In this recent video from the National Association of REALTORS YouTube channel we learn how to avoid infringing copyrights held by third parties and review the proper way to license copyrighted materials.
You can download the slide presentation here.
Washington, DC – Jan. 4, 2018 (PRNewswire) Realtors® are not only dedicated to serving home buyers and sellers, they also roll up their sleeves and volunteer in their communities to help others. In fact, the National Association of Realtors®’ 2017 Member Profile found that last year, seven out of 10 Realtors® volunteered in their community.
For nine years, REALTOR® Magazine has given Realtors® who also help others through volunteer work, an opportunity to enhance their charitable work through the Volunteering Works Mentoring Program. The program, which pairs mentors with Realtors® who want to expand their community service outreach, is now seeking entries.
“Realtors® across the country are dedicating their free time to make a difference in their communities,” says NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall, CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty in Columbia, Missouri. “Volunteering Works connects Realtors® by matching experienced volunteer leaders with other Realtors® who want to increase their reach and better serve their communities.”
Realtors® who work on small-scale charitable efforts that have growth potential are encouraged to apply. Five Volunteering Works recipients will benefit from a year of one-on-one mentoring from a member of the Good Neighbor Society and a $1,000 grant as seed money to help implement improvements in their community program. The society comprises past recipients of REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in community service.
Volunteering Works recipients are selected based on their dedication to volunteering and the potential for their charitable work to expand or improve with the help of an expert mentor. Ideal candidates have been active in charity work, can identify specific challenges they would like to address and have specific goals for the future of their community service project.
The 2017 Volunteering Works mentoring recipient Vickie Lobo of RE/MAX Champions of Upland, California, says the mentee experience gave her a lot of insight and inspiration as she built her charitable program.
“I was paired with a mentor who was my absolute best match,” says Lobo, who founded Community Miracle Makeover. “She advised me how get my nonprofit up and running and shared things to watch out for and mistakes not to make. She started where I am and has grown to assist hundreds of families every year, so her story is very inspiring.” Lobo’s mentor, Cindy Barrett of Keller Williams Realty, a 2016 Good Neighbor Award Winner, founded the nonprofit the Christmas In Action-Spartanburg.
The entry deadline is February 23, 2018. For a Volunteering Works entry form, visit www.nar.realtor/gna and click on “Nominate.” Applicants must be NAR members.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage sponsors the Volunteering Works mentoring program and the Good Neighbor Awards, two programs that recognize the extraordinary impact Realtors® make on their communities through volunteer work.
“Wells Fargo is delighted to team-up with REALTOR® Magazine again to recognize the volunteerism and leadership of Realtors® who make a meaningful difference in their communities,” said Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “We applaud the work of the Realtors® involved with the Volunteering Works program, because they create opportunities to accelerate the impact local nonprofits can make.”
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage offers home loans through the largest network of mortgage locations and bank branches as well as online and by phone. Wells Fargo leads the nation in originating, funding, and servicing residential mortgages. Working together with its business partners, including Realtors®, Wells Fargo financed one of every eight home loans in 2016 and currently services one of every seven homes in the United States.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the newsroom under the “About NAR” tab.
Billions in funding, expediting development key to success
Sacramnto, CA – January 3rd, 2018 (BUSINESS WIRE) California’s far-reaching housing package went into effect January 1, 2018, launching a major breakthrough for funding and fast-tracking housing development, especially for lower-income residents in the state.
California lawmakers approved the 15-bill housing package September 15, and Governor Edmund G. Brown signed the legislation two weeks later, building the foundation to help with the state’s fast-rising housing costs and easing local regulations that create financial hurdles and lengthy delays hurting low-income and middle-class families.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development is hosting a dedicated page of the department’s website, www.hcd.ca.gov as a one-stop-shop for the housing package, including summaries for all 15 bills and downloadable materials; frequently asked questions and implementation plans will be added soon.
“The housing package brings funding for more housing for low-income residents, requires that cities and counties follow their affordable housing plans, and removes roadblocks for much-needed projects,” said Ben Metcalf, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. “The package will not solve the housing cost and the housing shortage challenges overnight, but provides a very solid foundation that we can build on in the years ahead.”
SB 2 is expected to generate an estimated $250 million a year to finance the construction of affordable housing and SB 3 places a bond measure on the November 2018 statewide ballot. If passed, the bond would provide $3 billion to finance affordable housing for low-income residents and another $1 billion for home and farm purchases for veterans.
Other bills streamline the approval process, fund planning and technical assistance to cities and counties, provide financial incentives for expediting certain housing developments, and provide one-time funding for homelessness programs.
“California’s housing challenges demand that everyone works together on solving the problem,” said HCD’s Metcalf.
Only 28% of the state’s households could afford to buy the median-priced home during the third quarter, the lowest percentage in a decade, according to a recent report from the California Association of Realtors.
The financial challenges are just as difficult for households that rent. More than 3 million households—the equivalent of the combined populations of San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco—pay at least 30% of their income on rent. And more than 1.6 million low-income households spend more than 50% of their income on rent.
The housing package will have a far-reaching effect beyond just affordable housing and expediting development. Infill, mixed-use and transit-oriented developments are part of the plan, allowing more low-income residents to live closer to work, which will ease congestion on roadways, improve air quality, and reduce health issues for many Californians.
About California Department of Housing and Community Development
The California Department of Housing and Community Development is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of safe and affordable housing so more Californians can have a place to call home. Our team works to ensure an adequate supply of housing for Californians and promotes the growth of strong communities through its leadership, policy, and program development. For more information, please visit www.hcd.ca.gov and sign up for HCD’s listserv announcements, follow us on Twitter, @California_HCD and Facebook.
Contacts
California Department of Housing and Community Development
Evan Gerberding
(916) 263-7408
evan.gerberding@hcd.ca.gov