Event Coverage
SILVAR Leadership at REALTOR® Party Convention & Trade Expo
REALTORS® from SILVAR, SAMCAR and SCCAOR met with staff of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.
SILVAR's leadership was in Washington, D.C. this week attending the National Association of REALTORS®' (NAR) REALTOR® Party Convention & Trade Expo, with nearly 8,500 other REALTORS® from across the country, advocating policies that impact the residential and commercial real estate markets. REALTORS® met with legislators, congressional and regulatory staff, as well as top industry executives during the meetings, which ran May 12-17.
This year's convention focused on critical real estate issues such as preserving the mission and accessibility of the Federal Housing Administration's loan programs, protecting real estate-related tax policies, and reforming the secondary mortgage market.
"This week is important, not only because REALTORS® want to ensure their points-of-view on important real estate issues are heard, but also to remind our country's leaders of the vital role that real estate plays in both the long- and short-term health of this nation," said NAR President Steve Brown. "REALTORS® want to ensure public policies that promote responsible, sustainable investment in real estate and make sure any changes to current programs or incentives don't jeopardize a full housing and economic recovery."
At the Federal Legislative and Political Forum where discussion focused on congressional action and the 2014 midterm elections, political strategist Steve Schmidt told the REALTORS®, "Your bipartisan nature makes you an organized political force they (politicians) typically do not want to get on the wrong side of."
SILVAR members attended U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's weekly constituent breakfast and met with staff of U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo, Jackie Speier and Mike Honda. During meetings on Capitol Hill, SILVAR REALTORS® urged support for legislation to reinstate an expired tax provision that provides relief to individuals following a loan modification, short sale or foreclosure. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act expired at the end of 2013, and assured individuals would not have to pay federal income tax on forgiven mortgage debt.
SILVAR members also participated in a number of NAR meetings. David Barca, California Association of REALTORS® Federal Committee chair, briefed California NAR Directors on legislative issues. SILVAR Executive Officer Paul Cardus shared information on SILVAR's global program with other REALTOR® associations at the State and Local Forum on Global Business.
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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.