Realtors® Gather in Orlando Focused on Real Estate Opportunities Ahead

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As the country heads into the final days of the general election, Realtors^® are convening in Orlando, Florida for the 2016 REALTORS^® Conference & Expo, themed "Educate. Innovate. Celebrate."

This year marks the fifth time Orlando has played host to an NAR annual conference. More than 19,000 Realtors^® and guests from across the globe are expected to attend the meetings, which kicks off today and runs through November 7 at the Orange County Convention Center.

"While the outlook for the 2017 housing and commercial real estate markets is looking bright, the industry is dynamic, fast paced and global, so it's important to always stay ahead," said National Association of Realtors^® President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. "This year's conference, held in my home state of Florida, is an opportunity for Realtors^® to grow their expertise. They'll have the chance to acquire cutting-edge data and insights into the most pressing issues affecting the market, which will translate into confidence for their clients, who are making important personal and business real estate decisions."

Today, conference attendees are rolling up their sleeves to lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando. More than 100 Realtors^® are volunteering alongside future Habitat homeowners to construct energy-efficient, single-family homes at Butler's Preserve in Orlando's Malibu Groves area, which will feature 59 homes, ranging in size from two to five bedrooms and 930 to 1,500 square feet. The homes are scheduled for completion in mid-2017. Realtors^® also sponsored and helped build homes for Orlando residents during past conference visits to Orlando in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

In the days ahead, Realtors^® and guests will have the chance to attend 100-plus conference sessions on a broad range of real estate issues, including emerging market, business and industry trends; changing buyer and seller demographics; housing affordability issues from credit and inventory constraints; the health of commercial lending markets, global events and their impact on international real estate transactions; and how the changing political landscape from a new administration and Congress could affect the real estate industry in the years ahead.

Realtors^® at the conference will discuss these and other topics to further NAR's efforts to protect consumers in the real estate transaction, expand business opportunities for members and homeownership for consumers, and promote healthy residential and commercial markets in 2017 and beyond.  

During the week, conference attendees will hear from industry and political thought leaders, including Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, who will share the latest outlook for residential and commercial real estate markets; Dennis Lockhart, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Jim Parrott, former economic adviser to President Obama and senior fellow at the Urban Institute; Brian Montgomery, former Federal Housing Administration Commissioner and vice chairman of the Collingwood Group; Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com^®; Howard Fineman, global editorial director at the Huffington Post; Alex Perriello, president and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group; senior staff from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Flood Insurance Program. 

The annual conference will also include several celebrity guest appearances. Grammy Award-winning band Train will perform at a special attendee concert on Friday, Nov. 4. On Saturday, Nov. 5, attendees will also have the chance to meet Emmy Award winning actor Ty Burrell, who plays Modern Family character Phil Dunphy, and receive a Phi-eld guide with comic anecdotes at the NAR booth in the trade expo. NAR's current consumer advertising campaign features Dunphy and humorously engages consumers about all the ways Realtors^® provide value in the home buying and selling process.

Saturday's general session will feature a keynote address from retired U.S. General Colin L. Powell. Powell has been a leader for most of his life, having led troops as a military leader, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state. His address will focus on what it takes to be a leader, providing strategies for taking charge and remaining focused, and taking responsibility during times of great change and great crises.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with colleagues from 60 countries around the world and attend 15-minute topical presentations from country representatives and other experts about doing business across borders at the Global Pavilion in the expo hall. Realtors^® and guests can also explore the newest technologies and innovations from more than 400 exhibiting companies at the expo, which is the largest trade show floor in real estate.

On Monday, Nov. 7, NAR's 2017 officers will be installed during the association's Board of Directors meeting.

To stay connected with the conference, visit NAR's 2016 Conference Live website at www.narconferencelive.com, follow the Twitter hashtag #narannual or find us @nardotrealtor on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

The National Association of Realtors^®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing over 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the "News, Blogs and Videos" tab on the website. Follow NAR Media's Newsline blog at narnewsline.blogs.realtor.org and Twitter @NARMedia.

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SOURCE National Association of Realtors

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