REALTORS press Congress to make loan limits permanent. Said NAR President Dick Gaylord in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives: "By making the loan limit increases to FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac permanent the mortgage market will achieve an immediate increase in liquidity. This increased liquidity should help drive down mortgage costs and create stability in the mortgage market." Read more about this and other real estate issues REALTORS from Illinois and around the country will tackle as they gather at the nation's capital for the NAR MidYear Meetings.

June is Homeownership Month. Plan to join the celebration "National Homeownership Month" by leading your clients to YourIllinoisHome.com, a consumer Web site that features buying and selling tips, how to find an Illinois REALTOR, and the latest news about the Illinois housing market. Plus, share 8 steps to get your finances in order and mortgage loan programs.

Dalessandro named Illinois REALTOR of the Year. Patrick Dalessandro, CRS, GRI, of Niles was named the 2008 Illinois REALTOR of the Year, the top honor awarded by the Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR). The announcement was made at the IAR Business Meetings in Springfield. He will be recognized on September 16 at the REALTOR of the Year banquet in Lombard.

The Partnership for HomeOwnership's new Affordable Housing Resources finder logs by Illinois county grants, assistance funds, pro-bono attorneys for lower income families and affordable housing construction sites. Learn more about financing options and get a list of specialized loan programs at YourIllinoisHome.com.