In This Issue…
REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings Highlights for GADs
Below are a few meetings for government affairs director to attend and/or highlight for your members during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings.
State & Local GAD Breakout Sessions
PRE-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY
May 4, 12:00 – 2:00 PM CT
This will be an opportunity for GADs to share with each other about the hot issues they are facing within their respective association levels. The virtual sessions will be held between several Zoom Rooms and participants will need to pre-register for this session. Each room will be moderated by a member of the GAD Advisory Group and/or an NAR staff member. You must register in advance for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Urban Roundtable: Changing Communities in the Age of COVID-19
Monday, May 4, at 2:00-3:00 PM CT
Encourage your Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee to tune in to an expert-led panel discussion on community design changes in the age of COVID-19 and possible long-term implications. Moderator Teresa King Kinney, CEO, Miami REALTORS® will lead a panel discussion featuring key experts from the American Planning Association, representing more than 42,000 planning professionals in the country and the design industry. Please note that registration is complimentary but required for the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and the Urban Roundtable. For more information, contact Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278.
All GAD General Session
NO PRE-REGISTRATION NECESSARY
May 8, 3:00 – 5:00 PM CT
This session of the 2020 Legislative Meetings is going to be packed with content! We have an exciting lineup of speakers scheduled, including Shannon McGahn, NAR’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs; Megan Booth, NAR’s Director of Federal Housing Policy; and American Strategies’ Joe Goode. Join the meeting here.
Regulatory Issues Forum
May 12, 1:00 – 2:00 PM CT
The Regulatory Issues Forum will focus on legislative and regulatory responses to the COVID-19 public health crisis with remarks from key administration officials, including Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger, U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza. Each official will provide relevant and timely updates from the CFPB, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Small Business Administration respectively, including information about resources and support for REALTORS®. The meeting agenda is available online.
Dates & Deadlines
May 1: NAR Helps Associations Take the Lead to Address Abandonment and Blight
Local associations may apply for the opportunity to hold either a place-based training or receive a technical assessment to identify ways to tackle vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties. NAR will provide planning assistance and cover part of the program costs. Complete the interest form by May 1 to be considered. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
May 1: MLS Guidance Amidst COVID19
Join us on Friday, May 1 at 12:00 PM ET to hear from NAR’s MLS experts on how Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting MLSs across the U.S. including discussion on Virtual Tours, Clear Cooperation, Rules and Enforcement, and Remote Meetings. Speakers include former GAD and CEO of REALTORS® Association of York and Adams Counties, Inc. (PA), Shanna Terroso; Rene Galicia, Director MLS Engagement, NAR; and Rodney Gansho, Director of Engagement, NAR. This is part of the continuing AE Institute Virtual Sessions. REGISTER TODAY.
May 31: 2020 President’s Circle Deadline
The deadline for President’s Circle members to invest their first $500 is May 31, 2020. For more information regarding President’s Circle, contact Avery Walker (202-383-1268).
June 2: Housing Need in Rural America Webinar
As part of the Rural Outreach Initiative program, Community Outreach will conduct a webinar on Tuesday, June 2 about the challenges and opportunities of housing in rural areas with a focus on affordability; lack of funding to build new units; zoning that restricts housing supply; limited access to credit; a dearth of rental options; and now impact of COVID-19. Expert speakers include staff from the Housing Assistance Council, NAR, and two local REALTOR® Associations. For more info and to register, visit https://bit.ly/2yzItKd. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
Advocacy Resources
NAR Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Flowchart
The NAR Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Flowchart is now available along with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FAQs. The PUA flowchart provides an overview of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits that are available to independent contractors and self-employed individuals through the states under the newly passed CARES Act. For more information, contact Nia Duggins.
New Protect Your Investment Brochure
REALTORS® and associations have access to a new resource to share with homeowners who are struggling to meet their loan obligations. The Protect Your Investment brochure encourages homeowners to work with REALTORS® and housing counselors and offers guidance on options provided by lenders. Associations and REALTORS® may add their logo to the cover for a customized look. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
State and Local Coronavirus Resources for GADs
NAR staff have compiled a wealth of resources to support GADs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bookmark the REALTOR® Party website for information on remote notarization orders, shelter-in-place and essential business designations, state-by-state economic impact of real state activity, tax deadline extensions, election dates, and more. For more information, contact Melissa Horn.
Coming Soon: Retooling Communities in the Age of COVID-19
The latest On Common Ground (OCG) mini issue will focus on transportation, residential, and commercial changes due to COVID-19; examination and retooling of communities and the economic sector; the importance of housing counseling for sustainable homeownership; and how associations engage in addressing preventing housing insecurity. An online version will be available via the OCG APP the week of May 4. More than 35,000 copies will be distributed to state and local associations and elected officials the week of May 18. For more information, contact Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278.
Independent Expenditure Update
With everything happening, it’s easy to forget that elections are still happening this year. But it’s important to remember that timing is key. If you want mail or online ads to help a candidate, we need applications approved a least six weeks prior to election day, So if you have REALTOR® Champions you’d like to support for state or local office, please contact Mitchell Norton to discuss a possible independent expenditure campaign.
Candidate Training Virtual Classroom
NAR will be hosting a Candidate Training Virtual Classroom for REALTORS® and association staff who are interested in running for local office or want to learn more about campaigns. Please encourage any member who is considering a bid for state or local office to try it out. The Virtual Classroom will be conducted over four weekly, 90 minute sessions beginning on May 20 and ending on June 10. Each session will begin at 1 PM ET and cover different topics. The classroom is free, but registration is required. Register for weekly session below.
For more information or questions, contact John Winston at 202-383-1235.
Reminder: Use the Land Use Initiative to Support Your Advocacy Efforts
As a community leader, your association works to create a positive real estate and business environment especially during challenging times. Often proposals that may do harm, such as an increase in impact fees and/or transfer taxes to make up for local government budget shortfalls, arise quickly and require expert analysis. The Land Use Initiative will analyze and provide talking points for these and other proposed legislative and regulatory land-use, and real estate transactional, measures — comprehensive plans, amendments, legislation, ordinances, or regulations — that impact the transfer of property and/or the interests of REALTORS®. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
Can I get a REALTOR® Party Community Outreach Grant for that? Online Coaching Sessions Offered
Associations are encouraged to sign-up for a 30-minute, one-on-one Community Outreach Coaching session via Zoom invite to brainstorm ways to address affordable housing challenges, community planning and development issues, revitalization opportunities, and fair housing education VIRTUALLY beyond using a Community Outreach Grant. This includes critical steps in successfully developing grant ideas and writing a compelling application. For more information, contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135.
Webinar Replay: RPAC Online Posting Training
Did you know that RPAC-related information on social media and websites is subject to both federal and state election laws? Check out our webinar recording to learn how to apply PAC fundraising laws to social media posts and website content. For more information, contact Liz Demorest at 202-383-1061.
NAR Economic Outlook
| ★ | Signs of Slowing Unemployment; U.S. Jobless Claims Decline for Third Week Last week (ending April18), 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment, a decrease of 810,000 from the previous week’s revised level. |
| ★ | More Homeowners Sprucing up their Gardens and Curb Appeal in the Time of Coronavirus One positive effect of sheltering /staying in place orders is that people are engaging in more home hobbies and creative activities that they may have not had time for before due to social activities. |
| ★ | March 2020 Existing Home Sales Housing market activity this March fell 8.5% from February 2020. However, March’s sales of existing homes rose modestly at 0.8 % from March 2019. |
| ★ | Existing-Home Sales Housing Snapshot March 2020 brought 5.27 million in sales, a median sales price of $280,600, and 3.4 months of inventory. The median sales price is up 8.0% year over year, and inventory is down 0.4 months from March 2019. (Infographic) |
| ★ | 2020 Q1 NAR Commercial Survey Shows Early Impact of Coronavirus Over the next 12 months, we expect the demand for multifamily properties and industrial properties to increase, while the demand (absorption) for retail and office properties will likely decline. |
For more information on NAR’s Economic Outlook, contact Meredith Dunn at 202-383-1207.
Message from the GAD Chair
Julia Parenteau
GAD Chair
Texas REALTORS®
I write to you from Day 235 of April 2020.
Over the past month, you have expanded your capacity to a degree which you may have never thought possible. You’ve succeeded on issues you’d never considered with government agencies you’d never previously heard of. Your members are coping with problems they had never anticipated. And you’re functioning as their (“not your attorney!”) advisor.
You all have been working so hard. You’ve worked, from home, on issues that are entirely new.
You’ve done it while home-schooling your kids…while fostering a new puppy.
You’ve done it while adopting new technology at a rapid pace.
You’ve done it while working from home with a partner all day everyday… while being alone.
You’ve done it while being scared, and while reassuring others that they don’t need to be scared.
And on the side, you’ve made pizzas and painted rooms and maybe even slowed your life down for one minute, here and there.
And you’ve done a fantastic job!
While there is still more to be done. Never doubt how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned, and what you’ve accomplished.
For me, some of the biggest hurdles have come from the need to transition the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and GAD Institute to virtual meetings. To be honest, the opportunity to be with you all is one of the main things that keeps me going throughout the year.
But I am optimistic that we will forge new paths, create relevant (virtual) sessions and connect on a personal level even if we can’t be together in person. Please be sure to join your fellow GADs at the upcoming online REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, and while you’re at it, give us your feedback on those sessions as they happen. We’re all learning together. Please let us know what you need.
I remain grateful for all of you: for your presence, diligence, perseverance, and patience.
Julia
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