REALTOR Party News – January 2023

New Year, New REALTOR® Party Opportunities

Making action plans for the new year? The REALTOR® Party is here to help.

Learn more about the grants, programs, and tools to help your association take your advocacy efforts to the next level.
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$1.7T

Congress passed the FY 2023 Omnibus spending package right before Christmas, narrowly avoiding a shutdown and funding the federal government through September 30, 2023. The $1.7 trillion spending package included provisions important to real estate, including reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program and advancing fair and affordable housing. The NAR Policy team analyzed the bill and compiled a comprehensive list of the top real estate-related items here.
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2

In late December, the White House released a roadmap to reduce homelessness and increase housing supply over the next two years. NAR applauded the plan for putting a spotlight on the housing supply crisis and reaffirmed our commitment to working with the administration on these issues.
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$9B

The White House recently released an Inflation Reduction Act guidebook, which outlines how the new law’s tax credits and deductions can reduce the cost of energy-efficient home upgrades, offset the cost of adding residential clean energy sources, and make constructing energy-efficient single and multi-family homes cheaper and easier. The law also includes nearly $9 billion for consumer home energy rebate programs, with a focus on low-income consumers.
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4.78M

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun unveiled his 2023 economic outlook, forecasting 4.78 million existing homes will be sold, prices will remain stable, and Atlanta will be the top real estate market to watch in 2023 and beyond. He also expects the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to settle at 5.7% as the Fed slows the pace of rate hikes to control inflation.
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$50M

The final numbers are in, and 2022 was an incredible year for RPAC! We exceeded the national participation goal, reaching 38%, and raised over $50 million at all three levels of the association. We also ended the year with more than 13,000 Major Investors and more than 1,900 President’s Circle members.

Vermont Association of REALTORS® Mount Issues Mobilization Campaign to Fight Rent Control

The Vermont Association of REALTORS® knows increasing rent control regulations in Burlington will infringe on private property rights – and won’t fix the housing challenges. Through an issues mobilization campaign supported by the REALTOR® Party, they presented a message that ultimately resonated with the governor, who vetoed a threatened rent-control ordinance.
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Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Supports REALTOR® Champion for Housing

When the REALTOR® champion running to keep her seat on the Oklahoma County Commission faced a primary run-off, it looked like an uphill battle. Recognizing Carrie Blumert’s commitment to housing issues, the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® launched an independent expenditure campaign to help her continue her work as a County Commissioner. She won the run-off by just 121 votes – and her campaign believes the boost from the REALTORS® made all the difference.
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South Carolina REALTORS® Honored with Fair Housing Award

The social unrest that swept the nation in 2020 prompted South Carolina REALTORS® to take an unflinching look at discrimination as it exists around them and in the real estate industry. Their determined focus and introspection brought about a heightened awareness and major cultural shift, earning national recognition through a Fair Housing Award from the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.
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Bring CRE to Your Community to Address Real Estate Challenges

Is your association interested in addressing challenges such as commercial disinvestment, housing gaps, brownfield reuse, or natural disaster response? Through Transforming Neighborhoods, local associations can apply by February 17 to receive expert analysis and recommendations from the Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE) Consulting Corps. To learn more, register for the Transforming Neighborhoods Information Webinar on January 24, 2-3 pm ET.

Questions? Contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135 or Samantha DeKoven.
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New Video: NAR Advocates for Commercial Real Estate

Over the last few years, the work of NAR’s advocacy team and the REALTOR® Party has been crucial to keeping the commercial real estate industry running. Check out this new video to learn more from commercial real estate leaders about how these vital efforts have helped their businesses.
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Take Action with a Community Outreach Grant

You’re an advocate for change, and NAR’s Community Outreach Grants provide the resources to move your association’s agenda forward. Five grants with funding levels up to $15,000 help associations act on the issues that matter most. Check out our revamped page on the REALTOR® Party website and watch this Community Outreach video to learn how these grants and resources help REALTOR® associations build stronger communities.

Questions? Contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135.
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Improvements to 2023 Placemaking Grants

Placemaking Grants are used to transform unused or underused sites into vibrant new gathering places. Starting this month, funding for the Level 1 and Level 2 Placemaking Grants has increased to help cover the rising costs of labor and construction materials. Guidelines for the grants have also been expanded to make more projects eligible for funding. Learn more about the changes in this blog post

Questions? Contact Catherine Mesick at 202-383-7512.
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Apply for a REALTOR® Party Conference Grant

State and local REALTOR® associations can apply for a grant to host their own REALTOR® Party Conference to educate members and further the mission of the REALTOR® Party. Associations may qualify to receive funding to aid in hosting an educational or fundraising conference.

Questions? Review the details and application or contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135.
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Launching Soon: 2023 President’s Circle Program

The 2023 President’s Circle Program will launch at the end of January. If you would like to sign up for President’s Circle or have any questions, please contact Avery Walker.
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Advocacy Resource Guide

The Advocacy Resource Guide –Vote, Act, and Invest, REALTOR® Party – includes resources and tools that can help associations reach their advocacy goals and meet Core Standards requirements. State and local REALTOR® association staff can request printed copies for events and conferences by contacting Ted Wright. Requests for printed guides must be submitted two weeks prior to the event.
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Apply Today: 2024 NAR Leadership Academy

NAR is now accepting applications for the 2024 Leadership Academy Class. This program identifies, inspires, and mentors emerging state and local association leaders, and helps future leaders define their leadership style along the way. Application deadline is February 7.
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