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LOS ANGELES, CA - November 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Congress late yesterday passed a “minibus” appropriations measure that will continue to fund the government and includes a provision to reinstate the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limit in high-cost areas for two years. President Obama signed the measure into law today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales posted a marginal increase in October and also were above year-ago levels, according to figures released today from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lower home prices and record-low interest rates in the third quarter of 2011 contributed to an improvement in housing affordability for California home buyers, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Business Services® (REBS®) today announced that the Downey Association of REALTORS® has signed an agreement to provide zipForm® Mobile Web Edition as a free member benefit to its nearly 1,400 REALTOR® members beginning December 2011.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Business Services® (REBS®) today announced that the Chico Association of REALTORS® (AOR) has signed an agreement to provide zipForm® Mobile Web Edition as a free member benefit to its more than 400 REALTOR® members beginning in December 2011. Chico AOR is the first local REALTOR® Association in California to offer this tool for free.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an extension of its “California REALTORS®. Champions of Home.” consumer advertising campaign, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today launched “Stories of Home,” a video testimonial contest for consumers to share personal stories about a REALTOR® who was their “Champion of Home.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales in California fell in September, as is typical for this time of year, but were up from the previous year for the fifth consecutive month. Additionally, distressed home sales increased slightly in September from both the previous month and year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Heightened economic uncertainty contributed to a decrease in California home sales in September, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). However, September home sales posted higher on a year-to-year basis for the third consecutive month and remain at stable levels.

SAN JOSE, CA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2011, the state’s largest trade show, opens next week at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. Running Sept. 20-22, CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2011 features more than 70 cutting-edge seminars on topics ranging from social media, to short sales, and the millennial generation. EXPO 2011 will also feature more than 150 exhibit booths and is expected to attract more than 6,500 attendees.

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales posted an increase from both the previous month and previous year in August, while the median home price rose to its highest level this year, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) applauds Gov. Jerry Brown for signing AB 771, a bill that prevents home buyers in a common interest development (CID), such as a condominium or townhome, from being charged excess document fees

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Under current law, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) cannot hold an office manager responsible for failing to supervise licensees within the office. Current law only allows the DRE to hold the principal broker responsible even in situations where that broker has delegated supervisorial responsibilities to an office manager.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Recognizing that short sales will be a part of the California real estate landscape for years to come and with more REALTORS® continuing to experience difficulty in closing short sales, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently sent letters to the heads of the nation’s four top lenders and servicers, urging more improvements in the short-sale process.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California pending home sales dipped in July, as did the share of sales of distressed properties, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today launched a new consumer advertising campaign that employs testimonials from consumers in order to promote the value of working with a REALTOR®. The campaign’s new theme -- “California REALTORS®. Champions of Home.” -- also will raise awareness of the REALTOR® brand and reinforce the professionalism of REALTORS® who belong to C.A.R.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales fell in July but were up from the previous year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing affordability fell throughout most areas of the state in the second quarter of 2011, primarily due to a seasonal increase in home prices, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More REALTORS® characterized closing short-sale transactions as “difficult” or “extremely difficult” than late last year, indicating that lenders’ and servicers’ short-sale procedures have shown little improvement in the past six months, according to the latest Lender Satisfaction Survey conducted by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

FRESNO, CA - July 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than half of Central Valley REALTORS® characterized closing short-sale transactions as “difficult” or “extremely difficult,” according to a Lender Satisfaction Survey conducted by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). The survey gauges REALTORS®’ experience working with lenders in their most recent transaction. The majority of those surveyed dealt with short-sale transactions – transactions in which the lender or lenders agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner.

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California pending home sales rose for the second consecutive month in June, while the share of distressed property sales was unchanged, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.