REALTORS® from across the nation will be meeting with regulators, lawmakers and industry leaders in Washington this week to address critical real estate issues affecting individuals, communities, and the nation as the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo begins. More than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests are expected to attend the meetings, which will run here through May 18.
“REALTORS® are leading advocates for homeownership and private property rights, and want to ensure that their point-of-view on important housing and investment issues is heard at all levels of government,” says National Association of REALTORS® President Gary Thomas. “Coming to Washington this week gives REALTORS® an important opportunity to meet with their members of Congress and advocate policies that are crucial to the real estate industry and REALTORS®’ businesses, communities and clients.”
During the week, REALTORS® will meet with legislators on Capitol Hill to urge action toward preserving the mission and purpose of the Federal Housing Administration’s single-family mortgage program, encouraging the return of private capital to mortgage markets, restructuring government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to guarantee affordable mortgage financing is available to creditworthy consumers in all types of markets, and maintaining current tax policies for homeownership and real estate investment.
REALTORS® will also participate in sessions with a number of government officials and industry experts, including representatives from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Fannie Mae, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Reserve Board, Freddie Mac and realtor.com®.
“It’s important for REALTORS® to remind the nation’s policymakers that homeownership has had longstanding government support in this country because it helps builds wealth for hardworking middle-class families, shapes our communities and strengthens the nation’s economy,” says Thomas. “We need to ensure that any policy decisions that our elected officials are making today or in the future continue to support, and not hurt, housing markets, America’s 75 million current homeowners and those who aspire to one day own a home of their own.”
For more information about the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, visit www.realtor.org/midyear.nsf/pages/homepage.
