REAL ESTATE
by Jim Coleman, REALTOR®
REALTORS® CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
Recently, some 30,000 Realtors® and guests met in Las Vegas for the National Association of Realtors® 2007 REALTORS® Conference and Expo. Part of the ceremonies and significance of the gathering was to help kick off a year-long celebration of 100 years of issues advocacy, industry advances, and professional acumen in real estate, as NAR approaches its centennial year. "
"For 100 years, Realtors® have added value to the real estate transaction," said NAR 2007 President Pat V. Combs, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt. "As NAR reaches this milestone, our association looks back on a rich history of expanding homeownership opportunities, promoting affordable housing and protecting consumers in the real estate transaction."
From the early days of the organization, commitment and dedication have been given to champion the profession of real estate and the various services available by its members. "NAR's Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913. The association was only the second trade group in the United States to adopt mandatory ethical standards. NAR's early leaders also sought to establish homeownership as a cornerstone of the American dream and to expand it to the growing middle class."
"Throughout the years, NAR has worked closely with the federal government to create programs and initiatives that expand homeownership opportunities. NAR played a key role in legislation that created the Federal Housing Administration in 1934; FHA pioneered the long-term amortization that today allows millions of middle-income borrowers to buy a home. In 1938, when the Federal National Mortgage Association was created, which is now known as Fannie Mae, NAR achieved another long-sought goal: creating a steady source of low-cost mortgage funds.
"Today, NAR is the leading advocate for private property rights, homeownership and housing issues. This week, Realtors® from across the country will be meeting to discuss a broad range of real estate issues, including mortgage lending and subprime concerns, minority homeownership, green buildings, water rights and property development, and affordable housing opportunities."
Local REALTORS® are dedicated to the high standards set many years ago and strive to adhere to the Code of Ethics adopted for the organization. This is especially important as these professionals work to assist real estate consumers, buyers and sellers of real property, in these troubled times of serious mortgage stress and business fraud taking such a grip on the Nation and those in quest of enjoying the American Dream.
St. George REALTOR® Jim Coleman is Associate Broker and Partner/Owner of ERA Brokers Consolidated. He works with Buyers and Sellers and Specializes in Residential, Investment and Commercial Real Estate, including Resort and Second Home properties. He holds National Designations of Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). You can contact him by e-mail at Jim@RealtorJimC.com. Call: (435) 674-0600; or write: Jim Coleman, 201 East St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah 84770. This and other columns are available at www.RealtorJimC.com/articles.