You may have read my earlier blog about going to Conventions and that I was heading off to Washington, DC for the annual National Association of Realtors Midyear meetings. One of the events scheduled for us was to visit Capitol Hill and meet with our Senators and House representatives and share with them our views on upcoming legislation and what they could do to help our industry.

We also had the Secretary of HUD, Shaun Donovan, speak to our Realtor delegation and the outcome was a modification that is going to be a tremendous benefit to the first-time home buyers. It is this: HUD has approved the amount of the Tax Credit to be able to be used for the downpayment, through a bridge loan by the bank offering the loan to the home buyer.

This means the home buyers only need good credit and employment and very little money to buy though the FHA mortgage program. This should definitely bring some extra home buyers into the picture who earlier were short on the downpayment.

We all have heard of the $8,000 Tax Credit that the Administration signed to law to help stimulate the real estate industry in an effort to get the economy going. Over the past month, it has definitely helped to get many first-time home buyers off the fence and out buying houses, but it could be better.

Just received word that the new change is temporarily on hold until some details with the advance for the downpayment are figured out. Click here to go to the Mortgagee letters.

 

Next week I will be flying to Washington, DC for the National Association of Realtors Midyear meetings.  This will be my 7^th consecutive year going to these meetings, the first five years, as the New Your State CRS President or officer and the last two years, as an officer with the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.

 

My earlier blog referenced the increased focus one gets prior to going to a convention or event and the increase in sales activity that happens.  Each year as I approach these meetings, my business picks up and it gets really crazy, but I go because I have responsibilities and committee work, not to mention the airline tickets and reservations at the hotel that have been paid for.

 

So what is it? Fun or Learning?

 

It is actually both!  Each year as May rolls around, I get excited thinking about seeing my Realtor friends across the country in DC and spending some time socializing with them.  But it’s not all fun, to spend time with them is actually networking and building a referral base for future business.

 

Then of course, there are the meetings and breakout sessions that are instructional and educational!  Some of the nations top Realtors and instructors participate in forums and roundtables to better prepare us for the changes in the marketplace or nuances in the business, as well as challenge us to become better professionals at what we do!

 

Maybe you can see why the NAR Midyear meetings are on my calendar every year and that they are both Fun and Learning!