REALTOR Benefits® Program partner Lowe's is providing a 10 percent coupon to REALTORS® for purchase of in-stock lighting at participating stores. Your members can take advantage of the coupon by logging into their LowesRealtorBenefits.com  account and printing it out. Offer ends June 15.

The jumbo loan market is starting to thaw, making it easier for move-up buyers to borrow.

Rates on jumbo loans of more than $729,750 in highest-priced markets rose during the financial crisis and lending standards tightened to the point where borrowers couldn't refinance or get a new loan.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), which was supposed to expire June 10, will be extended for another year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a statement.

Since HARP began last April, it has refinanced 190,180 mortgages. It is administered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and aimed at borrowers with little or no equity in their homes.

This program is a sister to Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), which was severely criticized by Congress last week for failing to help enough struggling home owners.

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010030201?OpenDocument

The time has come for appointments to the VREB for 4 year terms beginning in July.  There are two open terms, one term is available for reappointment to a second term.  If you are interested, review the attached from VAR.  Keep in mind that you likely should be politically connected since this is a Gubernatorial appointment.

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity (LHFH) is seeking an experienced Executive Director to serve as the affiliate's day-to-day chief operating officer, overseeing its internal activities and staff while working closely with the President/Executive Committee and the Board of Directors to execute LHFH's strategic mission and direct programs to meet financial and organizational goals.  Key responsibilities include program and operational management, fund raising, advocacy, community and public relations as well as sound leadership and business skills. Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of five+ years managerial/non-profit experience required. Excellent verbal and written skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office. Send cover letter, resume' and salary requirements to pmcgraw@loudounhabitat.org.

You can register for the 2010 Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., May 10-15. Meeting information, a list of exhibitors, and registration options are available.

Members with clients trying to close on their purchase before expiration of the home buyer tax credit might find useful information in a March 25 webinar that explores ways to speed distressed sales. Principal presenter is noted distressed-sale speaker Scott Thompson of ServiceLink and Mortgage Resolution Services. Webinar is Thursday, March 25, at 3 p.m., Eastern Time. Registration is online.

A 10-question quiz on how much you know about the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act has been updated to reflect the recent revamping of the HUD-1 and Good Faith Estimate. Try out the quiz  so you can test your awareness of federal settlement rules.

In case you missed it, NAR's consumer-facing Web site for helping home owners make informed management choices about their homes is up and running. You can tap into the content on the site for their newsletters or their own Web sites to help them deepen their resources for clients and customers. Visit the site to see what it offers home owners and read NAR's press release announcing the site to consumers. The portal for you to access site content is separate. Access it here.

 The National Association of Realtors®is now accepting applications for the 11th annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards. The awards recognize REALTORS® for their commitment to volunteer service.

The five winners will be announced in November in REALTOR® Magazine. Each winner will be recognized at the 2010 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans and receive travel expenses to the conference, national media exposure for his or her community cause, and a $10,000 grant for the charity. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant.