Housing Tax Credit Working, So Keep Momentum Going, NAR Urges Congress

"Washington, October 20, 2009

Consumers are just starting to see the first glimmers of a bright future for the housing market and the overall economy. It’s up to Congress to make that glimmer a reality by building on the momentum created by the $8,000 home buyer tax credit.

One of the key ways to do that is for Congress to extend the home buyer tax credit, said National Association of Realtors® First Vice President Ron Phipps today to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee during a hearing on “The State of the Nation’s Housing Market.”

“The data on the present home buyer tax credit show that the credit has had its intended impact—sales have jumped in recent months to a projected 5.1 million for the year and housing inventory has been trimmed, thus stabilizing home prices noticeably,” Phipps said. He also pointed out that each home sale generates approximately $63,000 in additional economic activity, providing a tremendous economic boost to the national economy.

“But it is a fragile recovery, and now is the time to build on home sales momentum by extending the tax credit throughout 2010 and expanding it to all home buyers,” he said. The present credit, due to expire on November 30, cannot help new purchasers now who write a contract today—they won’t be able to close before the deadline, and will lose out on the credit, said Phipps. “Without congressional action now, the market and our national economy may freeze again—possibly as soon as this month.”

Phipps called upon Congress to take action on a number of additional fronts to strengthen the recovery. First, make the FHA and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac loan limits permanent; these are set to expire on December 31. “Maintaining current loan limits would ensure that families have access to low-cost financing to purchase homes and can refinance problematic loans into safer, more affordable mortgages,” Phipps said.

In addition, Congress should continue federal government involvement in the secondary mortgage market. “Without the government’s involvement in the secondary mortgage market, market participants will have no incentive to reach out to lower income, creditworthy consumers. We must ensure that the housing market works in all markets and at all times, and that mortgage capital is provided to all potential and qualified purchasers in a way that promotes sustainable homeownership,” said Phipps.

Congress must also adequately address:

• The lack of liquidity in the jumbo mortgage market;

• Tight credit in the commercial real estate market;

• The Home Valuation Code of Conduct’s unintended side effects that are hindering sales;

• Increased funding to help FHA upgrade their technology and for Congress to ensure that funding be included in the final version of the FY2010 appropriation for HUD;

• Administration incentives and uniform procedures for speeding short sales under a new Foreclosure Alternative Program; and

• The potential for significant spikes in interest rates or disruptions to the flow of mortgage capital as the Federal Reserve unwinds the mortgage-backed securities purchase program to ensure that this does not happen.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. "


Source:
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2009/10/credit_momentum
crystal cox

Lies - Lies - Lies - It Never ends with
the National Association of Realtors

Ok so First of all we know FOR SURE that The National Association of Realtors is NOT Really the Voice of Real Estate, they have just convinced Most of You that They are.

Next, Well NAR should NOT be Urging Congress, the We the People should be actually getting decisions made that REALLY benefit the Real Estate Consumer.
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This Tax Credit Thing, Well it seems good to Many, but really it is just a NEW way to gt buyers into bad loans. These Credits are used as down payments in some cases right, so the lender uses this illusion as a way to say hey buyer you have this NOW let's get you into that house. This way lenders can get some of those foreclosures off the books and NAR can start fabricating statistics that the HOUSING market is getting better when in REAL-ity, houses are going for 50% if that, many banks cannot even give houses away.
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Using a Tax Credit as a down payment, talk about illusions. NAR pushes for Tax Credits and now buyers use it to get into houses they cannot really afford and the Cycle Starts ALL over Again - you Lose.
R
Big Interest.. Banks Win - NAR wins - your excited because you think you have home ownership, however, the real value is not REALLY there and your buying Their Illustions.

Blah .. Blah .. Blah - GET the National Association of Realtors Representatives OUT of Congress, they push their big fat clout around and they are not pushing what is really best for consumers. People in the Real world of real estate are losing their home, losing equity, counties are doubling taxes and Debtors, otherwise known as home owners are left paying off debt that is way more then their home is worth due to a False Home Market Created by NAR and Greedy Lenders...
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They talk about lack of liquidity, this is Sick really, why not reduce the owners debt and let them stay in the home as an Owner, not a Squatter and NOT a renter. Many are staying their full legal limits anyway and not paying their payment. Why not cut a deal give the homeowners a break instead of banks sitting on properties they can't move or banks giving them away for half price to OTHER PEOPLE.. why not give this Respect and Curtisy to the Homeowner?
R