Från: ICREA [icrea@worldproperties.com]
Skickat: den 23 juni 2009 21:55
Till: ICREA
Kopia: ICREA
Ämne: ICREA Member Update June 2009

INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATIONS

MEMBER UPDATE

World Habitat Day
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our communities and the basic of all right to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. In 2009, October 5 is World Habitat Day. Cities around the world will be marking the occasion with various events. The U.S. Obama Administration will co-host with UN-HABITAT the global celebration of World Habitat Day in Washington, D.C. The International Housing Coalition, with which ICREA is affiliated, is exploring how best to have a voice in the day’s celebration. ICREA is discussing opportunities for individual Member Associations that wish to mark the date and, in the process, generate national media attention. Watch for more information in an upcoming Member Update.
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our communities and the basic of all right to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. In 2009, October 5 is World Habitat Day. Cities around the world will be marking the occasion with various events. The U.S. Obama Administration will co-host with UN-HABITAT the global celebration of World Habitat Day in Washington, D.C. The International Housing Coalition, with which ICREA is affiliated, is exploring how best to have a voice in the day’s celebration. ICREA is discussing opportunities for individual Member Associations that wish to mark the date and, in the process, generate national media attention. Watch for more information in an upcoming Member Update.
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our communities and the basic of all right to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. In 2009, October 5 is World Habitat Day. Cities around the world will be marking the occasion with various events. The U.S. Obama Administration will co-host with UN-HABITAT the global celebration of World Habitat Day in Washington, D.C. The International Housing Coalition, with which ICREA is affiliated, is exploring how best to have a voice in the day’s celebration. ICREA is discussing opportunities for individual Member Associations that wish to mark the date and, in the process, generate national media attention. Watch for more information in an upcoming Member Update.

Market Spotlight: Brazil

ICREA Plenary 2009 San Diego is the site of ICREA’s 2009 Plenary, held in conjunction with NAR’s Annual Meeting & Expo. This minimizes travel costs for many and provides a larger program of industry activities. The Plenary will be held on Friday, Nov. 13. Plan for a full day of ICREA meetings as the annual Presidents and CEO breakout groups will be held same day. All ICREA delegates and association staff are asked to participate in one of these groups. Watch for more details later this summer, but mark your calendars now. If you require a visa, you may request a letter of invitation from NAR’s meeting website. Click on “International Visitor” tab.
The combination of price stability, one-digit interest rates, growing internal demand, and international reserves in excess of US$200 billion has allowed Brazil to navigate safely and confidently through the rough sea of the global financial crisis. Secovi-SP president Joao Crestana asserts that now is a good time to buy property as Brazilian production is picking up steam and banks are offering excellent mortgage financing conditions, thus creating a healthy competitive environment. Various properties types are available in Brazil and much is to be done to meet the huge demand for low-priced dwellings geared to the low-income populations. The Brazilian government program “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” (“My Home, My Life”) may be the first step towards eradicating the country’s housing deficit–currently estimated at 8 million housing units. There is a joining of forces to create new centralities in Brazil’s large urban conglomerates, such as São Paulo, enabling the emergence of major employment hubs and bringing home closer to the workplace. There is now a good chance to dispel the Brazilian myth that the densification of cities is negative. Companies and entrepreneurs alike should be well prepared for the changes that lie ahead and, above all, committed to the social and economic development of all citizens. The continuous quest for excellence and the improvement of the real estate industry are drivers that can lead Brazilian entrepreneurs to work in close partnership with international organizations. Market Spotlight is a new feature of the ICREA Member Update. Contact ICREA to plan for featuring a short overview of your market.
FATF Update Customer Due Diligence (CDD) remains an important topic for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). At issue is the role real estate agents play in identifying the beneficiary party to a transaction and the related reliance on 3rd party information. Internationally, reliance is not working efficiently due to reluctance of some countries to allow or encourage the process in spite of growing international transactions. As a result, FATF is looking at allowing agents to make sensible and reasonable choices about reliance. FATF has been asked by ICREA to consider the associated documentation of any developments in this area so to alleviate burdens on the agent. ICREA continues to advocate for increased clarity of CDD requirements and to minimize agent responsibility where the agent has no contractual or fiduciary responsibility. A meeting between the FATF and the industries is being planned for fall. ICREA’s actions are geared to providing input in the planning process to ensure these issues are addressed during the meeting.
FATF Update Customer Due Diligence (CDD) remains an important topic for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). At issue is the role real estate agents play in identifying the beneficiary party to a transaction and the related reliance on 3rd party information. Internationally, reliance is not working efficiently due to reluctance of some countries to allow or encourage the process in spite of growing international transactions. As a result, FATF is looking at allowing agents to make sensible and reasonable choices about reliance. FATF has been asked by ICREA to consider the associated documentation of any developments in this area so to alleviate burdens on the agent. ICREA continues to advocate for increased clarity of CDD requirements and to minimize agent responsibility where the agent has no contractual or fiduciary responsibility. A meeting between the FATF and the industries is being planned for fall. ICREA’s actions are geared to providing input in the planning process to ensure these issues are addressed during the meeting.

Questions or comments for the ICREA Secretariat?  Email icrea@worldproperties.com.