Western New York Realtors join other Realtors across the country to 'Seize the Day'

Representatives from the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors joined 18,000 other Realtors and guests from across the country at the REALTORS Conference & Expo held in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 11-14. 

The year's meetings encouraged Realtors to "seize the day" for the real estate industry to defend and support the rights of homeowners and real estate investors across the nation.  Attendees participated in forums and shared their insights into the challenges and opportunities of local markets across the country, examined how changing political and economic landscapes are likely to affect the real estate industry, and networked with colleagues from across the U.S. and around the world.

"Concerns about the general economy and state of the nation's housing market have led some to question the value of owning a home," said Alice Miranda, BNAR president. "Realtors know how important homeownership is to individuals, families, communities and our nation's economy. As the leading advocate for private property rights, homeownership and housing issues, Realtors are committed to keeping housing first on the nation's public policy agenda."

Throughout the week, Realtors participated in forums, classes and workshops to gather the resources, information and skills necessary to help them positively influence their local communities and community leaders. They also learned how to effectively serve their buyer, seller and investor clients.

National Association of Realtors 2011 President Ron Phipps praised his fellow members for their resiliency in the face of a challenging year.  "Realtors are the future of real estate. This year's conference has further solidified our commitment to keep the American dream of home ownership alive and accessible for future generations," he said. 

During the conference, Moe Veissi was installed as the 2012 NAR president.  Explaining his theme, "Realtors are at the heart of the deal," Veissi said that in today's climate, Realtors can be relied upon to fight for and defend consumers' rights and opportunities to buy, sell and own real estate.

"Realtors also had the chance to explore the latest industry innovations and stay up to date on how new products are transforming the real estate business, as approximately 400 exhibitors showcased the newest real estate products and services for the industry during the trade expo," added John Leonardi, BNAR's CEO.

About BNAR

The BNAR is one of 1,600 local boards and associations that comprise the "the Voice for Real Estate" - the National Association of REALTORS - which is the largest professional real estate organization, representing 1 million members. For a list of real estate professionals, contact the BNAR at 636-9000 or visit www.bnar.org.