REALTOR® Party Ramps Up for 2024
Hundreds of REALTORS® kicked off December in St. Louis at the REALTOR® Party Training Conference, preparing to advocate for property ownership on behalf of clients and communities in 2024. Speakers included former Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, and former HUD Deputy Secretary Pamela Patenaude, who all echoed the REALTOR® Party’s focus on bipartisanship in putting the American Dream in reach for more people.
What You Need to Know
NAR filed amicus briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court in 2 cases in support of property owners facing unconstitutional violations of the Takings Clause under the Fifth Amendment. At a time when many buyers are struggling to afford or find properties, government action must create certainty and stability in the housing market to promote development, support homeownership, and protect private property rights.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule on Nov. 30 amending the beneficial ownership information reporting rule to extend the filing deadline for newly formed entities formed in 2024 to file an initial report. The amended final rule provides newly formed entities 90 days instead of 30 days to file initial beneficial ownership information reports. NAR previously submitted a comment in support of the rule, also noting existing companies required to file reports beginning Jan. 1, 2025, should be provided with an extension.
When the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released its annual report to Congress in mid-November, NAR commended the agency for maintaining a strong financial footing in fiscal year 2023 while also making important policy changes, including reducing mortgage insurance premiums to support home buyers. The report showed that more than 82% of FHA’s endorsements were for first-time home buyers, and it outlined FHA’s significant role in providing access to mortgage credit for underserved communities.
NAR’s new course, “Planning and Zoning: Advocating for Your Community’s Future,” was featured in a November profile by RISMedia. NAR’s Director of Community Outreach Christine Windle and Smart Growth Policy Representative Hugh Morris shared information on the principles behind the course, which launched Sept. 19, and how it can empower REALTORS® to affect positive change in their communities.
$48M
As of November 30, RPAC fundraising reached 95% of its national goal with more than $48 million raised at all three levels of the association, and 124% of its federal disbursements allocation goal with $12.3 million raised at the national level. RPAC has 11,367 Major Investors, 1,904 President’s Circle members, and a 36% participation rate.
The REALTOR® Party At Work
Don’t forget to bookmark NAR’s Washington Report for the latest policy updates.
Bakersfield Association of REALTORS® Defeats City’s Draft Climate Action Plan that Threatened to Worsen Housing Crisis
When the City of Bakersfield, Calif., proposed a Climate Action Plan earlier this year, the local REALTOR® association spotted several serious red flags. With support from the REALTOR® Party’s Land Use Initiative, it managed to convince the Bakersfield City Council that the plan was not only unnecessary but also threatened to worsen the housing crisis by making it more difficult and costly to sell a home.
Five Local REALTOR® Associations and the New York State Association of REALTORS® Campaign for Reasonable Electrification and Emissions Reduction Recommendations
In 2022, New York State was pursuing the most aggressive carbon reduction policies in the nation. While the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions, some of the recommendations struck the association as extreme, unreasonable, and sure to have a negative impact on property owners. The plan also wasn’t well-communicated to the public. With a REALTOR® Party Consumer Advocacy Grant, NYSAR and five local associations mounted an education and advocacy campaign, resulting in a far more measured set of laws and regulations.
North Platte Valley Association of REALTORS® Promotes Financial Literacy Among Local Eighth Graders
Many members of the North Platte Valley Board of REALTORS® are property managers who know first-hand the struggles of tenants trying to make ends meet in the poorest county in Wyoming. This fall, with a Housing Opportunity Grant from the REALTOR® Party, the board partnered with WyoHELP, a nonprofit that addresses housing instability, to conduct a financial literacy program for the county’s eighth graders. Thanks to its great success, the school district plans to continue working with the REALTORS® to expand the program.
Brickyard Plaza Project Transforms a Parking Lot into a Pocket Park
The Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS® reinvented an underutilized parking lot with art, seating, and events. With support from a REALTOR® Party Placemaking Grant, REALTORS® converted 15 municipally owned parking spaces into Brickyard Plaza, a public gathering and event space in Killingly, Conn.
Resources & Opportunities
Leverage Community Outreach Grants and Resources in 2024
Transform a vacant lot into a vibrant park. Address housing regulatory hurdles to establish a more inclusive neighborhood. Review unfavorable ordinances to safeguard property owners. Community Outreach Grants and resources empower state and local REALTOR® associations to enhance communities and improve affordability and livability. Applications are open from Jan. 2nd to Oct. 15th (or until capacity is reached). Explore success stories, schedule a grant planning meeting, or watch a recording of the Champion Issues with Community Outreach Grants webinar for ideas.
Questions? Contact Christine Windle.
Explore Fall 2023 On Common Ground Magazine: Zoning Innovation
Local REALTOR® associations can now apply for NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods Program to bring expert real estate problem solving skills to your area through the Counselors of Real Estate’s Consulting Corps. Does your community need help reimagining a neighborhood or town center, repurposing a brownfield or other troubled site, spurring economic development, or igniting commercial activity? Start discussions with public and private stakeholders, align your priorities, and shape your proposal now. Online applications are due by Feb. 9, 2024.
Questions or ready to get started? Contact Samantha DeKoven at the Counselors of Real Estate or Hugh Morris at NAR.
REALTOR® Party Conference Grants Available
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. Educational or fundraising conferences may qualify.
Questions? Contact Christine Windle.
Advocacy Resource Guide
The Vote, Act, Invest Advocacy Resource Guide 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 Kathleen LaMarre. Requests for printed guides must be submitted two weeks prior to the event.
The Business Benefit of Sustainability
Sustainability is gaining traction in the real estate industry, and the more engaged you are, the more business you’ll attract. Lean into learning about green homes in the free Sustainability 101 course to ramp up your knowledge, reach more customers, and become the go-to resource in your community. Enroll today!
Association Leadership is Within Your Reach!
The REALTOR® L.E.A.D. Courses will help you deepen your knowledge, develop your expertise, define your leadership style, and discover your inner strength. Learn the practical skills, concepts, knowledge, and practices needed for effective association leadership and apply these skills to your career at large.
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