NAR 4 Pt. Stimulus Plan, Recently Presented To Congress

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) proposed a 4-Point Housing Stimulus Plan to Congress, that should be part of any new stimulus package. NAR's plan would:
*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 proven they have enough to do to simply manage the loan process. Banks should not manage home sales and purchases.
Housing has always lifted our economy out of past economic downturns. It's imperative now to foster a housing recovery, so that the economy can recover.