Announcements

CBR Seeking Nominations for Broker, Salesperson, Affiliate and Citizen of the Year

The Awards Night Committee is seeking Nominations for CBR Broker, Salesperson, Affiliate or Citizen of the Year awards. If you know someone who might deserve recognition for their service, you do not need to complete a nomination form, just call Kathy Elliott, 614-475-4000, by February 28, 2005. The Awards Night celebration is set for Wednesday, April 27 at the Hyatt on Capitol Square. Mark your calendars now!

We are also seeking nominations for Instructor of the Year. This application was in the January issue of In Contract magazine and is available on the web site under Services>Awards. Deadline for nominations is February 28. Please submit your nomination for a worthy instructor.

HUD Eliminates Refunds of FHA Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums

HUD has issued a mortgagee letter announcing that it is eliminating the refunds of the FHA upfront mortgage insurance premiums. The borrower can still receive the refund if they refinance to another mortgage that is insured by FHA. This change became effective for those FHA mortgages endorsed for insurance on or after Dec. 8, 2004. NAR will lobby Congress this year to restore the ability to receive a refund of the upfront premiums. For more info, contact NAR's Peter Morgan at 202/383-1233.

Like-Kind Exchange Relief for Disaster Areas

The IRS has announced that certain timing requirements will be extended in the case of like-kind exchange transactions that involve property in areas, such as Florida, that have been declared disaster areas by the president. If a property has been relinquished before the disaster is declared but the replacement property has not been identified (and 45 days have not elapsed between the date of sale and the disaster), then the taxpayer will be given 120 days in which to identify the replacement property. Relief is also provided for replacement properties that were damaged within either the 45-day or 180-day limits of the exchange rules. For more info, contact NAR's Linda Goold at 202/383-1083

REALTORS® and Habitat join forces to aid Tsunami victims

The National Association of REALTORS® is partnering with Habitat for Humanity International to build "REALTOR® Villages" comprised of "core houses," permanent structures that, in some cases, will be built on the foundation of the previous homes.

The goal is to build 1,000 core houses in the hard-hit countries of India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Sumatra area of Indonesia.

Each family's house will cost only $1,000, but it will take $1 million to reach our goal of 1,000 houses. So far we've already raised $250,000. With your help we can raise the rest. EVERY PENNY raised by the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project will be donated to Habitat for Humanity International to construct the REALTOR® Villages. ALL of the administrative costs of conducting the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project are being absorbed by NAR.

Just $100 from you and the same amount from nine of your associates will put a destitute family in a home! If you can give even $50 or $20, it will make a difference. Contributions can be made online at

REALTOR®.org or by mail to:

REALTOR Tsunami Relief Project
Attn: NAR Finance Division
430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Make check payable to the
REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project.

2005 Parade of Homes - June 11-26, 2005

Developed by Dominion Homes; Glenross, Delaware City
Glenross, a new golf course community in the City of Delaware, will be the site of the 2005 BIA Parade of Homes. Located on the north and south sides of Cheshire Road, the first section of this 309-acre golf course community is being developed by Dominion Homes.

Glenross Golf Course will emerge from the former Tanglewood Golf Course site. Custom home builder Vince Romanelli of Romanelli & Hughes, has purchased the land and has hired Jodie Kinney, Kinney Golf Course Design, to redesign an entire new public golf course that will be the centerpiece of the Glenross Community. The Parade lots will back up to golf holes 6 and 7. Romanelli says the course will include a 4,000 square-foot traditional-style clubhouse, to be built by Romanelli & Hughes. Next to the clubhouse will be a community clubhouse, with outdoor swimming pool, to be built by Dominion Homes in the same architectural style.

Glenross community will eventually include 618 residential homes - a mix of single family homes, condos and patio homes.

Twenty BIA builders are taking part in the 2005 Parade of Homes:

Beazer Homes
Centex Homes
DiYanni Homes
Dominion Homes
Joshua Homes
M/I Homes
Manor Homes
Maronda Homes
Medallion Homes
Mobley Homes
Olympus Homes, Inc.
P & D Builders, Ltd.
Rockford Homes
Romanelli & Hughes
Sovereign Development Corp.
Today Homes
Trinity Home Builders, Inc.
Truberry Group (Foundation House Builder)
Wyndfield Homes
Yocca Custom Homes

For more info, visit www.ParadeofHomesOhio.com