In This Issue…
Dates & Deadlines
Dec. 16: Year-End RPAC Transmittal Deadline
The final deadline is approaching for individuals to be recognized as NAR RPAC Major Investors and for associations to receive credit toward their 2020 fundraising goals! National RPAC requires that all funds, with appropriate back-up documentation, be received in NAR’s Chicago Finance office by close of business on Wednesday, December 16. For more information regarding RPAC deadlines, please contact Jackie Zaporowski at 202-383-1029.
Dec. 16: RPAC Hall of Fame Deadline
The RPAC Hall of Fame eligibility deadline is Wednesday, December 16. Eligible members and staff must meet the $25,000 minimum threshold by the end of the previous fundraising year. The deadline for the nomination form to be submitted to NAR by the state is January 31, 2021. Access the guidelines and nomination form. For questions regarding the Hall of Fame, or to verify an investment history total, please contact Jackie Zaporowski at 202-383-1029.
Dec. 16: Reimbursement Deadline – RPAC Fundraising Programs
Reimbursement forms for the RPAC Fundraising Partnership Grant Program and the Major Investor Event Program are due on or before the RPAC year-end transmittal deadline of Wednesday, December 16, 2020. No 2020 reimbursements will be processed after that date. For the RPAC Fundraising Partnership Grant Program reimbursement information, contact Liz Best-Bradford at 202-383-7582. For the Major Invest Event Program reimbursement information, contact Jackie Zaporowski at 202-383-1029.
Advocacy Resources
New! Corporate Ally Program Video & Materials
Don’t forget that the Corporate Ally Program can help you reach your fundraising goals! New marketing materials and a Corporate Ally Program Video are now available. For more information, contact Allyson Nelson at 202-383-1156.
FPC Nominations Past Due
If you have not submitted your FPC Nomination Letters (see template), they were due to NAR last week on Friday, November 20. 2021 NAR President Charlie Oppler will be approving the FPCs on December 1, so it is imperative all names are submitted. NAR held a webinar on November 17 walking through the nomination process and answering questions from GADS. See webinar (link to follow) if you missed it. If you have any questions, please contact Victoria Givens.
New Flood Insurance Toolkit
NAR developed a toolkit for state efforts to develop a more robust private flood insurance market in addition to National Flood Insurance Program. The toolkit includes model state legislation and other resources including outside policy experts to support state efforts. Please contact Austin Perez if you have questions.
Now Available! Flood Insurance Reports by Congressional District
The reports include information about the properties at flood risk, the importance of flood insurance to the district, the benefits to constituents and the projected properties at risk in the district. Visit https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/flood-insurance-reports-by-congressional-district.
Shelter in Place Orders
NAR has monitored activity around Shelter in Place (SIP) orders on the state and local level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to monitor activity should lockdowns be reinstated as New Mexico and Oregon announced late last week or new orders emerge. With the recent acceleration of the pandemic, NAR is providing the resources listed below as part of a proactive strategy should lockdowns start to trend again. Full tracking of all COVID-19 related state and local policy is available online. Bookmark our State and Local Coronavirus page to revisit for the most recent tracking information.
Below are best practices to get real estate services deemed essential should your state, city, or county reinstate or initiate a new SIP order:
1. Write a Letter to the Governor/Executive Office.
It’s helpful to cut through the noise of numerous communications from groups if you are able to join in on an ask when directly reaching out to Governors and Executive offices regarding SIPs. Several states that were successful in getting real estate designated as essential at the start of the pandemic collaborated with coalition partners in the banking, titling, appraisal and home inspector industries and internally worked with their local REALTOR® associations on outreach.
- NAR collected letters to Governors and on the City level if you need examples here.
- Common themes on messaging for Real Estate designation in SIPs can be found here.
- NAR joined in on a trade group letter to the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and State Government Affairs Council urging support for inclusion of real estate as an essential service in any state or local orders.
2. Mobilize REALTORS® and/or Consumers.
Grasstops and grassroots outreach is also a good strategy. If you have a state key contacts program or political coordinators that can make personal contact with the Executive offices that is helpful. If your association needs to mobilize the broader REALTOR® membership and/or Consumer list for a call for action, you can request that through our Advocacy Everywhere program and NAR’s Issues Mobilization grant is also available for more in depth campaigns.
3. Work with Bordering State Associations/Local Associations.
It is also helpful to connect with bordering state GADs and local GADs here on The Hub or via the Closed Facebook group to see what neighboring states/local governments are doing. Sometimes that regional message puts additional pressure on executive offices.
State and local associations may also want to work with Public Health officials directly and initiate media advocacy strategies (such as Letters to the Editor) to convey the efforts the real estate industry has put in place to ensure safe transactions during the pandemic when conducted in person.
For more information, contact Melissa Horn.
Transforming Neighborhoods – 2021 Information Session
Thinking about applying for a Transforming Neighborhoods technical assessment or place-based training in 2021? Join NAR and Center for Community Progress on Wednesday, December 9, at 2pm ET to learn about program offerings, hear from past participants, and ask questions about the program and application process. Register today. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
2021 is Around the Corner! Start Planning Your Community Outreach Now
2020 is winding down and the Community Outreach Grant application window is closed for the year. As you plan out your smart growth, fair housing, placemaking and housing opportunity advocacy activities and initiatives for next year, please note that the grant application platform will reopen on January 1, 2021 and, if your application is approved, you have a full year to use it and seek reimbursement. Need ideas on how to leverage a grant? Sign-up for a 30-minute, one-on-one, Community Outreach Coaching via Zoom invite to brainstorm ways to address affordable housing challenges, community planning and development issues, revitalization opportunities and fair housing education and beyond using a Community Outreach Grant. For more information, contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135.
ICYMI: Urban Roundtable – From Vacant to Vibrant
Associations and their leadership tuned-in to an expert-led panel discussion on how cities are leveraging strategic partnerships to turn vacant properties into productive community assets; one block at a time. Followed by introductions from Zeke Morris, REALTOR® Party Community Engagement Liaison, Pete Kopf, REALTOR® Party Director, moderated a panel discussion featuring experts and thought leaders including Dr. Akilah Watkins-Butler, CEO, Center for Community Progress, The Honorable Ron Nirenberg, Mayor, San Antonio, and Timothy C. Twardowski, Partner, Robinson & Cole LLP. Read the REALTOR Magazine coverage How Communities Can Work Together to Combat Vacancy Problems or listen to the recording. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
Read the Latest On Common Ground: Recovering, Rebuilding and Rebalancing
The latest On Common Ground explores ways our cities, counties and towns are responding to COVID impacts and need for equity via through citizen engagement, planning and zoning reforms, data tracking and community revitalization strategies. An online version is available via the OCG APP (Apple) (Google Play) and online via https://www.nar.realtor/on-common-ground is available. Over 35,000 copies will be distributed to state and local associations and elected officials. Are you on the list? If not, contact Catherine Mesick. For other questions, contact Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278.
NAR’s Economic Outlook
| ★ | November 2020 Commercial Market Insights This issue looks at the latest trends across the commercial property markets (multifamily, office, industrial, and retail) and features two pieces on apartment rent trends and how financial volatility impacts commercial sales and prices. |
| ★ | Jobless Claims Fell to the Lowest Level Since the Beginning of the Pandemic With a one-week lag, the number of people applying for extended benefits is rising at a slower pace in the last three weeks implying that many people are able to find a job. |
| ★ | Facts About Veterans Based on the latest data, there are 17.4 million American men and women that are veterans. They represent nearly 7% of the total civilian population. |
| ★ | Refinancing Continues to Increase Due to Low Mortgage Rates During the week of October 23, the refinance percent of total applications rose to 66.7% after the share hit a low of 59.5% during the week of May 29. |
| ★ | Vacation Home Sales are Getting a Pandemic Boost Vacation home sales are outperforming total existing-home sales. Sales of homes intended for vacation use rose to 109,100 in the past three months of July-September, a 44% gain from the level of 75,600 sales during the same period last year |
Kelli Starrett
GAD Chair
New Orleans Metropolitan Association Of REALTORS®
While this column doesn’t come with the glow of having just hosted you all in my great city for the REALTORS® Conference & Expo, I have to say I’m still excited about the successful virtual meetings we concluded last week. We accomplished so much through our committees and GAD meetings, and the NAR Board of Directors pushed the association forward in exciting ways.
The conference showed another great success of ours that is a byproduct of virtual meetings: participation. Association staff and members who otherwise would not have attended the Annual Conference, whether due to travel issues or a lack of funding, were able to participate in a host of governance and conference sessions. During our own meetings, I found it refreshing and even comforting to see so many familiar faces while scrolling through the Zoom screens. Once we got to the breakouts and were able to talk and share ideas, as well as meet the newest members of GAD Nation, it felt like being at home.
The breakout sessions have always been one of my favorite parts of our meetings, and I would love to see us take advantage of the technology that is now all too familiar and host these more often. Even when we resume in-person meetings, I think there is something beneficial to continuing that open dialogue beyond Facebook or the HUB. To do that, though, we need to know how to reach you. Take a moment to check out your association’s information on the GAD Directory to ensure everything is current. Since the directory operates outside of the M1 Membership Database, you can even include contract GADs who may not have a NAR Member ID number. We want to know about every member of GAD Nation so that we can contact each of you with news, events, or anything else that would be beneficial.
Lastly, in the spirit of Thanksgiving I encourage you to take a moment away from the stress of doing turkey thawing math and making tough calls on travel plans to reflect on things we can be thankful for even in this absurd year. My list includes our NAR staff for always being there to help us work through ideas or campaign plans, or to be the bad guy/higher up with a member when needed; our GAD Advisory Group and GAD leadership past and present for helping us to evolve and strengthen; and, of course, you. I’m so thankful to work with colleagues with the same passion and fervor, who never stop looking for ways to improve your associations and communities. And I’m especially thankful that I can count this group of inspiring, hard-working colleagues as friends, always there to lift each other up and provide support, wisdom, humor, and reality checks as needed.
I hope you have a holiday that is healthy and safe, filled with delicious food, those you love (even if on a computer screen), and pants with enough stretch to make it all comfortable. Happy Thanksgiving, GAD Nation.
- Dec. 10: GAD Professional Development Session: Fair Housing **REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED**
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m. EST
This dialogue led by NAR’s Bryan Greene and GAD Nation’s Bo Patten and Peter Kelly will explore real instances of discrimination and how GADs have been helping their associations to respond and change the culture of bias. Register in advance for this meeting.After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This is the final GAD meeting of 2020. If you have questions, please contact Christina Garavaglia. - 2021 GAD Institute
Date: July 20-22, 2021
Location: Denver, Colo.
Hotel: Hilton Denver City Center Registration/Hotel
Cost: Institute Registration $550/Hotel $229+ Taxes and Fees/night
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