Blog
FHA Commissioner: New Rules Coming to Ease Condo Policies
May 24, 2019
Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Brian Montgomery said that the agency will be finalizing new condo policies—long-awaited by the real estate industry–that could lift some restrictions and streamline processes to give a boost to the condo sector. Montgomery said that condos represent an opportunity to help boost affordable housing for first-time homeowners and seniors. “We anticipate […]
HUD to Strengthen Landlords’ Rights in Service Animal Requests
May 16, 2019
Landlords and property managers are entitled to “reliable verification” of a tenant’s need for a service animal and can require proof beyond an online certification, a Department of Housing and Urban Development official said Tuesday at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C. Lynn Grosso, director of HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal […]
House Approves Another Short-Term Flood Insurance Extension
May 16, 2019
The House voted Tuesday to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Sept. 30. The Senate must also approve the measure before May 31—when the NFIP is set to expire—to avoid lapses in government-backed flood insurance policies. “Thanks to REALTORS®, the Senate is well aware of the deadline for flood insurance,” Austin Perez, senior policy […]
Federal Court Vacates AHP Rule Provisions
April 4, 2019
On March 28, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down parts of the Association Health Plan (AHP) rule finalized by the Department of Labor last summer that expanded access to health insurance benefits through these plans. In this case, twelve attorney generals (AGs) filed suit against DOL challenging the final […]
Register Now for the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in May
February 14, 2019
Registration for the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo is open! If you want to take an active role to advance the real estate industry, public policy, and the association, make sure you attend the Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., May 13-18, 2019. You’ll join with thousands of REALTORS® from across the […]
FEMA Revises Loudoun County Flood Insurance Rate Map
February 8, 2019
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is responsible for floodplain mapping and regulation throughout the United States, is revising the Loudoun County Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The revision will result in changes to the boundary and designation of the FEMA-delineated flood hazard areas within the Selma Estates development. To learn more about this […]
Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist Helps You Prepare Clients for Changes in the Federal Tax Rate
February 1, 2019
Many clients aren’t going to be aware of what Federal tax rate hikes might do to their buying and selling experiences. Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist, Lisa Sturtevant, explains how these rate changes can impact the housing market and why these shifts might be a shock to clients. The Potential Impact of the Fed’s Actions on Interest […]
Treasury, IRS Give Big Win to Real Estate Professionals in Qualified Business Income Rule; Safe Harbor for Rental Income
January 25, 2019
WASHINGTON (January 22, 2019) – Late last week, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations regarding the new 20 percent deduction on qualified business income. As Americans begin preparations for the 2018 tax filing season, real estate professionals have been uncertain about the true impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and […]
What a Government Shutdown Means for REALTORS®
January 14, 2019
(As of January 14, 2019) As of midnight on December 21, 2018, the President and Congress were unable to agree on the provisions of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government. As a result, a partial shutdown of some government operations has occurred. This partial shutdown includes some federal housing, mortgage and other […]
It’s Time to Share Your Ideas on How to Fix Legislative or Regulatory Issues
January 11, 2019
Are you concerned about an issue that impacts the real estate industry? Do you know of a legislative or regulatory way to help address the issue? Now is the time to let us know! DAAR is developing the 2020 Legislative Positions and we’d like to hear from you! The legislative positions address local, state, and […]