The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday, April 23, providing a fresh round of funding for coronavirus small-business relief programs championed by the National Association of REALTORS® and available to REALTORS® through the CARES Act. The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday, April 21.

President Trump is expected to sign the measure, which will clear the way for lending to resume as early as Friday, April 24 under two Small Business Administration programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program.

Under the agreement, the PPP will receive $310 billion in new cash, while the EIDL fund will receive an additional $60 billion. The bill sets aside $60 billion of the PPP funding for small and medium-sized community banks, which will provide extra help for self-employed individuals and small businesses that don’t have relationships with larger banks.

Read More Here: https://www.nar.realtor/political-advocacy/congress-clears-latest-coronavirus-relief-bill-to-replenish-funding

NAR’s Federal Advocacy team has been working closely with Congress and the Administration to ensure the interests of REALTORS® and their clients are protected in any federal action in response to COVID-19. Many REALTORS® are small businesses, or work with them as clients. In the most recent relief package passed into law, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act" or CARES Act, there were significant provisions aimed at assisting small businesses during this difficult time. The CARES Act appropriates more than $360 billion total for new Small Business Administration (SBA) programs - the 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) advance grants program.

Provided below are a number of Q&As to address frequent questions about who is eligible and how to apply for these brand new programs created by the Administration. We continue to learn more about these relief measures daily and will update this document as events warrant.

Read more: https://www.nar.realtor/political-advocacy/coronavirus-sba-cares-act-faqs

Congress passed a $2 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package on March 27, 2020 with overwhelming bipartisan support.

As more guidance is released by the Administration on how these new programs will be implemented, updates will be provided.

Read more here: https://www.nar.realtor/political-advocacy/coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-act

During this unprecedented time, the National Association of REALTORS® understands that access to health care options may be top of mind for members. Telemedicine is playing an essential role today as we navigate uncharted territory and the need for virtual healthcare.

NAR is supporting members by funding 2 months of Members TeleHealth as a benefit for those who do not currently have access to telemedicine, with an ongoing significantly-reduced rate available for members thereafter.

Enrollment is limited*. Sign-up by April 15th.

Read more here: https://www.realtorsinsurancemarketplace.com/telehealth-offer/

Mississippi REALTORS®, MAR Staff and General Counsel Ron Farris, have been working diligently through the Standard Forms Advisory Committee to draft and post forms designed to cover commonly occurring or anticipated scenarios caused by the current Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Four new forms have been created and will be posted for member access on the MAR Web site and on zipForms and dotloop. The Addendum to the F1 Contract is currently accessible, and it is expected the other three forms will follow within 24 to 48 hours.

• COVID-19 Addendum to the F1 Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Real Estate (F1)
• COVID-19 Addendum to the Mississippi REALTORS® Residential Lease Agreement (F3)
• COVID-19 Addendum to the Mississippi REALTORS® Listing Agreement (F4)
• COVID-19 Disclosure and Waiver Regarding Physical Property Showing or Inspection

Access and read more about these forms here: https://msrealtors.org/mar-standard-forms-2/?mc_cid=69a8066e39&mc_eid=14e3da67c0

During this period of rapid change and uncertainty, we’re here to help you serve your customers while also keeping yourself, your family and community healthy and safe. The necessary restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic make customary, in-person, interactions like Open Houses and Home Tours difficult if not impossible (or even illegal in some markets). Adapting to these restrictions while continuing to make the market work, many MLSs are cancelling in-person open houses and exploring all possibilities to hold “virtual” open houses online. To facilitate, we’ve added the ability for you to schedule virtual open houses and tours of homes in Flexmls Web.

Read More about Virtual Open Houses & Tours of Homes Here: https://flexmls.com/flexmls-academy/product-news/introducing-virtual-open-houses-tours-of-homes/

Cases of COVID-19 continue to be identified in U.S. states and in Mississippi. This is a rapidly changing situation that is continually being monitored by the CDC and MSDH as more cases in the U.S. are expected.

Mississippians are advised to take health precautions to prevent the possible transmission of disease, and stay in touch for the latest information on the situation in Mississippi.

Read more here: 

https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html

Our local business community is feeling the impacts of the coronavirus. Some restaurants and retailers have been forced to close, cut store hours, lay off employees and cut services.

Those business, both locally-owned establishments and national chain franchises, need our help to survive the financial fallout during these unprecedented times.

Businesses can fill out the form below to share information about their services. Consumers can see the status of those businesses by clicking on the categories.

"We Are Open!" is just one more way WTOK is helping our community during these challenging times.

Read more here: https://www.wtok.com/weareopen

Several schools and organizations in the east Mississippi and west Alabama area have closed due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. 

Read more about these closings here: https://www.wtok.com/weather/closings

NAR's response to helping REALTORS® navigate the ever-changing impact of coronavirus on the real estate industry.

Read more here: https://www.nar.realtor/coronavirus

We are all watching the development of the coronavirus pandemic with uncertainty and serious concern.

On behalf of the NAR Leadership Team, CEO Bob Goldberg, and the NAR staff, your well-being and your business are of paramount importance to us at this unprecedented time.

Due to recent restrictions and recommendations implemented by the federal and Washington, D.C. governments, NAR will deliver previously-planned programming and committee meetings virtually.

Read more here: https://www.nar.realtor/nar-to-deliver-virtual-solutions-for-2020-realtors-legislative-meetings-and-trade-expo

A surge in first-time home buyers is expected to hit the housing market over the next three years. About 8.3 million first-time buyers are projected to enter the mortgage market between 2020 and 2022, predicts a new report from TransUnion. That marks a jump from the 7.6 million first-time buyers that were added in the previous three-year period between 2016 and 2018.  Read More Opens in New window

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2019

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS TEARING DOWN RED TAPE IN ORDER TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

"We're lifting up forgotten communities, creating exciting new opportunities, and helping every American find their path to the American Dream" – President Donald J. Trump

As leaders of Associations and MLSs, it is imperative that every Board member, CEO and Association Executive remember their core goal – to help REALTORS® thrive for the long haul by arming them with the best information, service, and support we can.  Read More

Mississippi Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (MARPAC), the political arm of the Mississippi REALTORS®, announces its endorsement of Lynn Fitch for Attorney General of Mississippi.

Mississippi Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (MARPAC), the political arm of the Mississippi REALTORS®, announces its endorsement of Delbert Hosemann for Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi.

“That’s Who We R” serves as a reminder of what NAR has always stood for, while signaling where the organization is heading. For REALTORS®, the campaign is a rallying cry that instills pride in their everyday actions. For consumers, it’s an education about the REALTOR® difference. 

[YouTube Video]
[Official Announcement]
[Tell Your Story]

A tremendous amount of energy and money has been invested into moving consumers from a digital experience into an agent relationship. Consumer research performed by the National Association of REALTORS® regularly indicates that consumers start their process of buying or selling online before connecting with a Realtor®. I do not think anyone denies it.  Read More

The other night I was driving down a main thoroughfare near where I live, and the traffic was heavy. This street is less than 500 yards from our home. And while we’re not adjacent to it, when we bought our house over 20 years ago, we were concerned about traffic noise.

Yet in the winter, we never hear the traffic. It’s mainly because we have double-pane windows.  Read More

WASHINGTON (February 7, 2019) – With over 400 people on hand for the National Association of Realtors®’ Housing Finance Reform Policy Forum, NAR today unveiled a new vision for reforming the GSEs.  Read More

Every agent and broker knows they SHOULD have accurate square footage that they measured themselves or hired a professional for, yet many today still rely on square footage listed in public records without any verification of accuracy.  Read More

WASHINGTON (January 22, 2019) – After two consecutive months of increases, existing-home sales declined in the month of December, according to the National Association of Realtors®. None of the four major U.S. regions saw a gain in sales activity last month.  Read More

WASHINGTON (January 14, 2019) – Homeowners and non-homeowners both strongly consider home ownership part of the American Dream.  Read More

WASHINGTON (January 23, 2019) – Many Realtors®, members of the National Association of Realtors®, go beyond helping consumers buy and sell homes by giving back to their communities through volunteer work.  Read More

WASHINGTON (January 22, 2019) – Late last week, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations regarding the new 20 percent deduction on qualified business income.  Read More