Wednesday, March 25, 2009
HUD WARNS HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES NOT TAKE A FEE SPLIT FROM REAL ESTATE BROKERS/AGENTS – According to HUD, fee splits to defray counseling costs may violate the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). All HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, their affiliates, and branches were ordered to stop the practice immediately. The warning came in response to reports that some housing counseling agencies were receiving a share of real estate broker or agent commissions on short sales to pay for clients' foreclosure counseling sessions. Call: Scott Rinn 202-383-7508, Marcia Salkin 202-383-1092, Kenneth Trepeta 202-383-1294 for more information.
MAR IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS ! --Check out MAR committees and their missions. Join us for our 2010 committee year. October 2009—September 2010. http://www.mdrealtor.org/AssociationInfoDirectory/CommitteeVolunteerForm/CommitteeVolunteerApplication/tabid/361/Default.aspx
DIVERSITY DAY – April 23, 2009--FREE At Home with Diversity CE training is Monday, April 23, 2009 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at MAR, 2495 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. Attend all day and receive the NAR At Home With Diversity designation (4.5 hours Professional Enhancement +1.5 hours Fair Housing CE pending). Presenters: Carolyn Cook, GBBR Deputy Executive Vice President and MAR Director of Housing Programs Fern Dannis. Registration is required. Contact kara.ardison@mdrealtor.org. Space limited and Lunch provided.
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS FOR BUYERS
Neighborhood Conservation Initiative (NCI) fund will be available to assist communities that have been affected by foreclosure and sub-prime lending. Some local programs include financing, down payment or closing cost assistance for buyers! Homes must be located in Neighborhood Conservation areas. For more information, go to: http://www.neighborhoodrevitalization.org/NCI2009.aspx .
Help for Military Families-- The federal government will cover 95 percent of a lossto military families forced by deployment or other eligible circumstances to sell their houses at a loss in today's market. The law applies to service members with mortgages entered into before July 1, 2006. Learn more at http://go-to.realtor.org/r/KE05DP/5U23R/Q41D0/LPHRI/Y0B29/E4/h . For more info contact Megan Booth at mbooth@realtors.org or 202/383-1222.
Mortgage-Help Site –the Making Home Affordable program helps homeowners refinance or modify their mortgages with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. To learn eligibility requirements: go to makinghomeaffordable.gov or call the telephone hotline number at (888) 995-4673.
Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) in Anne Arundel— will not be accepting any additional contracts for this fiscal year. It is expected that additional funds will become available for clients with income under 80% of median income or below after July 1, 2009. If you have clients in the process of applying for these funds, please direct them to a certified Housing Financial Advisor. Direct clients with questions to Chauncey Hall, Program Director (410) 222-7600.
New CreditSmart® Train the Trainer classes (No CE; course counts toward Workforce Housing Certification)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
9:00 am – 3:30 pm $10 (box lunch provided)
Harford County Association of REALTORS office, 2227 Old Emmorton Rd., #117, Bel Air 21015
To register contact 410-569-0750
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fee TBA (lunch included)
Carroll Community College , 1601 Washington Rd., Westminster, MD 21157
To register contact Michelle May at 410-876-3530
Monday, April 27, 2009
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fee TBA (lunch included)
Coastal Association of REALTORS®, 314 Franklin Ave., Suite 106, Berlin, MD 211842
To register, go to: www.coastalrealtor.org .
INFORMATIVE SALES MEETINGS
MAR staff is available to speak at your sales meetings on the current legislative session, risk reduction, agency, statewide sales contract and the annual conference. Visits are being scheduled now. (No ce credit) Contact Don Martin at 800-6386425 or don.martin@mdrealtor.org.)
Have a question about Ethics, Professional Standards, or a Transaction dispute?
Visit our new Dispute Resolution tab on www.mdrealtor.organd see what valuable resources we have available for you, your customers, and your clients. Please contact Mackenzie at mackenzie.wescott@mdrealtor.orgfor further assistance.