Government Policy, Real Estate and You! with Liz Recchia

Refresh your memory on How a Bill Becomes a Law in Arizona by watching the video AAR and I did  a few years ago.

The Arizona Legislature is working to complete their task of deciding which bills will make it to the Governor's desk.

You can read the bills mentioned in today's podcast as well as read the DC Circuit Court decision on Association Health Plans and the Department of Labor's response. in my article Legislative Update April 11, 2019 at www.wemargad.org.

Song Credits:

WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interest Rates and the Fed. Truthfully, interest rates are the least of a buyer's issues these days when looking to purchase a home. Help your clients gain perspective.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is a private organization who has been working on internet accessibility since the late 1990's. HUD, DOJ and the courts weigh in on website and mobile app accessibility using the W3C metrics. Learn how cases like Robles v Domino's Pizza affect you and your business and how your website and mobile app are subject to ADA laws.

WeMAR hosted attorneys from Fennemore Craig in 2017. You can view the videos from this event at www.wemargad.org.  We discuss Fair Housing, ADA and Disparate Impact.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!

Song Credits:

 WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There have been a lot of changes in the lending space lately. Some from the courts, some from HUD, some from the CFPB and other regulators.

HUD released two Mortgagee Letters in March 2019. Mortgagee Letter 2019-04 eliminates the FHA Inspector Roster.

Mortgagee Letter 2019-05 removes the 10-year home protection plan requirement from some FHA loans.

The CFPB released its Winter 2019 Report in March 2019. Deceptive bill pay, mortgage servicers charging late fees greater than the amount permitted, servicers misrepresenting PMI cancellation reasons to customers, FHA Reverse Mortgage foreclosures without correct information being given to successors and State Farm Bank violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act were all topics of interest.

Upcoming WeMAR GAD events:

April 3, 2019: Coffee with the City of Peoria. Learn about Peoria's Opportunity Zones and their Real Estate Development Department.

April 23, 2019: Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting, approved for 3 CE in Legal Issues with Az DRE. Learn about West Valley Opportunity Zones, discuss issues affecting real estate and your clients and meet the State of Arizona's Chief Operating Officer, Gilbert Davidson.

See all the GAD events at www.wemargad.org.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!

Song Credits:

 WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 14th I and the other members of the City of Glendale/Glendale Chamber of Commerce contingent continued our visits in  Washington,D.C.  We toured the ASU building.

Next we met with Senator McSally and I was able to describe Opportunity  Zones as we experience them along with the challenges of no guidance from Treasury for the entrepreneur part and the late release of rules for the real estate investment part.   

We visited Rep. Paul Gosar, an interesting man with lots of good ideas worth discussion. Representative Lesko met with us and as always asked questions and was very interested in what we had to say.

Congressman  Andy Biggs was attentive and interested in what the City had to discuss.

Representatives Stanton and Gallego were able to step out to meet us quickly as a part of their busy day.

Representative Schweikert has been on C-Span once a week as part of Floor Speeches describing his 5 Pillars and how we can contain costs while investing in the future needs of this country. You should  take the time to watch his videos:

Health Technology

Employment Incentives

How Do We Maximize Economic Development to Keep Our Promises?

Healthcare and Climate Technology

WeMAR GAD:Advocating for Private Property Rights, the Right to Private Contract and YOUR Business!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week (March 11-15, 2019) I was in Washington, D.C. as part of the City of Glendale and Glendale Chamber of Commerce contingent representing business and the city to our elected officials. It was quite an honor and I am thankful to have had the opportunity. 

The City and Chamber were interested in firming up relationships with our federal officials and letting them know we support Luke Air Force Base and its mission. In addition, the City spoke to elected officials about Community Block Grant Funding and the needs it serves, infrastructure needs and other concerns of the City and business.

I was able to add information concerning Opportunity Zones and the lack of rules being published by Treasury as well as ask about Flood Insurance extension (there is none currently), and other business and real estate concerns.

The podcast this week is a quick update of our very busy first day in Washington, D.C. We spoke with: Senator McSally, the Air Force and Department of Defense officials, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, Congressman Schwiekert's Chief of Staff, Congressman Greg Stanton, and Congressman Andy Biggs.

Read more about issues concerning real estate, property owners and business at www.wemargad.org.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!

Song Credits:WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a lot of big projects popping up in the West Valley. You see them everyday as you drive about, but there are a lot more on their way. This quick update looks at several projects that have closed escrow or broken ground since October 2018. You can read more about these and other projects at www.wemargad.org.

Middle Class isn't what it used to be. People see Middle Class differently than their parents, but similar to past generations. Learn more about the New Middle Class  and the rental products being built to serve their wants and needs. Single family detached rental only subdivisions are expanding at a swift rate all over the West Valley. Learn about the three largest providers of this product.

Our podcast sponsor this week is Randy Howell of Mortgage Power, Inc. Your client will find out how much they qualify to borrow and information about various loan products.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!

Music Credits:

 WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WeMAR Government Affairs: We change the conversation. Listen as we describe what it is we do. It's more than showing up at City Council meetings. In fact, we begin our conversation with City Councils, Legislators and State Agencies way before public comment is necessary.

Sign Ordinance are one of our most successful. We changed the conversation from inches and fee to Adequate, Visible and Legible.

We host events with elected officials, government staff, policy and decision makers. Our hope is you will meet these people, gain understanding into what they do, shake hands and have your own conversation.

WeMAR GAD's website, www.wemargad.org is the hub for information you and your clients need to know covering West Maricopa County, Pinal and Cochise County.

Learn more about issues like Arizona Open Range Land Law,  Free Assumability and more.

Our Task Forces and Work Groups are the engine of Government Affairs.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As most of you know, the Arizona Legislature passed and the Governor signed Arizona's Drought Contingency Plan on January 31st ahead of the Department of Interior's deadline. Within 12 hours, the Department of Interior decided the plan was not adequate but declined to give details. Arizona has until March 4th to solve the delinquencies as perceived by the Department of Interior and is hoping for clarification soon.

In the meantime, there are several bills regarding implementation and rule changes now making their way through the Legislature.

Part 1 of a 2 part interview with CNN wholesale lender Nick Monardo is up. Listen to Nick as he discusses the CFPB, Trid 2.0, and the lending landscape in 2019.

Jack Greacen, NAR (National Association of REALTORS® ) Advocacy and Political Representative, was our guest for our January Government Affairs Advisory Council Meeting. Jack discussed the CFPB, Flood Insurance, how NAR selects candidates to endorse, and the job of a NAR Advocate in Washington, D.C. You can watch the video of Jack at www.wemargad.org.

You can find a list of GAD Events at www.wemargad.org.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and your business.

Music Credits:

WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this month I was able to meet Nick Monardo of CNN Mortgage at his office in Scottsdale. Nick is a wholesale lender for CNN Mortgage and was guest of WeMAR's a year ago. Nick gives an update on lending, the CFPB and the issues he sees on the horizon.

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Nick.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business.

See GAD event videos, listen to more podcasts and read about real estate and business in Arizona at www.wemargad.org.

Song Credits:

WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January is a very busy month, the Arizona State Legislature comes back into session and everyone is gathering information they need in order to file their taxes by the April 15, 2019 due date.

In the quick update we discuss the Arizona State Drought Contingency Planning discussions, Tax Conformity, recent bills introduced at the Legislature and some of the tax reform changes affecting  you, your clients and your business.

You can read a more in depth review of recent bills introduces at the Arizona State Legislature at www.wemargad.org.

You can also hear Representative Dunn describe the Drought Contingency discussions at www.wemargad.org.

WeMAR GAD: Advocating for private property rights, the right to private contract and YOUR business!

Song Credits:

WEPA Song Credits: "Wepa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

 Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

WERQ Song Credits:"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices