The National Association of Realtors^® broadcasted an eamil to it’s over 70,000 members from their Realtor^® Action Center calling for all agents to sit down face to face with their elected officials and discuss NAR’s Four Point Plan to stimulate the economy,

“As we get back to work this week, your elected officials continue to work on additional economic stimulus measures to reinvigorate our nation’s economy. Housing has always lifted our economy out of past economic downturns, so it is imperative that housing-related provisions be included in any further efforts to foster an economic recovery.”

The plan includes:

• Make the $7500 first-time homebuyer tax credit available to all buyers and eliminate repayment requirements. The credit’s limited availability and repayment requirement severely limit the credit’s use and effectiveness.
• Make the 2008 FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits permanent. New rules for 2009 will reduce them. Now is not the time to limit mortgage affordability.
• Get the Treasury relief program back on track and target more funds to mortgage relief. Create a federal mortgage interest buy-down program to make below-market rates available and stabilize home prices.
• Permanently bar banks from engaging in real estate brokerage and management. The banks have proved they have enough to do to simply manage the loan process. Banks should not manage home sales and purchases.