Ready-made News Columns for Your Association

These Real Estate Facts articles are designed for use as consumer interest newspaper stories. By featuring your association spokesperson, the columns position your organization as a local authority on consumer real estate issues.

Below are timely stories for your use, as well as a link to evergreen columns that are appropriate at any time. Be sure to read the guidelines at the bottom of this page before using the columns. They they are intended for use by association executives and members, and are password protected.

For more information, contact Leanne Jernigan at 202/383-1290.

2012

February: Homeownership Must Remain Top National Priority (Word: 20 KB)
January: REALTORS® Reflect on Year of Real Estate Achievements (Word: 18 KB)

2011

December: Exterior Home Replacement Projects Prove Worthy of Investment (Word: 23 KB)
November: Annual Conference: Fill-in-the-blanks news release (Word: 28.5 KB)
November: Realtors® Applaud Efforts to Reinstate Loan Limits (Word: 14.4 KB)
November: Realtors® Support New Refinancing Rules that Help Reduce Foreclosures (Word: 31 KB)
October: REALTORS® Warn New Loan Limits Could Impact Housing Recovery (Word: 21 KB)
September: National Flood Insurance Program Expiration Could Threaten Market Recovery (Word: 30 KB)
August: Realtors® Uncover Homeownership Tax Benefit Myths (Word: 30 KB)
July: More Renters Than Ever Aspire to Home Ownership (Word: 30 KB)
June: Realtors® Fighting for Affordable, Accessible Mortgages (Word: 20 KB)
May: Midyear Meetings: Fill-in-the-Blanks News Release for REALTORS® (Word: 18 KB)
May: Midyear Meetings: Capitol Hill Fill-in-the-Blanks News Release (Word: 17 KB)
May: Nationwide Open House Event Spotlights Home Ownership (Word: 20KB)
April: Home Owners Save More During Tax Time (Word: 20KB)
March: Housing Proves Key to Economic Recovery (Word: 19KB)
February: Survey Shows Owners and Renters Agree Home Ownership Matters (Word: 18KB)
January: Realtors® Review 2010, Look Toward a New Year in Real Estate (Word File: 29KB)

2010

December: This Real Estate Facts follows the Deficit Reduction Commission's report and addresses the MID issues. (Word File: 29KB)
Annual Conference: Fill-In-The-Blanks News Release (Word File: 34 KB)
November: Majority of Americans Believe Homeownership is a Solid Investment in their Future (Word File: 18KB
October: Today's Home Buyers Experience Significant Savings (Word File: 18 KB)
September: Making the Housing Market Work: Buyers Share Their Stories (Word File: 32KB)
August: Global Pursuit of the American Dream (Word File: 30KB)
July: Becoming a Homeowner - Now What? (Word File: 31KB)
June: Benefits of Homeownership: What Matters Most (Word File: 31KB)
Midyear Mtngs: Fill-in-the-blanks News Release (Word File: 35KB)
Midyear Mtngs: Capitol Hill Fill-in-the-blanks News Release (Word File: 34KB)
April: Home Sweet Homes (Word File: 31KB)
March: HouseLogic.com: The Logical Source for Homeowners
February: Weary Sellers Turn to Real Estate Agents
January: 'Tis the Season...to Buy a Home

2009

December: Housing Market Heavily Aided by First-Time Buyers
November: Realtors® Win Push for Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension
Annual Conference: Fill-In-The-Blanks News Release
October: Taking the Long out of the Short Sale Process
September: Down to the Wire for the $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit
August: Appraising Appraisals
July: Green Home, Greener Wallet: Tax Incentives Abound for Energy-Efficient Homes
June: Today's Buyers Have 8,000 Reasons to Become Homeowners
Midyear Mtgs: Fill-in-the-blanks News Release (Word File: 30KB)
May: The Online Business of Being Social (Word File: 28KB)
April: Realtors® Celebrate Fair Housing Month (Word File: 28KB)
March: Realtors® Get Relief With the Right Tools Right Now (Word File: 28KB)
February: Don’t Touch That Dial! Realtors® Bring Real Estate to Radio (Word File: 32KB)
January: There's No Place Like Home (PDF: 72KB)

View evergreen columns > 

Guidelines For Use:

By featuring your association spokesperson, these columns help to position your organization as a local authority on consumer real estate issues.

These guidelines will assist those of you who are new to media relations, and serve as a refresher for everyone else.

1. Read each column carefully. Rewrite as appropriate to add local flavor. Local information will make them more valuable in the eyes of your newspaper editor because they will be of greater interest to the paper's readers.
2. Place your name and contact information at the top of the column (usually your phone number and e-mail address)
3. Cut paragraphs as necessary, to comply with space restrictions in your local newspaper. Publications with smaller circulations or "weeklies" are more likely to print columns in full.
4. Place the column on your letterhead or news release paper, filling in the blanks as necessary with your spokesperson's name and the name of your association. Double-space the copy and begin your second page with a repeat of the topic and the page number.
5. Hand deliver, mail, fax or e-mail the article to the real estate, business, or city editor at each area paper. If you don't know the name of that individual, find out. Your material will have a better chance of being used if the proper editor receives it directly.