NEWS RELEASE
COLDWELL BANKER SEAL BROKERS RAISE
AWARENESS OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IN NATION’S CAPITAL
Portland, OR (May 23, 2012) – REALTORS® from across the country converged in Washington, D.C., this week during the National Association of REALTORS® 2012 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo and David J. Tangvald, GRI of Coldwell Banker Seal, was among them. Tangvald also joined an estimated 15,000 REALTORS® and members of Congress at the Washington Monument to rally on behalf of homeowners, real estate investors, and those who aspire to homeownership.
A highlight of this year’s meetings, the Rally to Protect the American Dream, took place on Thursday, May 17, 2012. REALTORS® from every state in the country joined invited members of Congress to highlight the important role housing plays in the American economy, as well as advocate for policies that are supportive of homeownership. Among the speakers were Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
“As the leading advocate for homeownership, REALTORS® want to ensure that people who want to own a home or invest in real estate and can responsibly afford to do so will continue to have the opportunity to do that,” said Tangvald. “The rally was an important event that let the nation know that homeownership impacts families, communities, small businesses and the nation’s economy in a very meaningful way. It’s an investment in our collective futures and must be preserved.”
The year’s meetings focused on a number of pressing issues that affect the real estate market, the nation’s 75 million homeowners and aspiring homeowners. Various sessions focused on the need for affordable financing, secondary mortgage market reform, and economic issues impacting the residential and commercial markets.
While he was in Washington, Tangvald met with U.S. Senators and Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to address critical issues related to today’s housing market, particularly the need to streamline short sales, preserve tax benefits for homeownership, and bolster liquidity in the commercial market. Tangvald also urged elected officials to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, which is currently set to expire on May 31.
“REALTORS® gathered on Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and press upon them the value of homeownership for all Americans,” said Tangvald. “It is imperative that we continue to communicate to our local representatives that homeownership matters to individuals, families, communities and our nation’s economy.”
Throughout the week REALTORS® participated in sessions with a number of government officials and industry experts, including representatives from the Federal Housing Administration, Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Reserve Board, National Economic Council, and the U.S. Treasury.
During the meetings, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, leading Democratic strategist Celinda Lake, and National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling participated in a panel discussion about how the 2012 elections will impact the real estate industry. Federal Reserve Board Governor Elizabeth Duke spoke during the joint Real Estate Services and Regulatory Issues Forum – Prescriptions for Housing Recovery. Duke discussed how a full housing market recovery could not happen until policymakers move forward with the difficult decisions regarding that future of the mortgage market. A panel of industry experts and representatives including FHFA Acting Director Ed DeMarco, FHA Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing Carol Galante, Moody’s Analytics Mark Zandi, and Wharton School of Business Professor Susan Watcher discussed housing policy, specifically the mortgage interest deduction, government sponsored entities, and the government’s role in promoting homeownership.
Tangvald also had the chance to explore the latest industry innovations and stay up to date on how new products are transforming the real estate business, as more than 100 exhibitors showcased the newest real estate products and services for the industry during the Trade Expo.
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About Coldwell Banker Seal
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been the premier provider of full–service real estate. The Coldwell Banker system has more than 3,300 residential and commercial real estate offices with over 95,000 sales associates globally. The company is an industry leader in residential real estate, new homes, and luxury properties. For the past 39 years, this legacy of success has been carried on in the Pacific Northwest by Coldwell Banker Seal. Operating as Coldwell Banker Seal in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area and as Coldwell Banker Bain in Western Washington, the company is perennially one of the top two Coldwell Banker affiliates in the world and is number one in the West. Coldwell Banker Bain|Seal consistently ranks among the Top 20 Real Estate Companies in the nation as cited by Real Trends andRIS Media’s Real Estate.
