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Jack Kemp Helped Restore HUD at Critical Time

By Robert Freedman, Senior Editor, REALTOR ® Magazine

As a reporter in Washington covering housing in one form or another since 1988, I've had a great perch from which to watch our federal housing secretaries in action, and I can say without hesitation one of the most transformative was Jack Kemp, who passed away on Saturday.

The former long-time congressman from Buffalo, N.Y., and an all-star quarterback of the Bills, brought his trademark enthusiasm, optimism, and ebullience to what was a very hot seat when he became secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1988, during the first President Bush's term. At the time, HUD was rocked in an influence-peddling scandal in what's known as the Sec. 8 "mod rehab" program. If the program doesn't sound familiar (it provided subsidies to help finance rehab of private affordable rental housing), it's because Kemp shut it down when he came on board because of problems in how some funds were awarded.

What was impressive about Kemp, regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, was his ability to address HUD's problems at the time decisively and then move on to a positive agenda of promoting homeownership for those for whom it made sense. Among his critics were some rental housing providers who felt he put too much emphasis on homeownership, yet during his term he led the creation of a major program for replacing obsolete public rental housing with housing that incorporated new lessons on what makes for good housing.

Naturally even this effort had detractors. Among other things, the new housing couldn't be built quickly enough to replace the old housing, so some in the industry would have preferred he focus on fixing up the old housing, despite it flaws.

There was a lot of debate back and forth, out of which grew new programs after Kemp had left. The HOME Investment Partnerships program was one of them; it provides block grants to states and localities to use with low-income housing tax credits and other programs to create new affordable housing.

It's remarkable the number of major programs that were created when Kemp was secretary and also immediately afterward, when former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros was HUD secretary. Kemp was a low-tax, supply-side enthusiast who was passionate about weeding our housing discrimination and creating opportunity for all. Whatever you think of his political philosophy, he was a secretary who understood the importance of housing and the primacy of private property rights and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation.

Are You Ready for the Opening Tip-Off?

By Wendy Cole, Senior Editor, REALTOR® magazine

College basketball mania is about to take over the nation. And this could be your year to win big. From now until Thursday at 11 am (EST), NAR members can take the REALTOR® Basketball Bracket Challenge. During the week of April 19, one grand prize will be awarded to a randomly-selected participant who is in the top 10% of eligible point scorers in this Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize winner will receive a 42 in. Sony Bravia Flat-panel LCD HD TV.

So get in on the action right here, right now.



An Inspring Holiday Tale

Here's an inspiring—and true—holiday story from Carlotta Ackley, a broker-associate with TOLZ Inc., REALTORS®, in Villas, N.J. (courtesy of our Convention Division colleague Roz Kriener):

As a man headed out to do some holiday shopping the other day, his wife said, "Honey, I'd much rather have a house at the shore than another Christmas sweater." He paused for a moment, and said, "Why not?"

So I got a call from him saying, "I know this is short notice, but could you take me out today because I want to buy my wife a house for Christmas?" So out we went and found one!

Happy Holidays to all -- and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year!

The Editorial Staff of REALTOR® Magazine



A WICKED Good Time to Buy



By Wendy Cole, Senior Editor

Tomorrow, Halloween, presents a spook-tacular marketing opportunity. One Oak Park, Ill. real estate pro is using chocolate to assuage economic anxieties and fears about the housing market in the way that only cocoa-laden goodies can. Roz Byrne of Gloor Realty, using the moniker The Wizard of Roz, will be "reverse trick-or-treating" to deliver Hershey bars to local businesses, along with the message, "Don't be AFRAID of the real estate market. It's a WICKED good time to be a buyer."

Between the witch costume and the 800 treats she's distributing, the outreach is costing her about $300.
Anyone else using the Halloween spirit to get the word out?

By the way, for those interested in haunted opportunities all year round, the folks at hauntedrealestate.com are your go-to source.

Even in Hard Times, a Giving Crowd



Stacey Moncrieff, Editor-in-Chief

How refreshing! A good news story about the housing industry . . .

These days, frankly, it can be hard to put yourself in a happy place. But a colleague forwarded me a recent Lew Sichelman column on ways Realtors® and other housing industry professionals are giving back to their communities—despite the hard times.

His syndicated column appeared in the Chicago Tribune Sept. 14 under the headline “When Realtors® Become Agents of Social Change”.

Naturally, I was glad to see him recognizing the 10 amazing finalists for REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards. But he also talked with a practitioner who is giving up commission income to help military families afford a home. And the full version of his story (not posted at the Tribune site) cited housing industry professionals who are donating their services for Habitat for Humanity builds.

Of course, this kind of good work goes on all the time under the media radar, but it’s great to see someone of Lew Sichelman’s stature giving it some play. Thanks, Lew, for putting me in a happy place today!

Happy Mother's Day!

By Hilary Marsh

I just wanted to take a moment and extend NAR's best wishes to all the REALTOR® moms out there, as well as to those who love them.

Many of us at NAR are also parents, and we understand the joys that parenthood brings -- as well as how tricky it can be to balance family and work.

Moms, if you are bloggers or participate in online social media in other ways, stop by and say hi and let us know who you are.

We hope you enjoy your Mother's Day!

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