board’s actions.
Home Prices Expected to Rise in 2018
A stronger economy, steady job creation, and an improving job market are likely to drive home sales and prices higher in 2018, but at a slower rate than in previous years because of the continuing shortage of properties for sale, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington last week. Read more.
NAR Releases ‘Fair Housing at 50’
NAR reflects on the progress made to end discrimination in housing markets and to promote housing opportunity for all—and the work that still needs to be done—in “Fair Housing at 50,” a new report from NAR that was released at the 2018 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Fair housing took center stage during the meetings, including at the NAR 360 kickoff event. Watch a video of REALTORS® talking about fair housing.
.realestate Top-Level Domain to Launch in 2018
NAR will be launching a new top-level domain, .realestate, later this year. The new domain extension is scheduled to be available in September for members of NAR, with a late November release to the general public. Details.
NAR Applauds Passage of Banking Reform Bill
NAR has praised the May 22 passage by the House of Representatives of the bipartisan Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. The legislation contains several favorable provisions for housing, including smoothing access to mortgage credit through reduced regulatory burdens on smaller community banks and credit unions. More.