GADFly Newsletter – April/May 2019

• 2019 REALTORS^® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo
• Advocacy News
• RPAC Fundraising Update
• NAR’s Economic Outlook

2019 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo

Hill Visit Messages
The 2019 REALTORS® Legislative Meeting Messages to Congress are directly tied to our consumer ad campaign – That’s Who We R® – featuring both commercial and residential real estate. With more than 100 new members serving in Congress and even more new Hill staffers, we have the perfect opportunity to reintroduce REALTORS® to fa new Congress. REALTORS® will remind Congress of the value they bring to their communities, discussing the impact of real estate on the economy, consumers, and the vital role homeownership plays in building generational wealth for consumers.

REALTORS® have an important story. We will tell Congress:

1. Who We “R” and Why We Care
   REALTORS® adhere to the code of ethics, and 67% are active participants in their communities.
2. How Real Estate Benefits the Economy and Consumers
   Real estate accounts for 19% of the gross domestic product, and commercial real estate supported 8.3 million American jobs in 2018.
3. What We Care About
   NAR is following range of issues before Congress. For example, the National Flood Insurance Program needs to be extended by May 31, and Opportunity Zone tax incentives, which we are working to implement.

For more information, please join:

May 3: FPC/GAD Webinar 
GADs are welcome to join us on Friday,May 3, 2019 at 1:30 pm ETfor an FPC webinar outlining all your FPCs will need in preparation for their trip to Washington, D.C. The webinar will include a review our new organizational structure at NAR, our revamped approach and messaging for Capitol Hill, logistics of where to pick up printed materials and an overview of decorum for your meetings.

Dial-In: 855-797-9485 or 415-655-0002
Access code: 921 542 571
Meeting password: PM24VJ73

May 8: Hill Visit Town Hall
Tune in to hear Shannon McGahn, NAR’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, and Tracy Kasper, NAR’s 2019 Vice President of Advocacy, prepare you for meetings with members of Congress during the 2019 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, and how to tell YOUR story to Congress, expressing:

• The value that REALTORS® bring to their communities.
• The impact of real estate on the economy and the vital role it plays in building personal wealth for consumers.
• The importance of property ownership and building safe communities accessible to all.

Members of NAR’s federal policy team will also be available to answer questions from the audience. If you miss the webcast, the entire program will be available for download at www.nar.realtor/hillvisitmaterials by May 9.

GAD Meetings and Events of Interest
Tuesday, May 14  

• 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. – Federal Legislative & Political Forum
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Marriott Ballroom, Lobby Level
• 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – GAD Briefing on Hill Visits
  Omni Shoreham Hotel, Ambassador Ballroom, Lower Level
  This briefing allows local, state and federal government relations professionals an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas before attending your Capitol Hill meetings. This year’s briefing will be a town hall style with NAR Legislative Representatives and Political Representatives providing insight into the NAR advocacy structure and previewing the legislative meeting materials. We will also be saving plenty of time for GADs to ask questions and interact with the Political and Legislative Directors and Political Reps.
• 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. – GAD Advisory Group Meeting (Closed Meeting)
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, McKinley Room, Mezzanine Level
• 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – NAR 360
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Marriott Ballroom, Lobby Level

Wednesday, May 15 

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. – Federal Priority Issues Briefing
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Marriott Ballroom, Lobby Level
• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Advocacy Everywhere Training
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Park Tower 8216, Lobby Level
• 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – State and Local Issues Policy Committee
  Omni Shoreham Hotel, Diplomat Ballroom, Main Floor
• 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Hill Visits
• 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. – 2018 RPAC Fundraising Awards Ceremony, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and 50th Anniversary Celebration, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Marriott Ballroom.

Thursday, May 16  

• 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. – Public Policy Coordinating Committee – Omni Shoreham Hotel, Blue Room, Main Floor
• 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Hill Visits
• 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Advocacy Everywhere
  Omni Shoreham Hotel, Cabinet Room, West Conference Center
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – RPAC Events Using the PAC Management System
  Omni Shoreham, Capitol Room, East Conference Center
• 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – RPAC Online Fundraising Email Campaigns
  Omni Shoreham Capitol Room, East Conference Center
• 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – NAR PAC Management System Best Practices
  Omni Shoreham, Cabinet Room, West Conference Center
• 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – GAD Reception
  Location: Bar Deco (Near Chinatown and Capital One Arena)
  717 6th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001
• 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. – RPAC 50th Anniversary Celebration (Sold Out)
  National Building Museum

Friday, May 17  

• 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. – GAD Professional Development Session: Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR Champions Train the Trainer class (Registration Required)
• Washington Hilton, Monroe Room, Concourse Level
• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Planning for Opportunity Zone Investments, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Virginia Suite, Lobby Level
• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Government Affairs Directors Meeting
  Washington Hilton, International Ballroom East, Concourse Level
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – State and Local Breakout Meetings
  Washington Hilton
  State Breakout – Georgetown East Room, Concourse Level
  Local Breakout – International Ballroom East, Concourse Level
• 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Regional Caucus Meetings
  Marriott Wardman Park and Omni Shoreham Hotels

Advocacy News

2019 GAD Institute Registration – Opens Soon!
Keep your eyes peeled! The Government Affairs Directors Institute registration opens soon. Join us in The Queen City, Cincinnati, July 16 – 18 along with 250 of the best GAD colleagues in the world. The event provides a means for REALTOR® association lobbyists, policy and regulatory professionals, and those who communicate REALTOR® Party Advocacy strategy to their members and their communities to exchange ideas and best practices, and gain valuable career skills and networking opportunities, providing the best value and information back to the real estate industry.
Registration Fee: $550; $600 after June 15.

*In the March GADFly we advertised that “The Pollsters” would be the keynote speakers at this year’s Institute. They unfortunately cancelled, and we will fill the keynote speaker session soon.

Limited Seating Left – Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR®Champions Train the Trainer Course 
On May 17 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Washington Hilton Hotel, NAR will be offering a Train the Trainer course in Washington, D.C., to provide GADs an opportunity to become eligible to teach this offering to volunteer leaders, RPAC trustees, Government Affairs Committee members, and interested staffers. The Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR®Champions course provides time-tested methods for screening, identifying and ultimately choosing the best political candidates who will support issues important to REALTORS® and real estate. For more information, contact Kyle Lambert London.
Register today.

One-on-one Consulting for Small REALTOR® Associations
If you are a small association wondering how to take advantage of the REALTOR®Party Community Outreach grants to help revitalize your downtown, NAR staff is here to help. Submit the  Grant Outreach Assistance Questionnaire, which is part of the new Rural Outreach Initiative, to tell us about your community and its challenges. We will then get in touch with you to discuss strategies to address these challenges and what grants could help fund a project. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz.

Land Use Initiative: 2019 Q1 Report
Fifteen requests were processed and approved during the first quarter of 2019. Environmental-related issues came up in Sandwich, Mass., with proposed beachfront regulations. And in Birmingham, Ala., a storm water management ordinance was reviewed. Several requests were made by state REALTOR® associations, for example land bank legislation in Nevada, housing transfer agreements in New Jersey, solar systems and restrictive covenants in Delaware. Other projects include review of a condo conversion proposal in Somerville, Mass., and “Right to Survive” ordinance in Denver. Review more details of the 2019 Q1 Report. For more information, contact Adriann Murawski at 202-383-1068.

State Resources
State Legislative Monitor: A number of states have enacted laws to attract more investment for Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ) by conforming to the federal tax code. NAR is monitoring more than 340 pieces of legislation related to affordable housing, inclusionary zoning, housing supply, workforce housing, and rent control. This year, ten states have enacted remote notary laws (Ariz., Idaho, Iowa, Ky., Mont., Nev., N.D., S.D., Utah, Wash.). Arizona became the first state to recognize out of state licenses (HB 2569). Review weekly reports.

State Issues Tracker:The home inspector issue was recently updated for any legislative or regulatory changes for all states. Of note, Ohio and New Mexico passed legislation requiring home inspectors to be licensed. The Hawaii state auditor submitted a report to the governor and legislature finding that the regulation of home inspectors is notrequired to protect Hawaiian consumers. Twelve states and four territories do notregulate home inspectors (Colo., Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kan., Maine, Mich., Minn., Mont., Neb., Utah, Wyo., the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Access the full database.
For more information, contact Adriann Murawski at 202-383-1068.

Qualified Opportunity Zone Primer
NAR has put together an Opportunity Zone Primer in response to some of the questions we frequently get from members. The Primer includes information on where to find NAR’s resources on the program, as well as information from outside groups, and the details of the Opportunity Zone Education Session at the Midyear Meeting on Friday, May 17. The complexity of the Opportunity Zone program will require the assistance/advice of professional investment, legal, and tax advisors. Members interested in utilizing the program should consult and work with the appropriate professionals to make sure that they are following all the requirements necessary to reap the tax benefits.

Download NAR’s Qualified Opportunity Zone Primer

Do You Have a New GAD Staffer? 
Update any and all GAD contact information in NAR’s GAD Directory. Are you a new Government Affairs Director, serving your association in a GA or REALTOR® Party capacity? Please add (or remove) any contact information there. Help us keep this list accurate and up to date. Thanks!

RPAC Fundraising Update

2019 President’s Circle Rounds and Deadline
Round Three of the President’s Circle will launch on Monday, May 13. The deadline for President’s Circle members to invest their first $500 is May 31, 2019. For more information, contact Avery Walkerat 202-383-7510.

RPAC Fundraising Awards Celebration & Hall of Fame Induction
Be sure to save the date for the 2018 RPAC Fundraising Awards Ceremony, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and 50th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Marriott Ballroom of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Join us to cheer on your association as well as the 189 REALTORS® and staff who will be inducted into the 2018 RPAC Hall of Fame Class. View the 2018 RPAC Hall of Fame roster, and President’s Cup and Triple Crown Award details. The awards ceremony is also an opportunity to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of RPAC. Wear white and gold, and encourage your members to do the same. Enjoy the celebratory atmosphere with an adult beverage and noisemakers, courtesy of NAR.For more information, contact Jackie Zaporowski at 202-383-1029.

Corporate Ally Program
2019 has brought some exciting changes to the Corporate Ally Program! Want to know how it can benefit your association AND members? Contact Allyson Nelsonat 202-383-1156.

NAR’s Economic Outlook

Existing-Home Sales Drop 1.2 Percent in January – Existing-homes sales took a minor drop for the third consecutive month in January. Of the four major U.S. regions, only the Northeast saw an uptick in sales activity last month.

REALTORS® Confidence Index – Twenty-one percent of sellers offered incentives such as paying for closing costs (10 percent), providing warranty (8 percent), and undertaking remodeling (3 percent).

Metro Home Prices Jump 4 Percent in 2018’s Fourth Quarter – Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says in light of the various hurdles for 2018, the close of the fourth quarter was promising.

Video: Who are REALTORS®? A Look at NAR Members Through 2018 Member Surveys – This short video takes a look at the demographics of a typical REALTOR®, as well as specialties, sources of business, membership on real estate teams, and ways in which REALTORS® participate in and give back to their communities.

Expectations and Market Realities in Real Estate – What will the year bring for the US and global economies and the commercial real estate market?