The recovering housing market will be the leading economic driver this year, according to the majority of economists recently surveyed by CNN Money. Rebounding home sales, caused in part by low mortgage rates, improving home prices and fewer foreclosures, are spurring buyer interest in existing and new construction homes, economist said. Read more in the CNN Money article, “Housing to drive economic growth (finally!).”

In other news:

RVOICE, REALTORS® successfully work to pass residential quality support ordinance in Rockford. REALTORS® and landlords were heavily involved in the drafting, negotiating, and the final passage of an ordinance that sets up a Housing Board that will be made up of a REALTOR®, a landlord, a neighborhood association representative, a tenant, and a citizen at-large to mediate and abate nuisance properties. Read more.