Unlock America's Economy: Timeline

As events unfold rapidly on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, check back here to see major news updates and statements related to the credit crisis.

04/22/2009 - NAR Sends a Letter to Representative Joe Courtney Commending Him for Introducing H.R. 1993 To Extend the Current First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (PDF: 78K)

04/10/2009 - Freddie Mac Announces Guidelines for Super Conforming Mortgages in High Cost Areas

04/08/2009 - In a letter to Secretary Geithner, Chairman Bernanke, and Chairman Bair, NAR Urges Participation of Local Residential and Commercial REALTORS® in Public-Private Investment Program (PDF: 117K)

04/02/2009 - FHA Key to Housing Rebound, Say Realtors®

04/02/2009 - J. Lennox Scott, NAR Board Advisor, Testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Role of FHA in Addressing the Housing Crisis (PDF: 122K)

03/30/2009 - Fannie Mae Announces Guidelines for Loan Limits in High Cost Areas

03/25/2009 - NAR Submits Statement to the House Committee on Financial Services on Hearing Regarding Exploring the Balance between Credit Availability and Prudent Lending Standards (PDF: 179K)

03/19/2009 - Podcast: 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan provides updates from several important meetings he's had recently with government and industry officials

03/19/2009 - NAR Submits Statement to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs - Hearing: Modernizing Bank Supervision and Regulation (PDF: 181K)

03/18/2009 - IRS Provides Filing Guidance on First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

03/18/2009 - REALTORS® Say Fed Move to Buy More Securities Will Boost Housing Markets

03/12/2009 - REALTORS® Recommend Responsible Lending Principles

03/04/2009 - REALTORS® Pledge Assistance for Obama Guidelines on Foreclosure Fixes
Read NAR's press release>
Review the plan's guidelines>

03/04/2009 - Relief for Responsible Homeowners One Step Closer Under New Treasury Guidelines (Treasury Department)

02/26/2009 - REALTORS® Oppose MID Reduction in Budget Plan
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Read NAR's Press Release>

02/25/2009 - REALTORS® Endorse Obama's Recovery Plan Including Housing Stability, Health Care

02/25/2009 - NAR's President Charles McMillan audio message to NAR members in response to President Obama's address that emphasized housing stability and prioritized health care

02/25/2009 - HUD Publishes Changes to FHA's Single-Familiy Loan Limits

02/19/2009 - Commercial Real Estate Continues Decline

02/18/2009 - REALTORS® Support Aid to Troubled Homeowners

02/18/2009 - President Obama Announces His Homeowners Affordability and Stability Act

02/17/2009 - President Obama Signs Stimulus Bill into Law

02/17/2009 - NAR's President Podcast: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

02/14/2009 - REALTORS® Advocate Quick Implementation of Stimulus Package

02/13/2009 - Senate and House Pass the Economic Stimulus Bill, President Expects to Sign it Soon
View how the U.S. House of Representatives voted>
View how the U.S. Senate voted>

02/13/2009 - Chart: First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (as modified in the American Recovery and Reinvest Act) (PDF: 309K)

2/12/2009 - Housing Stimulus and Stabilization Will Help Economic Recovery

2/12/2009 - Economic Stimulus Bill Is Reconciled by the House and Senate

2/12/2009 - Expanded TALF Will Encourage Commercial Real Estate Investment

2/11/2009 - In a Letter to House Conferees, NAR Urges Them to Support the Inclusion of Important Housing-Related Provisions in Any Final Stimulus Bill Considered by Congress (PDF: 58K)

2/11/2009 - In a Letter to the House, NAR Urges Members to Support the Inclusion of Important Housing-Related Provisions in Any Final Stimulus Bill Considered by Congress (PDF: 58K)

2/11/2009 - In a Letter to the Senate, NAR Urges Members to Support the Inclusion of Important Housing-Related Provisions in Any Final Stimulus Bill Considered by Congress (PDF: 58K)

2/10/2009 - Senate Stimulus Bill, Treasury Stability Plan Hailed

2/10/2009 - Senate Finance Committee Releases Chart Illustrating the Differences Between the Senate-Passed and House-Passed Versions of the American Recovery Act of 2009 (agreement expected by Friday afternoon) (PDF: 467K)

2/10/2009 - In a Letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, NAR Urges Members to Include Important Homebuyer's Tax Credit Provisions in Economic Stimulus Legislation (PDF: 104K)

2/10/2009 - NAR Submits Statement to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Regarding Economic Advisors Nomination/Revised TARP Plan (PDF: 144K)

2/10/2009 - NAR Submits Statement to the House Committee on Financial Services Regarding the Federal Reserve Bank Liquidity Efforts (PDF: 145K)

2/09/2009 - Call For Action: Unlock America's Economy - Contact Your Member of Congress Now!

2/09/2009 - In a Letter to the U.S. Senate Today, NAR Urges Members to Vote in Support of H.R. 1

2/06/2009 - More Liquidity Needed to Avoid Crisis in Commercial Real Estate

2/05/2009 - Tax Credit Amendment Approved by the U.S. Senate

2/05/2009 - View a Comparison Chart: Current Law/H.R.1/Senate Amendment (PDF: 218K)

2/03/2009 - NAR President's Podcast: Reviving Our Economy and Our Communities

2/03/2009 - REALTORS® Urge Congress to Help 'Hope for Homeowners'

2/03/2009 - REALTORS® Welcome Renewed Efforts Toward Housing Stabilization

2/03/2009 - In a Letter to Representative Barney Frank, NAR Requests His Support for H.R. 703, A Bill that Will Help Ease Loan Modifications and Refinancing for America's Troubled Homeowners (PDF: 239K)

2/02/2009 - In a Letter to Senator Mitch McConnell NAR Urges Congress to Pursue Efforts to Stimulate the Nation's Real Estate Markets (PDF: 86K)

2/02/2009 - In a Letter to Senator Harry Reid NAR Urges Congress to Pursue Efforts to Stimulate the Nation's Real Estate Markets (PDF: 86K)

1/30/2009 - In a Letter Sent to the U.S. Senate NAR Urges Members to Include a Provision in the Housing Economic Stimulus Bill that Would Restore FHA and GSE Loan Limits to Their 2008 Levels (PDF: 62K)

1/29/2009 - REALTOR® Recommendations Make Headway in House

1/28/2009 - In a Letter Sent to the House of Representatives Today, NAR Urges Members to Support H.R. 1, the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" (PDF: 62K)

1/27/2009 - NAR Briefs Treasury Secretary Geithner on NAR's Housing Stimulus Plan (PDF: 158K)

1/27/2009 - Senate Finance Committee Approves Package for Inclusion in the American Recovery Act of 2009 (Senate Finance Committee) (PDF: 631K)

1/27/2009 - In a Letter Sent to the Treasury Secretary Today, NAR Congratulates Mr. Geithner on His New Position, and Briefs Him on the NAR Housing Stimulus Plan (PDF: 158K)

1/26/2009 - In a Letter to Senate Finance Committee, NAR Salutes Chairman Baucus for the Inclusion of a Provision in the Chairman's Mark that Would Eliminate the Repayment of the $7500 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (PDF: 64K)

1/26/2009 - In a Joint Letter to the Senate Finance Committee, NAR and Other Industry Leaders Express their Appreciation for the Modification of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Repayment Feature on Chairman's Baucus Mark for the Economic Stimulus Bill (PDF: 12K)

1/23/2009 - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Unveils Economic Recovery Measures for Inclusion on the American Recovery Act of 2009, Mark-Up Schedule for Jan. 27 (Senate Finance Committee)

1/22/2009 - House Ways and Means Committee Passes Economic Recovery Legislation (House Ways and Means Committee)

1/22/2009 - In a Letter to Chairman Baucus NAR Urges the Senate Finance Committee To Confirm Mr. Timothy Geithner as the Next Treasury Secretary (PDF: 62K)

1/21/2009 - The U.S. House of Representatives Approves H.R. 384 - View How They Voted

1/20/2009 - REALTORS® Welcome President Obama

1/20/2009 - NAR President's Podcast: Yes, REALTORS® Will

1/16/2009 - NAR Continues Push for Comprehensive Strategy

1/16/2009 - In a letter sent to Congress, NAR expressed its great appreciation for the inclusion of a provision that would eliminate the $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit repayment feature (PDF: 63K)

1/15/2009 - Many Home Buyers Need Higher Loan Limits

1/14/2009 - Effective Implementation Critical for Home Buyer Tax Credit Success

1/13/2009 - NAR Reiterates Keys to Housing Recovery

1/13/2009 - Watch the Video of Today's Congressional Hearing on H.R. 384

1/13/2009 - Written Statement of the National Association of REALTORS® on the Use of TARP Funds (PDF: 80K)

1/13/2009 - NAR Releases Results from Its Survey on the $7500 First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit

1/13/2009 - Treasury's Interim Assistant for Financial Stability Reviews the Financial Credit Market Crisis and the Troubled Assets Relief Program (Treasury Department)

1/12/2009 - In a Letter to Congress, NAR Urges Enactment of H.R. 384 (PDF: 62K)

1/09/2009 - House Financial Services Committee Chairman Introduces H.R. 384 "TARP Reform and Accountability Act of 2009"

1/09/2009 - Frank Introduces TARP Reform and Accountability Legislation (House Committee on Financial Services)

1/02/2009 - NAR Challenges Fannie Mae Fee Increases

12/18/2008 - NAR Welcomes Lower Rates and Urges Further Action

12/17/2008 - Fed Action Creates Best Interest Rates in 50 Years, REALTORS® Report

12/15/2008 - REALTORS® Push for 4.5 Percent Interest Rate Buy-Down

12/12/2008 - NAR: Interest Rate Drop Good Sign, But Government Must Continue to Help Families

12/10/2008 - NAR makes statement regarding the need to implement 4-Point Housing Stimulus plan to the House Financial Services Committee

12/09/2008 - Realtors® Tell Congress Increased Housing Demand Critical To Stabilize Markets, Slow Foreclosures

12/04/2008 - NAR President Charles McMillan's Statement on Possible Treasury Action

12/04/2008 - NAR-Backed Rate Buy-Down Gains Traction (REALTOR® Magazine)

11/25/2008 - NAR Says Fed's Buying of Fannie, Freddie Debt Will Drive Down Interest Rates and Help to Stabilize Housing

11/25/2008 - Federal Reserve announces it will initiate a program to purchase the direct obligations of housing-related government-sponsored enterprises and mortgage-backed securities backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae (Federal Reserve)

11/25/2008 - Treasury Provides TARP Funds to Federal Reserve Consumer ABS Lending Facility (Treasury Department)

11/18/2008 - REALTORS® Tell Congress Increased Housing Demand Will Stabilize the Market

11/18/2008 - Secretary Paulson Testifies on Financial Rescue Regulation (Treasury Department)

11/13/2008 - Call for Action Asks Members of Congress to Support Efforts To Have NAR's Four-Point Housing Stimulus Plan Included in Any Future Economic Stimulus Bill

11/13/2008 - NAR's Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Asking Members To Include the Provisions Outlined in Our 4-Point Plan in Any Forthcoming Stimulus Legislation (PDF: 66K)

11/12/2008 - Paulson's Remarks on Financial Rescue Package and Economic Update (Treasury Department)

11/11/2008 - Treasury Joins FHFA, HOPE NOW to Announce Streamlined Loan Modification Program (SMP) (Treasury Department)

11/11/2008 - REALTORS® Against Full Privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

11/07/2008 - Fannie and Freddie Will Be Important in Economic Recovery, Lockhart Tells REALTORS®

11/07/2008 - Pending Home Sales Down on Tight Credit and Economic Slowdown

11/07/2008 - REALTORS® Wonder When Recession Will Give Way to Real Estate Recovery

11/06/2008 - REALTORS® Rally for Real Estate Progress in Legislative, Public Policy Arenas

11/06/2008 - REALTORS® Call for Government Support of Housing

10/31/2008 - No Economic Recovery Without Housing Stabilization, Say REALTORS®

10/31/2008 - Americans Want More Government Involvement in Lending

10/21/2008 - NAR President Dick Gaylord Discusses NAR's Four-Point Plan to Help Main Street and Boost Housing

10/21/2008 - NAR letter to Secretary Paulson recommending our REALTOR® members, both residential and commercial, for their expertise and knowledge in assisting with the newly formed Troubled Asset Recovery Program (TARP). (PDF: 187K)

10/20/2008 - Save the Date - Hope for Homeowners (H4H) National Training Conference - Nov 13-14

10/16/2008 - NAR Letter to Treasury Secretary Urging Him to Take Action to Reduce Mortgage Interest Rates (PDF: 82K)

10/15/2008 - NAR Urges Passage of 4-Point Housing Stimulus Plan and Return of Congress for Lame Duck Session

10/14/2008 - Treasury Hires Custodian Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (Treasury Department)

10/14/2008 - Treasury Announces Executive Compensation Rules Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (Treasury Department)

10/14/2008 - Treasury Announces TARP Capital Purchase Program Description (Treasury Department)

10/03/2008 - President Signs $700 Billion Rescue Bill

10/03/2008 - View How Your Representatives Voted on Oct. 3

10/03/2008 - House Passes Economic Stability Act; NAR Urges Quick Presidential Action

10/02/2008 - Economic Stabilization: What Happens Now? (REALTOR® Magazine)

10/02/2008 - REALTORS® Praise Senate Action

10/01/2008 - NAR Steps Up Efforts to Get Bill Passed (REALTOR® Magazine)

10/01/2008 - Growing Optimism on Revived Rescue Plan (REALTOR® Magazine)

9/30/2008 - House Could Vote Again Soon on Modified Bill (REALTOR® Magazine)

9/30/2008 - The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - What is at Stake for REALTORS®

9/29/2008 - NAR Statement on Defeat of Economic Stability Act

9/29/2008 - View How Your Representative Voted (House of Representatives)

9/29/2008 - House Rejects Financial Rescue Plan (REALTOR® Magazine)

9/29/2008 - Statement by Assistant Secretary Michele Davis on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act Vote (Treasury Department)

9/24/2008 - President Bush's Address to the Nation (The White House)

9/22/2008 - Statement by the President on Legislation to Address Crisis in Financial Markets (The White House)

9/22/2008 - NAR Statement on Actions to Stabilize the Secondary Mortgage Market

9/19/2008 - Statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on Comprehensive Approach to Market Developments (Treasury Department)

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Unlock America's Economy: Timeline

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