Read the fine print! Although the FTC has agreed to forbear enforcing some provisions of MARS against REALTORS, this doesn’t mean that real estate agents are completely off the hook. What it does mean is that some of the more onerous and ridiculous record-keeping and disclosures requirements will not be pursued as violations…that is unless [...]
What is the Prompt Decision for Qualification for Short Sale Act of 2011?
April 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
NAR is touting a new bill the “Prompt Decision for Qualification for Short Sale Act of 2011” which has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representative and will mandate that mortgage servicers respond to short sale requests within 45 days! Sounds good but guess what? They already tried this once. It was called Prompt [...]
TX Assoc of Realtors response to FTC’s MARS rule misses the mark!
April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The FTC’s (Federal Trade Commission) MARS rule (Mortgage Assistance Relief Services) has caused a lot of confusion for licensed real estate agents. In just the past three weeks I (along with attorneys from The Gore Law Firm) have spoken to two of the largest Keller-Williams & RE/Max offices in the Houston area as well at [...]
Does the FTC’s Rule on Mortgage Assistance Relief Services aptly called “MARS” apply to REALTORS?
February 15, 2011 By 3 Comments
The quick answer is yes, REALTORS® as well as anyone else is involved in short sales or other “pre-foreclosure” activities are subject to the MARS Rule. Although the FTC’s MARS Rule took effect on January 31, 2011, most real estate brokers have little or no knowledge regarding the impact on their practice. Why hasn’t someone [...]
$8,000 tax credit is just not enough if you can’t sell your home
March 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The website, Housing Predictor carries some interesting commentary and at times casts some rather big assumptions, as far as where the housing market is headed (in our opinion); but kudos to them for spotlighting what the National Association of Realtors seems to be ignoring. Bottom Line: Tough to buy a new house if you can’t [...]
