New-Home Construction Slows as Costs Increase
REALTOR® Magazine Housing starts dropped in April as builders saw rising building costs hamper inventory and affordability. Housing production fell 9.5% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.57 million units, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday. While homebuilding is down, the demand for […]
Full Story
Local REALTORS® to Meet with Members of Congress at NAR Virtual Legislative Conference
By Derek Ramsay, KCRAR VP of REALTOR® Advocacy Most buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. remain closed to the public, so for the second year in a row, NAR Legislative meetings are being held virtually this month. Despite this challenge, the advocacy efforts of the REALTOR® Party continue uninterrupted as they have throughout the […]
Full Story
5 Resources for REALTORS® Beyond Fair Housing Month
Although Fair Housing Month is just one month of the year, REALTORS® carry an ongoing duty to not only uphold Fair Housing law, but to also do their part to undo the damage the real estate industry has done to marginalized people in the past. One way to do this is by pursuing knowledge and […]
Full Story
NAR: Housing Equality, Commercial Recovery Are Top Priorities
REALTOR® Magazine With racial equity at the forefront of American consciousness, the National Association of REALTORS® will focus the bulk of its policy priorities this year on improving equal access to housing, association leaders said Wednesday during NAR 360, a Facebook Live event serving as the unofficial kickoff of the virtual 2021 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. Earlier this […]
Full Story
3 Fair Housing Education Resources REALTORS® Can Use This Month
Though REALTORS® are responsible for upholding Fair Housing law all year, Fair Housing Month can serve as a reminder for real estate professionals to remain vigilant against bias and discrimination. Resources are available through the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and other organizations to help real estate professionals educate and test themselves on their understanding […]
Full Story
Code of Ethics Required Training Deadline Approaching
For more than 100 years, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics has set the standard for the consistent business practices of REALTORS®. The promise of upholding this Code is what differentiates REALTORS ® from non-member licensees. It also ensures that not only will consumers be well-served, but that a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect is […]
Full Story
Consumer Content Available for Member Use Through NAR
The National Association of REALTORS’® (NAR) REALTOR® Content Resource provides hundreds of consumer-targeted articles on topics like home buying and selling, home improvement, maintenance, taxes, insurance and community issues for agents and brokers to share on their websites, blogs, email marketing or social media. KCRAR members have access to this resource as a free NAR […]
Full Story
Create a Personal Safety Plan That Also Avoids Legal Liability
REALTOR® Magazine One-third of real estate professionals have felt unsafe during an open house or showing, according to the 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Member Safety Report. Safety remains a priority among real estate professionals and their brokerages. Having a personal safety plan can help. This plan can address common scenarios that you may risk […]
Full Story
Heartland MLS Adopts Changes to Rules and Regulations Effective March 1
Heartland MLS announced this week the implementation of a National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) mandated change to its rules and regulations, as well as two HMLS Board of Directors approved updates that will take effect on the same date, March 1, 2021. This update to the HMLS Rules and Regulations will primarily involve the enforcement […]
Full Story
NAR Finds Black Home Buyers More Than Twice as Likely to Have Student Loan Debt, Be Rejected for Mortgage Loans Than White Home Buyers
National Association of REALTORS® Key Highlights The U.S. homeownership rate was 64.2% in 2019. At 69.8%, the rate for non-Hispanic white Americans exceeds the national rate. However, the Black homeownership rate – 42% – represents a Black-white homeownership gap of almost 30%. The homeownership rates for Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans are 60.7% and 48.1%, […]
Full Story