Austin REALTORS Bring Public Policy Priorities to Capitol Hill

AUSTIN, Texas - May 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Members of the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) converged on Washington, D.C. to address critical real estate issues affecting individuals, communities and the nation at the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo from May 13 – 18. During the week, more than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests participated in meetings with regulators, lawmakers and industry leaders.

“It is always an honor for us to represent our membership in our Nation’s Capitol as we remind the nation’s policymakers of how important homeownership is for the wealth of the middle class, strength of communities and growth of the economy,” said 2013 ABoR Chairman Cathy Coneway. “The advocacy work we do is greatly enhanced when we can meet face-to-face with our elected officials and policy makers. Our delegation is very supportive of the residential and commercial REALTORS® and our concerns about private property rights and protecting the integrity of the real estate profession.”

During the week, REALTORS® met with legislators on Capitol Hill to urge action toward preserving the mission and purpose of the Federal Housing Administration’s single-family mortgage program, encouraging the return of private capital to mortgage markets, restructuring government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to guarantee affordable mortgage financing is available to creditworthy consumers in all types of markets, and maintaining current tax policies for homeownership and real estate investment.

REALTORS® also participated in sessions with a number of government officials and industry experts, including representatives from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Fannie Mae, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Reserve Board and Freddie Mac.

“The Austin Board of REALTORS® not only represents our members, but homeowners and future homeowners as well,” said ABoR President Paul Hilgers. “Our visit to Washington was an important opportunity to meet with members of Congress and advocate for homeownership and private property rights, and bring our point-of-view to all levels of government.”

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The Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) is a non-profit, voluntary organization dedicated to educating and supporting Central Texas REALTORS®. ABoR proudly serves nearly 9,000 members, promotes private property rights, and provides accurate, comprehensive property listing information for the Greater Austin area. For more information, please contact the ABoR Marketing Department at marketing@abor.com or 512-454-7636. Visit AustinHomeSearch.com, a public resource on Austin real estate, for the latest news on the local housing market.