For more information, contact:
Lucien Salvant 202/383-1176 lsalvant@realtors.org
Julie Reynolds 805/557-3080 julie.reynolds@move.com
NAR, Realtor.Com® Set Record Straight on Erroneous FSBO Claims
WASHINGTON, November 14, 2008
A press release issued Wednesday by ForSaleByOwner.com contained inaccuracies and misleading statements about its ability to place unlisted for-sale-by-owner information on REALTOR.com, the official Web site of the National Association of Realtors® operated by Move Inc.
NAR and REALTOR.com are setting the record straight with the following clarifications:
· The settlement agreement between NAR and the Department of Justice made no provision to allow unlisted properties, such as "for-sale-by-owner," to be posted on REALTOR.com.
· ForSaleByOwner.com does not in any way enable home sellers to advertise their home on REALTOR.com without broker representation. Every property on REALTOR.com must be listed by a licensed real estate broker.
· REALTOR.com has not authorized ForSaleByOwner.com to resell REALTOR.com's Showcase Listings Enhancement package.
· There is no relationship between ForSaleByOwner.com and REALTOR.com.
· There are no unrepresented homes on REALTOR.com - every property on REALTOR.com must be listed by a licensed real estate broker, and unrepresented properties would not qualify to be submitted to a REALTOR® owned and operated MLS.
REALTOR.com® has asked ForSaleByOwner.com to issue a retraction. ForSaleByOwner.com did not discuss in advance the statements in their press release with REALTOR.com® nor did they request or receive permission to use the REALTOR.com name in their press release.
About REALTOR.com®
REALTOR.com®, where the world shops for real estate online, is operated by Move Inc., (NASDAQ: MOVE) and is the official Web site of the National Association of Realtors®. Ranked as the #1 homes-for-sale site, REALTOR.com® currently offers potential home buyers access to over four million property listings, as well as the most brokers and agents. It also provides Realtors® and the home sellers they represent with the Internet's largest real estate marketplace, reaching more than 6.6 million consumers in September 2008.[1] Agents and companies have the power to customize REALTOR.com® resources to maximize their brand and productivity.
REALTOR® and REALTOR.com® are registered trademarks of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark, which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. All other trademarks appearing above are the property of Move Inc., or of their other respective owners.
About Move Inc.
Move Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE) is the leader in online real estate with 8.8 million[1] monthly visitors to its online network of Web sites. Move Inc. operates: Move.com®, a leading destination for information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden and home finance; REALTOR.com®, the official Web site of the National Association of REALTORS®; Welcome Wagon®; Moving.com; SeniorHousingNetTM; and TOP PRODUCER® Systems. Move Inc. is based in Westlake Village, Calif., and employs more than 1600 individuals throughout North America. For more information: www.move.com.
Stay in touch with the marketplace...stay in touch with a REALTOR.
Shop for homes online here www.Honest-Answers.net
Lucien Salvant 202/383-1176 lsalvant@realtors.org
NAR Urges Passage of 4-Point Housing Stimulus Plan and Return of Congress for Lame-Duck Session
WASHINGTON, October 15, 2008
The National Association of Realtors® will offer a four-point legislative plan to reinvigorate the housing market, calling on Congress to act during a lame-duck session. NAR believes the plan will give a boost to the economy and help to calm jittery potential homebuyers.
The plan features such consumer-driven provisions as eliminating the repayment of the first-time homebuyer tax credit and expanding it to all homebuyers, making higher mortgage loan limits permanent, pushing banks to extend credit to Main Street, and prohibiting banks from entering into real estate.
"Housing has always lifted the economy out of downturns, and it is imperative to get the housing market moving forward as quickly as possible," said NAR President Richard F. Gaylord. "It is vital to the economy that Congress take specific actions to boost the confidence of potential homebuyers in the housing market and make it easier for qualified buyers to get safe and affordable mortgage loans. We are asking Congress to act right away."
Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said NAR, as the leading advocate for homeownership and private property rights, believes it is important for Congress to address the concerns and fears of America's families, much in the way it has addressed Wall Street turbulence. "Housing is and has always been a good, long-term investment and a family's primary step towards accumulating wealth," Gaylord said.
NAR recommends Congress pass new housing stimulus legislation that includes the following priorities:
1. Remove the requirement in the current law that first-time homebuyers repay the $7,500 tax credit, and expand the tax credit to apply not only to first-time buyers but also to all buyers of a primary residence.
2. Revise the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 2008 stimulus loan limit increases to make them permanent. The Economic Stabilization Act, enacted in February, made loan limit increases temporary, and subsequent legislation reduced the loan limits and made them permanent. This has broad implication for homebuyers in high cost areas.
3. Urge the government to use a portion of the allotted $700 billion that was provided to purchase mortgage-backed securities from banks to provide price stabilization for housing. The Treasury department should be required to use the newly enacted Troubled Assets Relief Program to push banks to:
• Extend credit down to Main Street, making credit more available to consumers and small businesses;
• Expedite the process for short sales;
• Expedite the resolution of banks' real estate owned (REOs) properties.
4. Make permanent the prohibition against banks entering real estate brokerage and management, further protecting consumers and the economy.
Gaylord said that NAR will strongly pursue those proposals and is calling on Congress to return to enact housing stimulus legislation in a lame-duck session after the national elections in November.
There is a lot of talk about home values right now.
Talk of loss of equity and value. The point that comes to my mind is value. The other point is specific. Each property is specific. There are, for the most part, no two alike.
What I have seen recently in some properties listed with my company is eroding value. Value erodes when other similar properties near to subject property become distressed and sell quickly for bottom dollar.
What I am also stressing to buyers right now is the urgency to buy right and buy equity!
Even so, there are many properties that represent a great value because of location or privacy and will hold a strong value, even if a home half a mile down the road is a foreclosure.
Now more than ever, buyers and sellers need a well trained professional to handle the details of their transaction and assure their success.
Call me today or look me up online at www.Honest-Answers.net
I have seen some ups and downs in the real estate market lately.
What I want to comment on today is that the market is between your ears. The market is dictated by need and price, like any other commodity. What I am seeing are buyers and sellers that have a genuine NEED for a new home, BUY ONE.
What most Americans have done the last four years is save money, work hard and build equity in their homes. There were a lot of people that overextended themselves, but that is not the norm.
At this point in the market, very close to the bottom, is to get all the sellers to be very realistic about their prices. If they don't get real and offer their home at a value comparable to other homes in the area, they will not sell. If they cannot pay their mortgage, it will foreclose on them.
I see the simple solution...work hard, pay your bills, pick up a second job if needed, SPEND YOUR MONEY VERY WISELY.
These changes that have been promised be president-elect may not help everyone immediately.
Let's be HOPEFUL AMERICANS, WE WILL PREVAIL.
www.isaac.exitmountainrealty.com
The 10th annual Exit Convention in Nashville, TN was a fantastic networking experience. I know there is a lot of fear in what the market is going to do the next few months, but the Exit Company is filled with agents that believe that the market is what we make it!
So I am going to take that with me and create a positive spin on everything that I do this year in Real Estate!
It will be the finest year EVER! On a political note, I want the winner of the Presidential Race to do the same thing...Put a positive face on and lead this country in a positive direction!!
Here is a picture from the convention...
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My Real Estate Blog is intended to inform and educate buyers and sellers in the Western North Carolina area.
The process of buying or selling a home can be complicated. I have a system to keep everything on track to eliminate stress and headaches for buyers and sellers. 
My team at EXIT MOUNTAIN REALTY is continually training to be the best we can be. I have spent years in sales at the retail level and know customer service inside and out. Why do I mention that? Because as a career agent with EXIT, I can assure my clients and new agent recruits that you are right where you need to be and will get the attention that you deserve.
I look forward to meeting you, and don't forget, that Monday afternoons I offer free "HONEST REAL ESTATE ANSWERS" to anyone who calls me direct without any strings attached.
I offer expert advice in several areas of Real Estate. I am deeply familiar with the Brevard (28712), Etowah(28729), Hendersonville(28739), Pisgah Forest(28768) areas of Western North Carolina. I live in Etowah which is located conviently to these areas as well as the Asheville Regional Airport in the areas fastest growing area, Fletcher, NC.
Residential single family homes is where I do most of my business. I find that many Americans of all ages want to relocate to the mountains and find that our climate is comfortable and home prices are easy to live with. Our median home price is $249,000 and while there is a shortage of low end housing, there is still much undeveloped land and affordable housing is at the forefront of many housing discussions locally.
At Exit we practice the "WORK HARD, PLAY HARD" philosophy. I can show you some of the finest fishing holes in the area, mountain biking trails, or camping facilities around. Brevard offers several fine dining experiences and all of the usual fast food establishments.
Visit my website for more info.
"We were well pleased with the sale of our property. Everything was done in a short time. If we need a REALTOR in the future, we will be calling you. Thanks for all your help." Mr & Mrs Carroll Stamey
"Your professional handling of all the necessary documents and meeting us at the closing gave us "peace of mind" and demonstrated that you care about your clients. It is a rare opportunity to work with someone who is knowledgeable, personable and professional in the way they conduct their business. You met and exceeded our expectations in all three categories. In a field that has many who simply want to get the listing and let the MLS do the work, it was both refreshing and a pleasure to have worked with someone who actually practiced their expertise at a very high level. Your use of the internet, virtual tour technology and special mailings were a more successful approach than the 'open house' mindset." Mr & Mrs Owen
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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