Iowa REALTORS® Almost Use Advocacy Everywhere to Oppose Rent Control Measure… but Legislators Saw Reason, Rendering the Effort Unnecessary
The state association representing Iowa’s REALTORS® knew that the negative effects of a proposed rent control bill could far outweigh the benefits. It opposed the legislation through strategic advocacy, ultimately succeeding when, on the brink of a Call For Action, the state legislature cried...
Though Small in Numbers, Adirondack/Champlain Valley REALTORS® Is Making an Outsized Impact on Regional Development
A progression of Smart Growth Grants from the REALTOR® Party has been helping the Adirondack /Champlain Valley REALTORS® bring the sustainable development concept to the upstate New York region. They began with an education effort to create a groundswell of advocates and have now created a Smart...
Maryland REALTORS® Successfully Oppose Sales Tax on Services
Faced with a legislative proposal that would have instituted a sales tax on services, Maryland REALTORS® launched a strong opposition focused on how the measure would increase the cost of housing at each step of development, construction, and sales. In consultation with REALTOR® Party staff,...
Oregon REALTORS® Conduct ‘People for an Affordable Oregon’ Campaign in Support of Key Housing Legislation
With insights gained from REALTOR® Party polling, Oregon REALTORS® launched an Issues Mobilization campaign to persuade legislators to approve critical legislation addressing the state’s ongoing housing and homelessness crises. The resulting passage of SB 1537 brings important land use and...
Utah Association of REALTORS® Conducts Compelling Social Media Campaign in Support of Major Legislation Boosting New Housing
For five years, the Utah Association of REALTORS® has been working with the governor’s office and the state legislature to engineer solutions to the state’s dire shortage of affordable housing. The recent session saw the creation of some game-changing approaches to funding, among other...
With Help from the REALTOR® Party, Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association Promotes Reforms to the Dated Land Use Policy Stifling Housing Production
REALTOR® Party polling helped the Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association understand the disconnect between local perceptions about housing supply and affordability, and the impact of Act 250, the state’s longstanding land use regulation. With a Consumer Advocacy Outreach Grant, the association...
Indiana Association of REALTORS® Wins Legislation Requiring Mandatory Buyer Agency Agreements for All Real Estate Licensees
After two years of membership engagement and education, and policymaker outreach by the state’s REALTOR® association, Indiana now has legislation requiring buyer agency agreements to be mandatory for all real estate licensees, effective July 1st. The timing of the new state law gave Indiana...
Illinois REALTORS® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® Conduct Campaign to Defeat Transfer Tax Referendum
With help from an Issues Mobilization Grant from the REALTOR® Party, Illinois REALTORS® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® fought a misguided referendum seeking to use an increase in real estate transfer taxes to fight homelessness. Understanding that the proposal would be detrimental to...
Greater Piedmont REALTORS® (VA) Use Rural Outreach Grant for Onsite Septic Field Trip
Last summer, in addition to the CE course it normally offers on well and septic system regulations in its rural Virginia region, the Greater Piedmont REALTORS® hosted a field trip: with support from a Rural Outreach Grant from the REALTOR® Party, they put participants on a bus and took them to...
Oregon REALTORS® Host Annual Fair Housing Summit
Building on the success of its first Fair Housing Summit, which featured Richard Rothstein’s groundbreaking book, The Color of Law, Oregon REALTORS®’ second annual summit provided a deep dive into the history of fair housing and housing access in Oregon, how fair housing impacts business, and...