On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee became the fifth and final committee in Congress to approve a health care reform bill. The committee vote was 14-9 in favor of the bill with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) joining all of the panel's Democrats to vote in "aye". Amended over the course of two weeks, the reform package would cost $829 billion over 10 years, reduce the federal deficit by $81 billion over that same ten year period and allow 29 million people who otherwise would be uninsured to obtain private coverage. It has been estimated that 17 million U.S. citizens or legal residents would still remain uninsured. The self-employed and small employers, such as REALT ...
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To: All REALTORS® From: Charles McMillan, 2009 NAR PresidentRe: Tax Credit Extension/Expansion Gains MomentumDear Fellow REALTOR®,With Congress moving quickly on a number of key issues, I wanted share some important news that you won’t read in the newspapers.In my latest podcast, I explain why momentum is building – both in Congress and the Administration – in support of extending and possibly expanding the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.  http://www.realtor.org/about_nar/presidents_report/_podcast_archive ...
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NAR is offering a WebEx session October 19 on RESPA's new rule and what you need to know. This online event is free to NAR members but requires registration. Registration details are below.Topic: RESPA's New Rule -- What Realtors, Loan Officers and Closing Agents Need To KnowHost: Scott RinnDate and Time:October 19, 2009 2:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -04:00, New York)October 19, 2009 1:00 pm, Central Daylight Time (GMT -05:00, Chicago)October 19, 2009 12:00 pm, Mountain Daylight Time (GMT -06:00, Denver)October 19, 2009 11:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)-------------------------------------------------------To register for the online event-------------- ...
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Electric Utility Line Extensions in ArizonaBrief OverviewIn 2007, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted to do away with allowing APS to offer up to 1,000 feet of provided line extension footage, a policy that had been in place since the 1950’s.  Since this time, customers are being charged an astronomical cost for extensions without the ability to appeal the cost or go to another vendor for the line extension.  This policy change has diminished land value, and in some cases priced owners out of building their home or being able to run electricity to a home that was already under construction.Due to the overwhelming concerns of Realtors®, homebuilders, government ...
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New national legislation calls for setting up a $200 million fund to help states prosecute mortgage and real estate fraud cases. Read more here. ...
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 **URGENT ACTION CALL**ATTENTION YUMA AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® This Tuesday, September 29, 2009, you have a LOCAL opportunity to attend a special meeting of the Arizona Corporation Commission as they hear from the public on a proposed APS rate case requesting an increase on electric utility rates.  But more importantly, the five Commissioners will take public comments about reversing their 2007 rule change which discontinued the 50-year practice of electric utility companies providing up to 1,000 feet of transmission wire for new residential hookups, which has helped grow the state’s electric grid, particularly in communities outside of Maricopa County.&nbs ...
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It seems every day brings new reports of the various components in the myriad of different health care reform proposals. Although details are still being negotiated and any final health care bill would have to meld proposals from the House and Senate, you can view a comparison of the the various proposed health care legislation as it's taking shape here. ...
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NAR is asking REALTORS® from all around the country to send Congress an important message: the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit is working. But with the credit set to expire soon, it's not enough! Click here to learn more and respond to the CFA ...
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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced his health care reform bill Sept. 16 after months of negotiating with three Democrats and three Republicans on his committee, dubbed the Gang of Six. “This is a unique moment in history where we can finally reach an objective so many of us have sought for so long,” Baucus said in a statement. The Finance Committee mark up is scheduled to begin Sept. 22. Considered a more moderate alternative to the health care bills produced in the House and the Senate HELP Committee, the Baucus bill eschews the public insurance option in favor of creating membership-run nonprofit cooperatives to compete with the private insurance com ...
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According to Senate health care negotiators they’ve pared down the cost of their 10-year coverage plan to under $880 billion, but although they hope to have a formal proposal by midweek, they're not ready to agree yet on a bipartisan deal.  The talks continue and include topics such as a verification system to prevent illegal immigrants from getting government subsidies to buy health coverage as well as benefits for the poor, medical malpractice and restrictions on abortion coverage.  The plan would still require all Americans to get health insurance, either through an employer, a government program, or on their own.  The majority of people already covered throu ...
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