The Real Estate Service Providers Council, a group that is emerging as one of the industry's more important organizations, is having its annual conference in Washington at the end of this month with much of its focus on the blurring of lines between banking, insurance and brokerage.

Much of the conversation this year is expected to concentrate on the new Financial Services Act and the likelihood that banks will be allowed to own real estate brokerages.

One of the meeting's more controversial sessions, however, is likely to be a meeting between Arne Christenson, senior vice president for regulatory policy at Fannie Mae, and Mike House, director FM Watch.

FM Watch is a self-styled watch dog group that believes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are far exceeding their roles as government-sponsored enterprises and either should restrict their actions or lose their federal backing.

Legislation has been proposed to cut loose the GSEs, but no action has been taken yet.

RESPRO historically has managed to bring together businesses with seemingly separate interests, allowing them to explore for common ground - not only for areas of cooperation but also areas of competition.

According to President Sue Johnson, RESPRO gives broker-owners, franchisers, mortgage lenders, title companies, home builders and other providers of home services an opportunity to "network with potential business alliance partners and find out about the latest marketplace trends."

Speaking at the April 25-27 meeting this year are competitors from a number of disciplines, including:

Published: April 17, 2000

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