Real Estate Agents and the Senior Citizen Homeowner

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The population of seniors in the United States is increasing rapidly due to the aging baby boomer generation, and some cities are experiencing more rapid growth than others. It is therefore important for real estate agents to be aware of these locales, and understand the best ways to sell to senior citizens. Continue reading

Special Veterans Spread in NAWRB Magazine!

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NAWRB is proud to announce we will be featuring a Veterans Spread in our upcoming October magazine issue. It will highlight several programs available to our country’s retired and active military members, and will include submissions and testimonials from the very organizations working to serve the Americans that have served us so diligently. Continue reading

Home Sharing: Cut Costs and Gain Companionship

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With the booming sharing economy, most people are familiar with popular home sharing sites such as Airbnb which offers temporary housing in widespread locations. But let’s take it to another level: permanent home sharing.

In this context, home sharing refers to the phenomenon of aging adults choosing to share their homes with similar people. Those that opt for this type of arrangement include widows, the recently divorced, single people, and others who simply want to cut their monthly costs as retirement nears. In many cases, retirees may choose to home share to save money and offer flexibility without having to worry about a mortgage.

Shared housing can appeal to multiple demographics, although it is prevalent among women. Statistics may help shed some light as to why.
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Latinas Rise in Real Estate

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If you take a moment to notice, you’ll see we are at a place in our history where more women of color are stepping into leadership roles in the workforce, and it’s no surprise this growth is being felt in real estate. 

Historically, real estate has been an accessible career field for women for many reasons, including its flexibility when balancing the requirements of a thriving business with an equally demanding home life. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports that women comprise 58 percent of their total membership, and, according to the Women’s Council of REALTORS (WCR), a women’s division was created in the California Real Estate Association as early as 1924. More female real estate practitioners are rising to the top and Latinas are the fastest growing contingent. 
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FHFA OMWI Releases their First Strategic Plan

Screen Shot 2016-06-10 at 10.51.19 AMThe Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) has released their strategic plan for FY 2016 – FY 2018. It outlines their commitment to making minority and women inclusion a fundamental part of the agency’s culture and delineates the ways the OMWI will champion diversity and inclusion standards defined in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

The plan also describes OMWI’s part in implementing diversity and inclusion efforts (D&I) and equal employment initiatives for the FHFA, and D&I efforts at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
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Office(s) of Minority and Women Inclusion

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Interagency Policy Statement Establishing Joint Standards for Assessing the Diversity Policies and Practices of Entities Regulated by the Agencies

After receiving more than 200 comments, and conferring with various regulated entities and professionals, six agencies issued a final statement establishing these standards in June 2015. Subdivided into five sections, each with detailed regulations, this interagency policy statement addresses the obstacles and barriers burdening minorities and women today.

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I. Introduction 
Section 342(b)(2)(C) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) requires the Directors of the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) to develop standards for assessing the diversity policies and practices of the entities regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and Securities and Exchange Commission (Agencies). To promote consistency, the Agencies worked together to develop joint standards (Standards) for assessing diversity policies and practices. This Interagency Policy Statement (Policy Statement) announces those Standards. 

This document is a general statement of policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553. It does not create new legal obligations. Use of the Standards by a regulated entity is voluntary. The Agencies will not use their examination or supervisory processes in connection with these Standards.
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Mature Women Gain Inspiration and Self-Confidence Dressing for Success

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Women age 40 and above should dress for success in the mornings to be confident and inspired to do their best work. What women wear has a huge affect on their psyche. Donning polished clothing not only tells the world that you are self-assured and capable, it allows you to embody those characteristics.

A study performed by Adam D. Galinsky, professor at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management,  tested 58 undergraduates, splitting them into two groups, we’ll call them Group A and Group B. Group A was told to wear white lab coats they believed belonged to doctors. Group B was directed to wear street clothes. When taking an exam, Group A was more attentive and careful, making half as many mistakes as Group B. Dr. Galinsky infers that clothes greatly affect our minds and bodies.“Clothes invade the body and brain, putting the wearer into a different psychological state,” said Dr. Galinsky.
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China: Powerful Force in Global Real Estate

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Soaring granite peaks hovering over the clouds. Glittering urban skylines with taxis weaving through bustling crowds. And let’s not forget about the vibrant hillsides in warm autumnal shades of red and orange, a result of mineral deposits and oxidization. These are some of the diverse characteristics of China, the third largest country in the world with virtually every landscape imaginable throughout its provinces.

Named the world’s largest economy, China continues to grow and attracts millions of tourists each year. Although tourism has been steady in China, fewer foreigners are choosing China as their permanent home. A study conducted by UniGroup Relocation—a global relocation company helping families move for over 60 years—revealed that the amount of people moving out of China in 2014 has increased by twice as much when compared to those moving into the country. 

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