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"The National Association of REALTORS® is currently holding their annual Midyear meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. These meetings provide an opportunity for each state association to meet with their legislators to discuss issues important to the real estate industry. View the schedule of Michigan meetings here!" Become a Fan Today!
The National Association of REALTORS® is currently holding their annual Midyear meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. These meetings provide an opportunity for each state association the chance to meet with their legislators to discuss issues important to the real estate industry. View the Schedule of Michigan Meetings Here
MAR’s Convention & Expo is being held September 29 – October 1 at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant. It’s your year to hit the jackpot in knowledge and networking at the largest real estate event in Michigan. Stay tuned to future Event Buzz features, and for the launch of the Convention web site, for clues about who will join MAR as Grand Assembly Special Guest STAR! Broker Summit Wrap Up
The 2010 Broker Summit was held last week, April 27, at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth. Session handouts will be removed from the site soon, so download today! Download Session HandoutsVisit MAR's Event Facebook for 2010 Broker Summit Photos
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Throughout the United States there is a growing concern about the high costs of long term care and the impact those costs have on financial security, retirement planning and quality of family life. In response to this concern, MAR members, and their eligible relatives, can now receive a premium discount on Great American Life long term care insurance products through the MAR Edge member benefit program. For more information on the long term care insurance discounts please contact Great American Life’s long term care help line at 800.557.5721. Download media kit
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The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act by Reps. Waxman (D‐CA) and Markey (D‐MA). Following NAR’s long‐standing policy to only take a position on legislation, or provisions within legislation that have a direct affect on real estate, NAR worked with our Congressional allies to strip the Energy Bill of provisions that would have adversely affected our industry. After multiple consultations with the NAR Climate Presidential Advisory Group, the NAR Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee, and state associations that had dealt with energy audit legislation at the state level, the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee directed NAR staff to concentrate on the real estate provisions in the bill. As a result, NAR issued calls for action and made this a talking point for Capitol Hill visits during its recent Midyear meeting. Overall, REALTORS® succeeded in making a number of positive changes affecting the real estate provisions of the bill. The House‐approved bill: · Does not create a federal energy audit requirement for real property · Exempts existing homes and buildings from any federal guidelines for new construction energy efficiency information labels. · Prohibits the implementation of any labeling during a sales transaction. · Leaves the decision to states as to whether to require energy audits, disclosures, etc. · Provides property owners with significant financial incentives, matching grants and tools to make property improvements and reduce their energy bills
· Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating residential and commercial buildings under the Clean Air Act;
· Eliminated an early proposal to allow citizens to sue over minor climate risks under the Clean Air Act
· Establishes green building incentives for HUD housing, including a loan program for renewable energy, block grants and credit for upgrades in mortgage underwriting. For more information about the American Clean Energy and Security Act, see NAR's Information Pack. Also, be sure to check out the Myths and Facts PDF regarding this legislation. What's Next? The Senate must still pass its version of an energy and climate bill. If this occurs a House–Senate conference committee will be held to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills.
The Making Affordable Housing Work: The Housing Opportunity Toolkit is a collection of resources and information for both individual REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations. The Toolkit contains resources for REALTORS® on everything from short sales to helping buyers find homeownership assistance programs. Find classes and information on preventing foreclosures and much more. Associations can obtain guidance on running housing fairs, symposiums and forums. Learn how to develop partnerships and find a variety of ways to create and sustain housing opportunities in your community. Rich in ideas and resources, the Toolkit is designed to be a reference and working companion. It should prove valuable to those first addressing affordable housing in their communities and to those who have worked in the field for years. Download and view the toolkit on REALTOR.org today
The IRS is hosting an open house on Saturday, May 15, at 200 Taxpayer Assistance Centers from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. local time nationwide. Free assistance will be available for small business, self-employed, and individual taxpayers. While May 15 is one of several Saturday open house events, the IRS is providing additional assistance and educational information specifically for small business owners and the self-employed for that date only. In particular, small businesses owners and the self-employed can learn more about several recent tax law changes coupled with applicable tax credits, as well as educational products and opportunities available to support them in their federal tax responsibilities. They can also receive help with: · Making payments · Account inquiries · Securing copies of tax returns · Requesting Employer Identification numbers · Much more The Open House is an opportunity to get federal tax assistance for those who are unable to receive assistance during normal business hours. The Michigan offices that will be open are: Detroit: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226 Flint: 815 S. Saginaw Flint, MI 48502 Grand Rapids: 3251 N. Evergreen Dr. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Health Care Tax Credit
As you may know, the IRS issued postcards in April to more than four million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations. The postcards were to make the businesses and organizations aware of the benefits of the recently enacted small business health care tax credit. More information about the credit , including a step-by-step guide and answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the IRS Web site. Five Tips for Taxpayers Making a Move
The IRS offers five tips for taxpayers who have moved or are about to move. If you’ve changed your home or business address, make sure you update that information with the IRS to ensure you receive any refunds or correspondence from the IRS.
With the help of McClelland & Anderson, we are taking the most commonly asked questions from our legal hotline and putting them in E-news. We will be featuring a different question each issue. QUESTION: A tenant is renting a house that has gone to sheriff’s sale. The redemption period will run out in one month but the tenants have three months remaining on their lease. Is their lease valid after the redemption period expires? ANSWER: PROBABLY YES. A new federal statute provides that in certain circumstances, a lease will survive foreclosure. In the case of a “bona fide lease” and a “federally related” mortgage, the lender (or other purchaser at the foreclosure sale) must give the tenants at least 90 days to vacate the home. In addition, in these circumstances, the tenants have the right to stay beyond the 90-day period for the duration of their lease, unless the new owner intends to occupy the home.
By: Scott Reach, CGR, CAPS, CGP Scott Reach Builders
April 22, 2010. Are you ready? If you own a home built before 1978 and are considering renovations, large or small, this is an important date for you. The Environmental Protection Agency enacted regulations governing renovations, repairs, and painting activities that disturb lead based paint in homes and child occupied facilities built before 1978. These regulations are effective beginning April 22, 2010.
Most people, contractors included, question if lead can really be that dangerous and the answer is yes. It takes only a very small amount of lead to contaminate an area or poison someone. Even more disturbing is that children under the age of 6 and pregnant women are at a much greater risk than the rest of us. Studies have shown that young children and an absorption rate up to 5 times higher than that of adults. To complication matters, lead poisoning is very hard to diagnose and the health effects are permanent.
In children, low levels of lead can cause:
- Nervous system and kidney damage
- Decreased intelligence, attention deficit disorder, and learning disabilities,
- Speech, language, and behavior problems
Lead passed from the mother to unborn baby can cause:
- Miscarriages
- Premature births
- Brain damage
- Low birth weight
Finally in adults the health effects of lead include:
- High blood pressure
- Fertility problems in men and women
- Digestive disorders
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Sexual disorders
- Muscle and joint pain
High levels of lead in anyone can have very devastating effects including seizures, unconsciousness, and, in some cases, death. It’s impossible to cover lead and lead safety in a few short paragraphs. What you need to know is that it is a real danger and the best way to prevent lead positing is through awareness and the use of prescribed lead safe work practices. If you live in a home that is built before 1978, for your safety, make sure that your contractor is properly trained and certified in accordance with the new regulations and uses lead-safe work practices during renovation or they are subject to fines of up to $37,500 per day of noncompliance. For more about lead, the EPA RRP Rule, Certified Renovators, and available training visit epa.gov, nchh.org, or leadrrp.com.
Scott Reach, CGR, CAPS, CGP, is the founder and President of Scott Reach Builders, a Houston, TX based residential design/build remodeling firm. As an active member of The National Association of Home Builders, Scott has earned and maintains the home building industry’s top designations of Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and Certified Green Professional. Scott serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Builder’s Association Remodeler’s Council and Education Committee. He is very passionate about education and is an EPA Accredited Instructor and conducts Certified Lead Renovator Training and industry seminars nationwide. He is an EPA Certified Lead Renovator, Dust Sampling Technician, and Lead Project Designer. You can contact Scott by phone at 281-591-4786, or by email at Scott@ScottReachBuilders.com. For more information on the hazards of lead based paint, the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule, or Lead Renovator Training visit LeadRRP.com. |