Media Releases

Release Date
May 26, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Desert Realtors Help Keep Housing Top of Mind in Nation's Capital

PALM DESERT (Calif.) - Heather Ozur, chair of board of the California Desert Association of Realtors® was among more than 8,000 Realtors® in Washington, D.C., recently advocating keeping housing first on the nation's public policy agenda during the National Association of Realtors® 2011 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

The year's meetings encouraged Realtors® to the aid of the real estate industry as well as the nation's 75 million home owners and aspiring home owners. Various sessions focused on the impact of the 112th Congress and its agenda on the real estate industry, the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, mortgage availability and accessibility, as well as the current state of the residential and commercial real estate markets.

"The current economic environment has led some to question the value of home ownership, and as Realtors® it is our duty to make sure the dream of home ownership is available and accessible to all those willing to take on the responsibility of being a home owner," said Ozur, of the Ozur Group at Keller Williams Realty. "As the leading advocate for private property rights, homeownership and housing issues, Realtors® are committed to keeping housing first in the halls of Congress as well as in communities across the country."

CDAR members Marnie Balog, CDAR president elect, Greg Berkemer, executive vice president, Burt McChesney, director of governmental affairs, Leslie Munger and Pat Fredericks met with Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack,( R-California) on Capitol Hill to address pressing issues related to today's housing market, particularly those related to home ownership for Americans. Among the challenges discussed were ensuring affordable mortgage products for potential home owners, reforming the secondary mortgage market so that a continual flow of mortgage liquidity is available in all markets, and preserving tax benefits for home ownership, specifically the mortgage interest deduction. Balog also urged Bono Mack to support requirements and practices to streamline short sales.

"Realtors® gathered on Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and press upon them the value of homeownership for Americans," Balog said. "It is imperative that we continue to communicate to our local representatives that home ownership 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, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Center for Responsible Lending, and the National Urban League.

The CDAR contingent, including CDAR National Director Judy Ziegler, 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 120 exhibitors showcased the newest real estate products and services for the industry during the Trade Expo.

The California Desert Association of REALTORS�, The Voice for Real Estate� for the Coachella Valley, represents more than 3,500 real estate professionals from Palm Springs to Coachella.

For more information, please call (760) 346-5637 or visit online at www.CalDesertRealtors.com