Federal Appeals Court Reopens DOJ Antitrust Investigation into NAR, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office Releases a Map Showing Internet Coverage in Michigan, and Housing and Real Estate Data Reports by State and Congressional District
We start things off this week with a brief on a federal appeals court reopening the DOJ Antitrust Investigation into NAR past Friday. Second, we look at the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office Internet Coverage Map for Michigan; submit corrections or challenges to their map by April 23rd. Last, NAR releases Housing and Real Estate Data Reports by State and Congressional District to advocate for the real estate industry and homeownership.
1. Federal Appeals Court Reopens DOJ Antitrust Investigation into NAR
On Friday, April 5th a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. in a 2-1 decision ruled in favor of reopening the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust investigation of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). At this time, NAR is “evaluating next steps” in this case. Any appeal to this appeals court ruling would have to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. DOJ cheered this decision with the following response from Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter “Real-estate commissions in the United States greatly exceed those in any other developed economy, and this decision restores the Antitrust Division’s ability to investigate potentially unlawful conduct by NAR that may be contributing to this problem,” and also stated “the Antitrust Division is committed to fighting to lower the cost of buying and selling a home. I would like to commend the staff of the Anti-trust Division and our colleagues in the department for achieving this important result.” For additional details check out this article from Politico.
2. Michigan High-Speed Internet Office Releases a Map Showing Internet Coverage in Michigan
The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office has created an internet map that shows current internet coverage in Michigan, to identify areas where there are issues or unavailability of high-speed internet. You and your clients can check out Michigan’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) eligibility map to see broadband coverage across Michigan and check whether your service or lack thereof is accurately designated. The map includes information on levels of broadband speed and service providers, among other information. Communities and residents have until April 23rd to submit corrections or “challenges” to the map to ensure its accuracy in improving broadband service to underserved or unserved areas. Once finalized, the map will determine which homes, businesses, and non-profit organizations Michigan will prioritize for internet infrastructure improvement. If you find an issue with the map you can issue a challenge to the map at the Merit BEAD Mapping Challenge website, https://challenge.merit.edu/.
3. Housing and Real Estate Data Reports by State and Congressional District
In the lead-up to the 2024 REALTOR Legislative Meetings and 2024 Election season, the National Association of REALTORS has put together reports featuring housing and real estate data for each state and congressional district. These reports can be used by REALTORS to advocate for sustainable and affordable homeownership and policies that support a vibrant residential and commercial real estate industry. Check out our state and regional congressional district housing data reports below.
- Michigan State Report - represented by U.S. Senators the Honorable Gary Peters and Honorable Debbie Stabenow)
- Michigan’s 1st Congressional District - represented by the Honorable Jack Bergman
- Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District - represented by the Honorable John Moolenaar
