In an article by Jeff Collins at the OC Register, states the housing market in will rebound by the end of this year or the start of next year, with U.S. home prices and sales rising in 2008, the CEO of the National Association of Realtors said during a recent leadership retreat at the Ritz Carlton here.

A new association forecast issued last week projected that prices next year will rise by 1.8 percent, but NAR CEO Dale Stinton was even more optimistic, saying he expects prices to go up as much as 4 percent next year.

"We don't quite see the gloom and doom that other people see," Stinton said. "When you look at the macro data and when you look at the country as a whole, it's still a pretty darn good time to be looking at property."

Stinton's remarks came during an interview last week with national and state leaders of the industry's biggest trade association. The leadership huddled for three days at the oceanfront hotel to prepare for Long Beach broker Dick Gaylord's year as NAR's 2008 president. Among their key comments during the interview:

NAR expects the current session of Congress to focus heavily on housing issues.

Officials defended NAR's position in a 2005 federal anti-trust lawsuit over use of online home listings. The case will probably go to trial in Chicago next winter.

While 11 states ban discount brokers from giving their clients commission rebates, NAR's ethical policies allow such rebates.

To Read More about this article please click on the link below: http://www.ocregister.com/money/nar-home-year-1770542-association-brokers

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