In This Issue
- Now Live – The Pro-Property Platform: Explore NAR’s new direct candidate giving program featuring 300+ REALTOR® Party Champions and allies in Congress.
- Stay on Track for President’s Cup: Submit your updated state and local goal accomplishments throughout the year—don’t wait until December.
- Apply for the 2025–2027 GAD Advisory Group: Help plan the GAD Institute, foster collaboration, and shape the future of REALTOR® Party advocacy.
- GAD Institute 2025 Recap: Our largest yet—323 attendees, 21 sessions, $23,625 raised for Operation Home, and APEX Award winners announced.
Dates to Remember
- August 19: Know First, Act Fast: How LUI Supercharges Your Advocacy, 2 PM ET
- August 25: GAD Advisory Group Application Deadline
- August 27: All GAD Call, 3 PM ET
- September 18: Transforming Neighborhoods Webinar, 2 PM ET
Chair’s Letter
GAD Nation,
Charleston did not disappoint! GAD Institute 2025 brought the energy, the big ideas, and let’s be honest, some serious humidity. But more importantly, it brought you. Thank you for showing up, sharing your expertise, and making this community what it is.
Huge thanks to our rockstar 2025 GAD Advisory Group and NAR staff for pulling off a fantastic event, and to our incredible hosts at South Carolina REALTORS® and Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® for rolling out the southern hospitality in style.
I’m excited to announce that Josh Veverka will serve as your new Vice Chair. If you know Josh, you know his heart is in this work, and if you don’t yet, you’ll soon see his passion. I’m thrilled to be working alongside him.
And now, it’s your turn—the application period for the next GAD Advisory Group is open through August 25. If you’ve ever sat in a session thinking, “I’ve got ideas for how we can make this even better”—this is your moment. Apply to be part of the group that helps shape the future of GAD Institute and builds the resources that make our advocacy stronger.
Whether you’re a veteran GAD or fresh off your first conference badge, this network is better because of you. Let’s keep the energy going and take what we started in Charleston even further.
Cheers to what’s next,
Neeley Erickson
815.543.7147
nerickson@illinoisrealtors.org
What You Need to Know
Now Live! The Pro-Property Platform
The Pro-Property Platform is a new direct candidate giving program for federal candidates. Designed to complement existing RPAC fundraising programs, the platform features over 300 REALTOR® Party Champions and allies in Congress with more to be added in future months.
The Platform has officially been launched. NAR Political Representatives have provided state associations with the State and Local Staff toolkit – also available on realtorparty.realtor/gads.
For more information on the Platform, contact your NAR Political Representative.
Stay on Track for President’s Cup!
Don’t let your wins get lost—log your President’s Cup accomplishments as they happen!With updated state and local goals now in place, it’s more important than ever to keep your progress up to date. Reporting throughout the year means less scrambling in December and a clear path to the finish line.
Apply Now: Join the 2025-2027 GAD Advisory Group
Help shape the future of the GAD Institute and strengthen our community of Government Affairs Directors! The GAD Advisory Group plays a key role in planning Institute programming, fostering collaboration, and sharing resources that make our advocacy stronger.
If you’re passionate about advancing the REALTOR® Party’s advocacy work and want to contribute your ideas, energy, and expertise, we encourage you to apply.
Application deadline: Monday, August 25 | Apply here
GAD Institute 2025: By the Numbers
This year’s GAD Institute was our largest yet, with 323 attendees from across the country.
- 21 sessions
- 77 speakers and panelists, including GADs, national consultants, association leaders and public officials
- 29 Lightning Round tables offering rapid-fire insights and tools
- $23,625 raised for our GADs Give Back recipient, Operation Home
- 1 GADs Night Out at Charleston’s historic Rice Mill
- And countless hallway conversations that sparked new ideas and partnerships
APEX Winners
- Best Presentation: Deep State
- Participation Award: Greater Few
Thank you to the GAD Advisory Group and outgoing Chair Lacey Everett for her leadership. Congratulations to incoming Chair Neeley Erickson and Vice Chair Josh Veverka!
Mark your calendars for Columbus, OH from July 21 – 23, 2026.
Virtual Events to Attend
Know First, Act Fast: How LUI Supercharges Your Advocacy | Aug 19, 2 PM ET
Learn how NAR’s Land Use Initiative (LUI) offers free expert analysis to help you tackle policy threats like transfer taxes, moratoria and rental rules. Find out how to request a review, use reports to influence policy, and hear success stories. Don’t miss this advocacy game-changer. Register online today. Questions? Contact Christine Windle
All GAD Call | Wed, August 27, 3:00 PM ET
Mark your calendar! The next All-GAD Call is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 3 PM ET. Join us to learn more about the REALTOR® association Certified Executive (RCE) designation — the only designation for association staff — the value to GADs and how many of things you’re already doing have you well on your way to complete your application!
Did you miss the July call? Check out the recording here. Save the Date: Transforming Neighborhoods Webinar
Join us on Thursday, September 18, from 2:00–3:00 PM ET to explore how NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods is helping REALTOR® associations revitalize communities. Hear success stories from three associations that partnered with the Counselors of Real Estate’s Consulting Corps to tackle local housing and development challenges.
Registration coming soon. Questions? Contact Hugh Morris.
Compliance Corner
Fundraising Events
Examples of typical fundraising events for RPAC are:
- Auctions
- Raffles (check your local laws)
- Golf Tournaments
- Concerts
- Special prizes or recognition events for contributors of certain amounts
Remember, only members of the solicitable class may be invited to these events and special solicitation notices apply. 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.
Advocacy Scoop: Bonus Episode! The Tax Bill Becomes Law
Tax reform is done, so what’s next for NAR’s advocacy team as we head into the second half of the year? Shannon and Patrick explain what the policy team is doing to ensure NAR’s tax provisions are implemented effectively. They also detail how NAR is working with Congress and the Administration to tackle inventory shortages and affordability. And, there’s so much happening at the state and local level… Did you know more than two-thirds of NAR’s advocacy work happens outside the beltway?
RPAC Updates
President’s Circle Deadlines
President’s Circle Registration has begun for folks who have completed their entire President’s Circle investment and have been recognized as a 2025 Major Investor. See below for our list of registration deadlines.
Reminder that September 30th is the final deadline to complete both Major Investor and President’s Circle investments in order to register for the conference.
NXT 2025 Major Investor Event
- Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 15 from 6:30 – 9:30 PM
- Location: Announcement Coming Soon!
- Who’s Invited: All 2025 RPAC Major Investors are invited to attend, along with one guest, who must accompany the Major Investor upon entering the venue
- Entry requirement: This is an invite-only event. Their conference badge is their entry ticket. Major Investors will have MI on their badges – while encouraged, they do not need to wear their pin to the event.
RPAC Major Investor Recognition Deadlines
Make sure you and your members are recognized as RPAC Major Investors by the October and December deadlines! These are HARD deadlines to submit RPAC investments to the NAR Finance Office. For questions about RPAC transmittal deadlines, contact rpac@nar.realtor. View the Major Investor Levels and Benefits.
2025 Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open!
Click Here to nominate your members for the Hall of Fame. All RPAC Hall of Fame nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
NAR Grants and Resources
Access the NEW Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit
Discover practical ideas and real-world examples to support community development and advocacy in rural areas. Designed for REALTOR® associations serving populations of 30,000 or less, this resource highlights the types of initiatives eligible for NAR’s Rural Outreach Grant—including education, outreach, and policy work. More info. Contact Hannah Dannenfelser.
Consumer voices make your advocacy efforts stronger
Is your association tackling a policy issue that homeowners or potential homeowners should know about? The Consumer Advocacy Grant provides up to $25,000 to help you engage consumers and champion homeownership and property rights. Requests are reviewed monthly at 2 PM ET, and applicants must give a five-minute presentation.
Apply now or contact Erin Murphy at 202-383-1079 for details.
Aristotle System Overview for PAC Managers
Aristotle provides a comprehensive resource library for managing your associations activities. To register for a system overview training, please contact Jillian Ruize for more information. We host trainings on the first Wednesday of each month at 10 AM MST and the third Wednesday of each month at 11 AM MST.
REALTOR® Party Success Stories
Each month, state and local associations that achieved an advocacy win with the help of a REALTOR® Party grant or resources are highlighted in the REALTOR® Party Success Stories. August’s success stories include:
- A Paradigm Shift for Housing: Delaware REALTORS® Celebrate Landmark Legislative Wins By: Joe Brennan, GAD, Delaware REALTORS®
- Arkansas REALTORS® Rally Strong Response to Call for Action, Defeating Restrictive Statewide Proposal
- Nevada REALTORS® Campaign to Defeat Statewide Rent Control Legislation
- Middle Tennessee Association of REALTORS® Uses Smart Growth Grant to Host Community Roundtable on Housing and Zoning
- Partnerships and Public Art: MIBOR Joins the Bear Hunt
NAR Washington Report
- NAR Urges Full Funding for Critical Housing Programs in FY 2026
- FHFA Approves VantageScore 4.0 for Mortgage Underwriting
- HUD Updates FHA Single Family Program Requirements
- NAR Participates in Congressional Roundtables on the VA Loan Guaranty Program
- HUD Proposes to Establish Uniform MIP Rate for All FHA Multifamily Programs
- Downpayment Toward Equity Act Reintroduced
- NAR Calls for Regulatory Reforms to Expand Private Flood Insurance Market
- Fair Housing Groups Sue HUD for Withholding Funds
Want to be featured in a future edition? Send us your advocacy wins!
NAR Washington Report
- Senate Passes Trigger Leads Bill, Heads to President for Enactment
- Federal Judge Orders HUD to Resume Fair Housing Grant Funding to Nonprofits
- Senate Committee Unanimously Passes BiPartisan ROAD to Housing Act
- VA Tool Kit Helps Real Estate Professional Serve Veteran Homebuyers
- Bipartisan Bill Aims to Speed Housing Construction Through Pre-Reviewed Building Designs
- Appraisal Modernization Act Introduced in the Senate
- HUD and OMB Announce Termination of Policies Introduced Under PAVE Task Force
- U.S. Senate Passes the VA Home Loan Reform Act
- “Big Beautiful” Tax Bill Now Law: In-Depth Analysis
NAR Research
Instant Reaction: Mortgage Rates, August 7, 2025
Last week’s lower mortgage interest rates increased mortgage applications, bringing some buyers off the sidelines.
Residential Real Estate Snapshot
This monthly report provides insight into economic indicators that affect the housing market, including interest rates, employment, and inflation.
Research Update
Each month, the Research Update report provides a summary of the data, reports, blog posts, and instant reactions produced by NAR’s research team.
Upcoming NAR Events
Check out the list of events here to save the date for upcoming conferences.
2025 NXT | Houston, TX
November 14-16, 2025 | Registration is open.
Click to download Rural Outreach Toolkit
Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit
The Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit provides local REALTOR® associations with insights and examples of initiatives to enhance community development and advocacy in rural communities. It highlights the kinds of initiatives that can be funded by an NAR Rural Outreach grant in communities that are rural in nature and serving populations of 30,000 people or less. The toolkit offers practical insights and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing communities with education, outreach, policy development, and more.
Questions? Contact Hannah Dannenfelser at 202-383-1132.
Click to download Rural Outreach Toolkit
Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit
The Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit provides local REALTOR® associations with insights and examples of initiatives to enhance community development and advocacy in rural communities. It highlights the kinds of initiatives that can be funded by an NAR Rural Outreach grant in communities that are rural in nature and serving populations of 30,000 people or less. The toolkit offers practical insights and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing communities with education, outreach, policy development, and more.
Questions? Contact Hannah Dannenfelser at 202-383-1132.
Click to download Rural Outreach Toolkit
Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit
The Rural Outreach Grant Toolkit provides local REALTOR® associations with insights and examples of initiatives to enhance community development and advocacy in rural communities. It highlights the kinds of initiatives that can be funded by an NAR Rural Outreach grant in communities that are rural in nature and serving populations of 30,000 people or less. The toolkit offers practical insights and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing communities with education, outreach, policy development, and more.
Questions? Contact Hannah Dannenfelser at 202-383-1132.
Post a comment