HARblog.com

Thanks to everyone for getting out there and voting!

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HAR and the Houston Intown Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Harris County Judge Debate on October 3.

In one corner, current Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and in the other David Mincberg.

HAR has not weighed in on the race yet.  We hope to see you at the debate. 

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Dear HAR Member,

We know this is a difficult time for all of us, and HAR is here to help you.

We have created a disaster resource Web site (www.har.com/emergency) that will contain a wide range of recovery related resources of direct and immediate interest to REALTORS®.  This Web site will be our primary communications tool during the recovery process. We will continue to add content to this site as new information becomes available.

The main HAR office and the Montgomery County and Fort Bend branches have reopened, and the staff is standing by to serve you during normal business hours.

We are in the process of making repairs to the Bay Area office and will let you know as soon as it is open through the disaster resource Web site.

We will also be utilizing our Live Chat feature on HAR.com to help anyone who might have questions during the weekend.  You may find the Live Chat button at the top of the page, once you have signed in to the Members Only Portal.

Until the power is restored to your home or office, if you need a place with lights, air conditioning, water, restrooms, printers, copiers, access to wireless, the ability to charge your cell phone or simply a hot cup of coffee, please stop by the main office or any of HAR’s branches that are open during normal business hours.

If you need a place to hold an office meeting, please contact the Education Department at 713-629-1900 ext. 6 to schedule a time and place.

If you know of any serious situations involving any of our members, please let us know by going to www.har.com/emergency and clicking on the link called “Member Stories.”

Our disaster resources Web site also includes a “Wants and Haves” message board so you may identify additional resources and communicate with other HAR members.  Just click on the “Wants and Haves” link on www.har.com/emergency.

NAR and TAR have allocated funds to assist Texas REALTORS®. HAR’s Board of Directors will also be voting shortly to contribute to this fund.  Guidelines for how to access this assistance are being developed, and updates will be provided though the disaster resource Web site.

Thank you so much for all that many of you have done and are doing to provide assistance to your fellow REALTORS® and clients.  Please also share these stories by logging onto www.har.com/emergency and clicking on the link titled “Member Stories.”

On behalf of all of us at HAR, we wish the best for you and your family as we all pull through this difficult experience.

Michael Levitin
HAR Chairman of the Board
Houston Association of REALTORS
3693 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77027

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Daily Real Estate News  |  September 17, 2008
Credit Squeeze Is Hurting Commercial Sectors

Activity is slowing in commercial real estate sectors in response to tightening credit and slow economic growth, according to the latest Commercial Real Estate Outlook of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says problems on Wall Street are affecting commercial real estate. Continue Reading »

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Daily Real Estate News  |  September 17, 2008
Mortgage Applications Surge

Mortgage applications rose 33.4 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, rising to 661.7 from 496.2 the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey of mortgage activity. Total applications reached their highest level since early May.

On an unadjusted basis, the index rose 65.3 percent compared with the previous week, which was shortened by Labor Day. It was down 1.3 percent compared with the same week a year ago.

Refinances fueled the increase. The Refinance Index increased 88.1 percent while the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased only 2.4 percent. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 51.6 percent of total applications from 36.3 the previous week. Continue Reading »

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Daily Real Estate News  |  September 18, 2008
Housing Chief Says Recovery a Year Away

The housing market is a year away from improvement, says Steven Preston, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Preston predicts that it will be “the middle of next year or well into next year” before “we begin to see more consistency in buyers coming back into the marketplace.” Continue Reading »

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HAR is now open for business.

Please call 713.629.1900 for more information.

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Dear HAR Members - HAR offices are currently closed until further notice due to the lack of phone and e-mail services because of the power outages.  If you need assistance with an HAR Governmental or Political Affairs matter or with TREPAC during this time, please contact HAR TREPAC Coordinator Karen Driscoll at 281/702-7230.  Please stay safe in this time of recovery.  Best wishes from your HAR Governmental Affairs Staff and Volunteer Leadership!

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The Montgomery County Night at the Races Event Scheduled for September 18 at the Dosey Doe Coffeehouse in the Woodlands has been cancelled due to Hurricane Ike and the recovery process.   We will keep you posted if the event is rescheduled.

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