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NAR urges passage of 4-point housing stimulus plan

October 17th, 2008 11:02 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 16, 2008 – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) unveiled a four-point legislative plan to reinvigorate the housing market, and is calling on Congress to act during a lame-duck session. NAR believes the plan will boost the economy and help calm jittery potential homebuyers.

“Housing has always lifted the economy out of downturns, and it is imperative to get the housing market moving forward as quickly as possible,” says 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 says NAR, as the leading advocate for homeownership and private property rights, believes it’s 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 says.

NAR recommends Congress pass 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.

3. Urge government to use a portion of the allotted $700 billion rescue package to purchase mortgage-backed securities from banks, which will 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 says 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.

© 2008 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Posted by Maria Marandici on October 17th, 2008 11:02 AMPost a Comment (0)

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