December 13, 2011 // Franchising.com // PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Realogy Corporation, a leading provider of real estate and relocation services, today announced that CEO Richard A. Smith has been appointed to serve on the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) newly formed Housing Commission. Smith has led Realogy's operations since 1996 and is a sought-after expert regarding the residential real estate market.
In 2009-2010, Smith chaired the Business Roundtable's Housing Working Group, and earlier this year he testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee regarding the state of the domestic housing market and also spoke at a national housing policy conference hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute and e21. In October 2011, Smith was named to SmartMoneymagazine's list of the "Power 30: The World's Most Influential Players."
Former U.S. Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Henry Cisneros and Mel Martinez, also a former U.S. Senator, former U.S. Senator Kit Bond and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and BPC Founder George Mitchell were named to lead the BPC Housing Commission in October. In addition to the co-chairs, the Commission is comprised of 17 business and civic leaders, including Smith. (See below for complete list of Commission members.)
"I am honored to be appointed to this Housing Commission, and I look forward to working with the distinguished co-chairs, my fellow commissioners and the Bipartisan Policy Center in order to make strong bipartisan recommendations that will help shape a contemporary national housing policy," said Smith.
The Housing Commission's stated objective is to craft realistic and actionable policy recommendations that address near-term problems and long-term challenges in housing while recognizing the imperative to restore the country's long-term fiscal health. The Commission will have its first meeting on Dec. 14-15, 2011, and it is expected to release its final recommendations during the first quarter of 2013.
"As the U.S. population continues to grow and change, we face new challenges for which we need a thoughtful, well-reasoned plan that addresses the short-term problems and long-term consequences of our current policies," said former HUD Secretary Martinez. "This group of commissioners is positioned to do just that."
The Commission will actively seek input and ideas from the public and thought leaders by hosting regional forums across the country in 2012. The first forum will be in San Antonio, Texas, on March 6, 2012; followed by Orlando, Fla., on April 17, 2012; St. Louis, Mo., on June 5, 2012; and, Bangor, Maine, on July 25, 2012.
Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, the BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For additional information about the Housing Commission, visit the Bipartisan Policy Center's website.
Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, has a diversified business model that includes real estate franchising, brokerage, relocation and title services. Realogy's brands and business units include Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, The Corcoran Group®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty®, NRT LLC, Cartus and Title Resource Group. Collectively, Realogy's franchise system members operate approximately 14,300 offices with 253,000 sales associates doing business in 100 countries and territories around the world. Realogy is owned by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P., a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, LLC, a leading global alternative asset manager.
Mark Panus
(973) 407-7215
mark.panus@realogy.com
Realogy's company-owned real estate brokerage, is the largest residential brokerage company in the United States, operates under several of Realogy's brands and also provides related residential real estate services.