Learn how a Legal Defense Fund victory upholds Texans' property rights

Listen to the latest Texas REALTOR® Update podcast and hear how the Legal Defense Fund helped a Richardson REALTOR® uphold property rights for all Texans. No matter your comfort level with technology, it’s easy to listen to Texas REALTOR® Update:
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Read about the topics discussed on this episode, or visit the podcast archives to listen to past episodes.

New "green" standard adopted

The International Code Council, which develops the building safety codes used to construct most residential and commercial buildings, approved a National Green Building Standard. The new standard provides guidance for safe and sustainable building practices for all residential construction. The standard's rating system allows builders, designers, and communities to choose the levels of high-performance green buildings that best suit their needs. Key provisions include: land conservation, rainwater collection, construction of smaller homes to conserve resources, improved indoor air quality, and homeowner education on proper maintenance and operation to maintain a home's green status.

Obama announces Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan

President Obama this week announced his plan to help 7-9 million families avoid foreclosure by restructuring or refinancing their mortgages. The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan contains three main elements:

1. Government-sponsored enterprise refinancing for responsible homeowners suffering from falling home prices
2. Three-year $75 billion initiative to reduce monthly payments for 3-4 million at-risk homeowners
3. Supporting low mortgage rates by strengthening confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
   

Review the details of each element in this NAR Governmental Affairs Update.