Congressman Luis Gutierrez stands for a photo with Illinois REALTORS®. From left to right are REALTOR® Sonia Anaya, Federal Political Coordinator; Zeke Morris; Congressman Gutierrez and REALTOR® Andrea Geller.

Eleven-term U.S. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez met with Illinois REALTORS® on Friday, April 25, 2014 as part of IAR’s ongoing dialogue with members of Congress.

Roughly 50 REALTORS® came out to the Brookfield Zoo for the breakfast meeting with Rep. Gutierrez.

A highlight of the event was when Rep. Gutierrez announced he had agreed to be a co-sponsor of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt ReIief Act.

The act was initially passed in 2007 and protected homeowners from paying taxes on the amount of a loan which was forgiven. The bill expired in December, and efforts to re-instate it have been unsuccessful.

Other issues discussed were the Marketplace Fairness Act, the mortgage interest dedication and the positive impacts on the real estate market from immigration reform.

Gutierrez, who represents the Fourth Congressional District, sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The Let’s Talk Real Estate meeting is one of a series set up to allow REALTORS® to share market information with elected officials and a discussion on federal real estate policy.

Two other Let’s Talk sessions were held this week with U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam and John Shimkus,