GADFly Newsletter – July 2026

How 250 Years of Housing Policy Built the American Dream

As America celebrates 250 years, Shannon and Patrick look back at the public policies that helped make homeownership one of the defining pillars of the American Dream.

Compliance Corner

RPAC Event Invitations

RPAC fundraising event invitations require a disclaimer. Federal campaign finance regulations mandate the use of specific language in every solicitation notice, including RPAC event invitations. Additionally, many state laws require disclaimer language as well.

The best practice to ensure you do not forget to include a disclaimer is to use an event template that has the disclaimer language already saved.

For more information and specific disclaimer examples, please visit Sample Solicitation Notices for State & Local Fundraising on the REALTOR® Party website. 

Questions? Contact Darby Thorne, Director of Political Compliance.

Compliance Corner is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any matter.

RPAC Updates

2026 RPAC Transmittal Deadlines

Add the deadlines to your calendar now.

Includes:

• Recommended transfer dates
• Mail timelines
• Processing timeframes

👉View the full calendar.

RPAC Office Hours

Your time to:

• Ask questions
• Connect with RPAC staff and Aristotle experts
• Leave with clear next steps

👉Schedule Office Hours

Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open

The 2026 nomination process is up and running!

👉Submit your nominations today!

Lifetime Giving Histories Online Request Process Live!

We are excited to announce that you can now request a lifetime giving history directly from the REALTOR® Party website.

👉 Lifetime Giving History request

President’s Circle Conference Reminders

The President’s Circle Conference is coming sooner than you think — mark these key dates.

Ensure your members complete their 2026 President’s Circle pledge by these deadlines to secure their registration round:

7/31 — Complete your pledge to be eligible for Round 1 conference registration.

8/31 — Complete your pledge to be eligible for Round 2 conference registration.

9/30 — Final deadline to complete your 2026 President’s Circle pledge.

📅 And save the date: the 2027 RPAC President’s Circle Conference will be held in San Diego, CA, March 23–26, 2027.

Pin Preference Survey — Launched Thurs. 7/16

Heads up: we’ll be sending Major Investors a short survey soon asking them to choose their preferred pin style — 📌 tack back or 🧲 magnet back.

Knowing preferences ahead of time lets us order the right mix of each style instead of guessing, so we’re not stuck short on one style while sitting on excess of the other.

Keep an eye out for it, and let us know if any questions come up.

Thank You Calls — Retention Program

The three national RPAC committees and councils are conducting monthly thank you calls to new and renewed RPAC investors.

Calls are made after the investment is received — no pressure, just recognition from national leadership

Purpose: reinforce the member-relationship and drive retention

Why it matters: Investors who receive a personal thank-you call renew at significantly higher rates than those who don’t. The call isn’t about the money — it’s about making the investor feel known, not just processed. That distinction is what drives retention. The ask gets investors in. The relationship keeps them.

Can we say thank you enough? No. Recognition is the glue that holds the investor community together — and a personal call is one of the highest-ROI retention tools available. It costs nothing but time.

NAR Washington Report

• House Passes 7-Year Terrorism Insurance Extension
• NAR Supports Associational Standing Before the Indiana Supreme Court

Resources & Research

More Dollars, More Impact: Apply for a Consumer Advocacy Grant

Additional funding is now available through the 2026 Consumer Advocacy Grant, giving state and local associations more opportunities to launch consumer-focused advocacy campaigns, with awards of up to $25,000 available.

Applicants will give a brief five-minute overview to the Consumer Advocacy Advisory Board, which meets via Zoom on the first Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. ET, with upcoming dates on August 4, September 8, and October 6. For inspiration, read how the Northern Kentucky Association of REALTORS used a consumer education campaign to explain housing supply and demand and promote diverse housing options that help seniors age in place.

Questions? Contact Erin Murphy.

Promote Walkable, Vibrant Communities

Apply for a Smart Growth Grant to fund transportation studies, downtown assessments, walkability studies, and more. Discover how Adirondack/Champlain Valley REALTORS® is Making an Outsized Impact on Regional Development plus explore the Smart Growth Toolkit for ideas.

Questions? Contact Alex Haddad

Advance Housing Affordability Leverage

NAR’s Housing Opportunity Grant to drive local affordability initiatives. Explore the Expanding Housing Opportunity Grant Toolkit and learn how the Missoula Organization of REALTORS® Helped to Ensure Adoption of Crucial Zoning Code Update for housing policy solutions.

Questions? Contact Laurie Benner

Strengthen Your Advocacy with New Consumer Insights

NAR’s 2026 Community & Transportation Preferences Survey provides fresh, nationally representative data on Americans’ preferences for housing, transportation, and community design – powerful insights to support REALTOR® advocacy in your market. Access the resource package, including a customizable press release to personalize for your local media and municipal leaders, plus top-line findings, an infographic, presentation slides, and in-depth analysis.

Questions? Contact Alex Haddad

Transforming Neighborhoods: Turning Local Challenges into Community Revitalization Success

Tuesday, September 22 | 2:00 p.m. ET

Learn how your REALTOR® association can leverage NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods program to address housing, downtown revitalization, vacant properties, disaster recovery, and other community challenges. Hear successful case studies from Spanish Lake, Missouri, and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and gain practical tips for preparing a competitive 2027 application. More info and register here   

Questions? Contact Christine Windle

Research Tools

• Metro Market Statistics Dashboard
• Economist’s Outlook
• Residential Real Estate Snapshot
• Research Update