2008 NAR Advocacy Agenda
As the largest professional trade association in the United States, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® represents more than 1.3 million residential and commercial REALTORS® involved in all facets of the industry as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers and counselors. NAR advocates policy initiatives that will result in the continued creation of a fundamentally sound and dynamic U.S. real estate market fostering vibrant communities in which to live and work.
Creating Affordable Housing Opportunities
- Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae Reform
- The Association will work closely with the United States Senate when the Senate considers H.R. 1427, a measure to strengthen the regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- NAR will also advocate an increase in the GSE conforming loan limit to better serve homebuyers in all regions of the country.
- (September, 2008) Federal Government Places GSEs into Conservatorship
- (November, 2008) FHFA Announces GSE Limits for 2009
- (November, 2008) Federal Reserve Will Purchase Housing-Related Debts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- The Association will work closely with the United States Senate when the Senate considers H.R. 1427, a measure to strengthen the regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- FHA reform
- NAR will work closely with the House-Senate conference committee on FHA reform to ensure that FHA loans are once again a viable product in all mortgage markets nationwide.
- (July, 2008) Housing Economic Recovery Act (HERA) is Law
- (July, 2008) Housing Economic Recovery Act (HERA) Key Provisions
- (November, 2008) Deadline Approaches to Appeal Newly Published FHA Limits for 2009
- NAR will work closely with the House-Senate conference committee on FHA reform to ensure that FHA loans are once again a viable product in all mortgage markets nationwide.
Protecting Consumers in the Real Estate Transaction
- Banks in Real Estate
- NAR will again press Congress to enact H.R. 111/S. 413, “the Community Choice in Real Estate Act,” a bill to permanently ban national banks from engaging in real estate brokerage and property management.
- Appraisal/Mortgage Reform
- NAR will participate in the Senate’s upcoming debate of legislation to reform appraisal, mortgage and anti-predatory lending practices and work to ensure that persons engaged in real estate brokerage and sales activities only are exempt from any proposed mortgage professional registration requirements.
- Flood Insurance
- NAR will advocate for Senate passage of legislation to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and continue to press for the financial resources needed for FEMA's Floodplain Map Modernization Program.
- Natural Disaster
- Building on House passage of legislation to address the related problems of a lack of available and affordable property insurance in disaster-prone areas available and affordable property insurance in disaster-prone areas, NAR will continue to press for Senate consideration of legislation designed to deal with these insurance market failures.
Enacting Health Care Insurance Legislation
- Small Business Health Coverage
- NAR will continue to raise the importance of passage of legislation to correct the inequities in the nation's health insurance delivery system and work with the House and Senate to Introduce legislation for consideration.
