Blog
National Flood Insurance Program Extended to January 19, 2018
December 27, 2017
On December 21, 2017, Congress extended the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as part of the continuing resolution to keep the government open through January 19. NAR will continue working with Congress to ensure that the NFIP does not lapse while the Senate works on its version of the 5-year reauthorization and reform measure. Read […]
FHA 2018 Loan Limits
December 27, 2017
On Dec. 7, 2017, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released its 2018 Loan Limits, effective January 1, 2018. FHA’s loan limits are tied to the loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency for conventional mortgages. In high-cost areas the FHA national loan limit “ceiling” will increase to $679,650 from $636,150. FHA will also […]
President Signs the Tax Reform Bill
December 27, 2017
The President signed into law the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” on December 22, 2017. All individual provisions of the measure are generally effective after December 31, 2017 for the 2018 tax filing year and expire on December 31, 2025 unless otherwise noted. The provisions do not affect tax filings for 2017 unless noted. To read […]
In Memoriam: John Richard Kirk
December 22, 2017
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of John Richard Kirk of Berkshire Hathawy HomeServices of Leesburg, who passed away this week. He was a lifelong resident of Middleburg and a dedicated and beloved member of the town’s community. Richard started his career in the Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk’s office in […]
Tax Reform Bill: Vote on Final Passage Expected This Week
December 18, 2017
The 1,000+ page Conference Committee Report on the Tax Reform Bill is expected to be voted on this week in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. NAR believes that many improvements were made from the prior bills and remains concerned that it will present problems for homeowners and the broader housing market. Read more […]
Net Neutrality Rollback Put Consumers, Main Street Businesses on the Defensive in Digital Era
December 15, 2017
The Federal Communications Commission today announced a rollback of net neutrality rules last week, sparking a swift rebuke from the nation’s 1.3 million REALTORS®. “The internet as we know it today is a fair and open platform that puts everyone on a level playing field,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation […]
Fed Raises Interest Rates, Hints More to Come
December 15, 2017
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to increase its benchmark interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point, marking the fourth hike in a year and indicating that more increases are likely to come in 2018. Though mortgage rates aren’t directly tied to the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, they are often influenced by it. Economists had […]
Net Neutrality Rollback Put Consumers, Main Street Businesses On The Defensive In Digital Era
December 15, 2017
The Federal Communications Commission today announced a rollback of net neutrality rules last week, sparking a swift rebuke from the nation’s 1.3 million REALTORS®. “The internet as we know it today is a fair and open platform that puts everyone on a level playing field,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation […]
November 2017 Loudoun County Market Trends Report: Inventory Decline Persists; Sales Growth Continues to Drop
December 15, 2017
The following analysis of the Loudoun County, Virginia housing market has been prepared by George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis. It was prepared for the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® by analyzing Bright MLS housing data from MarketStats by ShowingTime. Overview The number of closed sales continued to decrease as the 467 closed sales […]
National Flood Insurance Program Extension Moves Forward
December 10, 2017
On December 8, 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was extended as part of a continuing resolution to keep the government open for two weeks. NAR will continue working with Congress to ensure that the NFIP does not lapse while the Senate works on its version of the 5-year reauthorization and reform measure. Read […]