Sally Hickey of ERA Landmark Real Estate joined approximately 8,000 Realtors® who gathered in Washington, DC, to inspire action on Capitol Hill that will help stabilize the real estate market and encourage economic recovery as part of the National Association of Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. The meetings took place May 11-16.

During the week, Hickey participated in NAR’s “Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy,” an all-day program of sessions to address and meet head-on the challenges facing today’s residential and commercial real estate markets. Realtors® were joined by a number of policy leaders and industry experts, including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan; Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Director Sheila Bair; former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan; and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
 
“As the leading advocate for housing issues and homeownership, Realtors® urge the federal government to make stabilizing the real estate market a priority,” Hickey said. “We will continue to press the Obama administration and Congress to keep taking meaningful action toward this goal.”
 
Hickey met with Senators Max Baccus and Jon Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg to reiterate the importance of this issue and discuss other subjects, as well, including protecting the mortgage interest deduction, facilitating short sales, easing limitations on mortgage availability and encouraging mortgage reform, ensuring affordable insurance through small business health care plans, and initiating effective energy efficiency legislation.
 
“Moving the real estate market forward is imperative,” said Hickey. “The goal of this year’s meetings is to develop a series of ‘next steps’ that will serve as a blueprint for comprehensive progress.” 
 
Hickey said Realtors® believes in a multifaceted approach to stabilization that includes making mortgages more affordable and available, reducing foreclosures, and incentivizing home buyers. To this last point, she added that the $8,000 tax credit currently available to first-time buyers through November 30, 2009, will help thousands of consumers take advantage of opportunities in today’s housing market and realize the dream of homeownership.
 
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
 
Sally Hickey received her real estate license in 1990 and has been a Sales Associate with ERA Landmark Real Estate since October 1991. Sally holds the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate Realtor® Institute (GRI), and Certified Internet Professional (e-PRO) designations. She specializes in residential real estate, new construction, and vacant land sales.