<p>The date for the MLS Open Forum in March has been scheduled.  The date is March 21, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Association office in Murrieta.  All members are urged to attend.  Hosted by MLS Task Force Chairman Gary Crutchley.  If you are unable to attend but would like your comments (positive &amp; negative) and concerns voiced, please send them directly to Gary at <a href="mailto:gcrutchley@hotmail.com">gcrutchley@hotmail.com</a>.  Thank you.</p>

<table width="507"><tbody><tr><td class="sectionheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #cc0000; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b></b></span></td></tr><!– End of story –><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>Banks in Real Estate Call-for-Action Sent </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">AEs: Be aware that a Call for Action directed to NAR Federal Political Coordinators (FPCs) was sent yesterday to help spur additional cosponsors to NAR-backed Community Choice in Real Estate Act, which would permanently prohibit national banking conglomerates from owning real estate brokerage and management operations. Although the number of cosponsors on both the House and Senate bills (H.R. 111 and S. 413, respectively) is growing, more cosponsors are needed. To view the list of members who've signed on so far, <a title="blocked::http://go-to.realtor.org/h/EXV5R/301GO/GX/H0SH3" href="http://go-to.realtor.org/h/EXV5R/301GO/GX/H0SH3">click here.</a> </td></tr><!– End of story –><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>Commercial Real Estate Index Hovering at Record High </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">A forward-looking index for the commercial real estate market, the Commercial Leading Indicator for Brokerage Activity, has increased for seven consecutive quarters and is holding at the highest level on record, NAR says. The index rose 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter to a level of 120.1 from an index of 120.0 in the third quarter, and is 1.8 percent above the fourth quarter of 2005 when it stood at 118.1. NAR's track of the index dates back to 1990. David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, says growth in the commercial real estate sectors appears to be reaching a plateau. &quot;The rate of expansion has been fairly tame over the last three quarters, which means that growth in commercial real estate sectors is likely to be modest,&quot; he says. For more info, <a title="blocked::http://go-to.realtor.org/h/16PB4/301GO/GX/H0SH3" href="http://go-to.realtor.org/h/16PB4/301GO/GX/H0SH3">click here.</a> </td></tr><!– End of story –><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>NAR Testifies at Hurricane Katrina Field Hearing </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">The federal government must come forward with a natural disaster insurance program, Mark Rodi, president-elect of the Louisiana Association of REALTORS®, testified at a U.S. House Financial Services Housing Subcommittee field hearing in late February. Rodi also talked about the need for automatic program waivers of assisted housing programs during a natural disaster and incentives to boost affordable housing construction in the Gulf region. </td></tr><!– End of story –><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>Terrorism Insurance in the Congressional Spotlight </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">The U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee have ambitious agendas planned for looking at renewal of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act, which expires at the end of the year. Both the chairs of the Senate Banking Committee, Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank (D-Mass.), have indicated that extending the terrorism insurance program is a priority. Uncertainty on the future of the terrorism insurance program could prompt insurance premiums to fluctuate significantly, and might prompt insurers to add language to policy renewals that would drop terrorism coverage should the law expire. </td></tr></tbody></table>

<table width="507"><tbody><tr><td class="sectionheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #cc0000; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b></b></span></td></tr><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>NAR Donates $1 million to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">Underscoring its mission to make home ownership viable for all Americans, NAR made a $1 million contribution to the Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King , Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs presented the donation yesterday at the U.S. Capitol to Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.), and Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president of the MLK National Memorial Foundation. &quot;NAR is an outspoken advocate for fair housing, an ally in the fight against predatory lending practices, and an organization that prides itself on building communities,&quot; said Combs. &quot;We are proud to be a part of the effort to build a permanent home to honor Dr. King on our National Mall.&quot; To read Comb's full remarks, <a title="blocked::http://go-to.realtor.org/h/WTJU7/301GO/GX/H0SH3" href="http://go-to.realtor.org/h/WTJU7/301GO/GX/H0SH3">click here.</a> </td></tr><!– End of story –><!– Itemheader –><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><b>NAR: Existing-home Sales Improve </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500"><p>Sales of existing homes rose in January, reaching the highest level in seven months, NAR says. Total existing-home sales, including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, increased 3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.46 million units from an upwardly revised pace of 6.27 million in December. Sales were 4.3 percent below the 6.75 million-unit level in January 2006. David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, cautions against overreacting to the sales gain, or to other short-term effects. &quot;Although we're expecting existing-home sales to gradually rise this year, and buyers are responding to the price correction, some unusually warm weather helped boost sales in January,&quot; he says. &quot;On the flip side, the winter storms that disrupted so much of the country in February could negatively impact the housing market.&quot; For more info, <a title="blocked::http://go-to.realtor.org/h/MSWIZ/301GO/GX/H0SH3" href="http://go-to.realtor.org/h/MSWIZ/301GO/GX/H0SH3">click here.</a> </p><p><table width="507"><tbody><tr><td class="itemheader"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: 900; FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; COLOR: #003399; PADDING-TOP: 3px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>NAR Approaching Century Mark </b></span></td></tr><!– Story –><tr><td class="blacktext" width="500">NAR turns 100 years old in 2008. The association's leaders are planning a yearlong series of events to commemorate a century of leadership and service in the real estate industry. Beginning with a kickoff in Las Vegas in Nov. 2007 at the REALTORS® Conference &amp; Expo and ending in Orlando, Fla., at the 2008 national convention, look for celebrations, recognitions, and communications. </td></tr></tbody></table></p></td></tr></tbody></table>